Read Acts 2:1-21
When the
day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place. 2Suddenly
there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it
filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3Then they saw what
looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. 4They
were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as
the Spirit enabled them to speak.
5 There
were Jews living in Jerusalem, religious people who had come from every country
in the world. 6When they heard this noise, a large crowd gathered.
They were all excited, because each one of them heard the believers speaking in
his or her own language. 7In amazement and wonder they exclaimed,
“These people who are talking like this are Galileans! 8How is it,
then, that all of us hear them speaking in our own native languages? 9We
are from Parthia, Media, and Elam; from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia; from
Pontus and Asia, 10from Phrygia and Pamphylia, from Egypt and the
regions of Libya near Cyrene. Some of us are from Rome, 11both Jews
and Gentiles converted to Judaism, and some of us are from Crete and Arabia—yet
all of us hear them speaking in our own languages about the great things that
God has done!” 12Amazed and confused, they kept asking each other,
“What does this mean?”
13 But
others made fun of the believers, saying, “These people are drunk!”
14 Then
Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles and in a loud voice began to
speak to the crowd: “Fellow-Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, listen
to me and let me tell you what this means. 15These people are not
drunk, as you suppose; it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16Instead,
this is what the prophet Joel spoke about:
17 ‘This
is what I will do in the last days, God says:
I will pour out my Spirit on everyone.
Your sons and daughters will proclaim my message;
your young men will see visions,
and your old men will have dreams.
18 Yes,
even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will proclaim my message.
19 I
will perform miracles in the sky above
and wonders on the earth below.
There will be blood, fire, and thick smoke;
20 the
sun will be darkened,
and the moon will turn red as blood,
before the great and glorious Day of the Lord comes.
21 And
then, whoever calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.’
Think
Verse 17: "In the last
days I will pour out my Spirit on everyone." The whole story of the Pentecost event is one
of God's Kingdom being broken open accross languages and to all people - from
all classes, ages and from all walks of life.
Pray
Lord pour your Spirit into me
so that the message I live would be understandable across all walks of life and
in any language. Help me to live by your
Spirit today.
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