66 THE CHURCH IS BORN F O O T ================================
- H O L D
READING
66 THE CHURCH IS BORN
PRAY Lord, fill me with the Holy Spirit that I might understand your word and then tell others about you. —————————————————————- READ Acts 2:1-21. —————————————————————- THINK What were the reactions of the people in the crowd to the happenings of Pentecost? —————————————————————- FOCUS Pentecost (1) was a joyful Jewish festival that marked the end of the barley harvest. The word PENTECOST refers to the fiftieth day after Passover. Jews from many places (9-11) had travelled to Jerusalem to take part in the holiday celebrations. The disciples, probably about 120 of them (1:15), were ‘gathered together in one place’ (1). This may have been the temple precincts or the more private upper room; we do not know. What we do know is that a tremendous event took place. The disciples ‘were all filled with the Holy Spirit’ (4). There were two outward signs. The disciples heard a noise that ‘sounded like a strong wind’ (2) and ‘they saw what looked like tongues of fire’ (3). Notice Luke’s careful language as he tried to write about an almost undescribable experience. Very soon a large crowd had gathered (6). Try to imagine the scene as they all talked together in amazement. So Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, began to speak to them. He dismissed the charge of drunkeness (15) and spoke with authority about what had happened. His audience was made up of Jews who had travelled from all over the empire to Jerusalem. ‘All right,’ says Peter, ‘it is all foretold in your own Bible . . . ‘ Many remarkable things have been foretold, but the best is in verse 21 – for in that one word ‘whoever’ are included all peoples, Jews and Gentiles alike. It also included you and me. —————————————————————- PRAY Give thanks to God for his gift of the Holy Spirit. Open your life to his influence and power.