Acts 2:1-13!

 

Introduction

Acts 2:1–13: The Holy Spirit comes on the day of Pentecost to give power and courage to the apostles. They begin boldly declaring the great things God has done, which people hear in many languages. Some people are happy and excited, while others make fun of the Lord’s followers.

Today’s Key Verse: Acts 2:4 GNT

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

Read

2 When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place. ² Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. ⁴ They 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. ⁶ When they heard this noise, a large crowd gathered. They were all excited, because all of them heard the believers talking in their own languages. ⁷ In amazement and wonder they exclaimed, “These people who are talking like this are Galileans! ⁸ How is it, then, that all of us hear them speaking in our own native languages? ⁹ We are from Parthia, Media, and Elam; from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia; from Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ from Phrygia and Pamphylia, from Egypt and the regions of Libya near Cyrene. Some of us are from Rome, ¹¹ both 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!” ¹² Amazed and confused, they kept asking each other, “What does this mean?”

¹³ But others made fun of the believers, saying, “These people are drunk!”

Reflect

How is the coming of the Holy Spirit described? What caused the gathered crowd to be excited and amazed? Are there times in your life when you have been amazed by the power of the Holy Spirit? If so, how would you describe the experience?

Pray

Heavenly Father, empower me with your Holy Spirit and enable me to tell of the great things you have done. May the good news of your salvation go forth across cultures and in all the languages of the world so that people everywhere may learn of and experience your love and grace. Amen.