Jesus has ascended up into heaven to prepare a place for us. The disciples have replaced Judas Iscariot with Matthias, and there are again 12. Now, they are waiting in Jerusalem for the promise of the Comforter, the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:1-4- And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
We need to notice a few things here, because a lot of people get mixed up in their doctrine because of this part of the Bible.
The disciples were together in one place. The Bible doesn't mention any other people being there. Perhaps, the women were also present, but they aren't mentioned.
While they were in the house, there was a sound that started. It was like a mighty wind rushing in, but there was no wind! Nothing was moving. They knew that something Spiritual was happening because of the sound.
The sound grew so loud that it filled the room.
Next, they noticed something above each other's heads. It looked like a flame of fire, or maybe a tongue that was made of fire. But, again, it was Spiritual- their heads weren't really on fire!
Lastly, they were filled with the Holy Ghost. This filling gave them courage to be able to tell others about Jesus. This filling also gave them a "gift" that would happen when it was needed.
Acts 2:5-12- And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
The disciples went out into the city of Jerusalem and began to preach to all those present.
Remember, the Jews require a sign. So, the Holy Ghost did something amazing that no one could doubt was from God. The "gift" was that these disciples could preach in Hebrew, but as the words left their mouths and entered the ears of the listeners the Holy Ghost translated the words into the language the listeners grew up speaking!
Each person heard what the disciples preached, every word was understood by every person listening. And, they were wondering what this sign meant!
Acts 2:13-17- Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Some of the people standing around thought that these men were drunk. It was rare to see more than one prophet in the same place preaching. So, they just assumed that these men were in a stupor.
But, Peter took charge of the conversation when they knew what some were thinking. Peter said it was only 9 o'clock in the morning, and that none of them were drunk.
Peter told them that the words of an ancient prophet, Joel, had come to pass and that God has poured His Spirit on them.
Acts 2:21-24- And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Peter then began to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ- that Jesus was alive and worked miracles through the power of God, that Jesus was betrayed by the leaders of the Jews and Gentiles and was crucified, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. The gospel of Jesus is His death, burial, and resurrection!
Acts 2:29a, 32-33, 36- Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you..... This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Peter was talking to his brethren, the house of Israel. It was because these men were Jews requiring a sign that God allowed the "gift of tongues". Peter told them that Jesus was the promised Messiah, and that they had killed the Promised One of God.
These Jews realized that they had committed a terrible sin in killing their Messiah. They wondered how they could get this sin forgiven by the Lord God Almighty!
Acts 2:37- Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Again, these were Jews who had just realized they crucified their Messiah. They were asking their fellow Jewish brethren, the disciples, what to do to get forgiveness for this grievous sin.
Acts 2:38-40- Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Peter told them that to get forgiveness they had to repent for crucifying their Messiah and be baptized. Once that happened, they would receive the Holy Ghost and be sealed from the fate of their generation- punishment for rejecting the Promised Messiah.
Acts 2:41- Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
This was the beginning of the Church of Jesus Christ, also known as the Bride of Christ. The 12 disciples became the 12 apostles- the leaders of the Jewish church.
Acts 2:42-43- And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
After these people were saved from their sins, they were different. They took care of one another. They prayed for one another. This difference made others who noticed it fear.
The gift of "tongues" was only one gift given to the disciples, or apostles, there were others that Jesus had promised them.
Mark 16:15-20- And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Jesus had promised them that when they went forth preaching that they would be able to cast devils out of people, and not be affected by poisons, they would be able to heal the sick, and speak with "tongues".
These gifts were only given to the apostles. No where in the Bible does it mention someone other than an apostle having these gifts. And, there are only 13 apostles- twelve men who walked with Jesus during His earthly ministry, and one who would be called by God in the future with a special commission- No one else.
Acts 2:44-47- And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
The apostles preached in the streets of Jerusalem daily. And those who believed and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ were gathering together in the temple and in each others houses learning from the apostles. They were learning to love and take care of each other, and how to praise God and be a witness to those around them.
Anyone who wanted to be saved would be added to the church, the Bride of Christ. And, this church was growing on a daily basis!
