“1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:1-4)
The Jews all gathered at one place on the day of feast. Surely, many people came up to Jerusalem because of the feast. It is just as the scene of Joseph and Mary’s going to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. It seems that most of the people within 30 km of Jerusalem were obliged to gather and keep this day. We all tend to scatter on national holidays. But all the Israelites gathered together. Therefore, the image of the disciples of the early churches in the book of Acts was like that of the Israelites. They gathered together in one place during the Jewish days of feast. We can see the beautiful image of the apostles, who started the church, how they commemorated this day all the more to God, how they were in joy, and how they gave their lives to Him. What does it say they did when they gathered? It is said that they prayed with one heart. Their meeting was not one of secularism or of gossip. This means they did not gather with worldly motives and share secular matters nor were their conversations centered on those.
At this time, the power came from above. This is the intervention of eternity into time. This is the ability of the eternal God who comes to intervene in our finite lives. They were able to experience this amazing event. It means that they had received the ability from above. Luke recorded what happened to them precisely. He testified this work of the Holy Spirit with two things, <Wind and Fire>. What is wind? It’s not visible but audible. What is fire? It’s not audible but visible. The unmistakable works of God that they could see and hear with their senses came upon them. In other words, amazing works came to intervene with them. When was it? It was when they gathered together.
It is said that they gathered and prayed. As we saw in the chapter 1, they sincerely believed in the promise of the Lord and the faithful promise of the future. They gathered following the Word. We need to resemble this image of the apostles who believed in the promise of the Lord faithfully. Does not our faith have the image of ignoring the prophecy and not believing in the promise of God? There is something precious that caused 120 apostles and disciples of the early churches to receive truly amazing ability of the Holy Spirit. That is, they believed in the promise of the Lord. They believed that it would surely be fulfilled. Jesus gives us many messages of prophesy. We have many promises and prophecies. We should ask God faithfully believing in the promise with thirsty hearts like the apostles of the early churches. When they gathered, they heard what seemed to be the sound of wind and saw tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. This is that as the great fire was descending it dispersed to each person. This reminds us of God who appeared as a burning bush. That ability of God dispersed and came upon all the people.
What is the significant meaning of the event of the Pentecost? Before them, experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit was extremely limited. There was an important change brought through the event of the Pentecost. This is an epoch-making change. There is this meaningful fact shown in the phrase, “I will pour out my spirit on all people.” [Genesis 2:7] the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. The wonderful <breath of God> that changed man to a living being [Genesis 6:3] “for he is mortal” This is what “for he is mortal” of [Genesis 6:3] in the days of Noah meant. The Holy Spirit left them and they all became mortal. [Ezekiel Ch.37] They became dry-boned men in the valley of Ezekiel. The number of those who were empowered by the Holy Spirit and prophecy were extremely limited in this fallen world. But now, this work [Acts 2:17] In the last days, God says, I will pour our my Spirit on all people according to the prophesy of Joel is taking place “They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated.” What this means is that the Holy Spirit separated like a tongue of fire so that everyone was able to receive it. There was the event of the coming of the Holy Spirit after the Lord carried the Cross and resurrected and ascended. For the Lord has made the way so we could face the era of the Holy Spirit where everyone dwells in the grace of the Holy Spirit.
They began to speak in other tongues as they were filled with the Holy Spirit. The works of the Holy Spirit took place. The book of Acts, from the beginning to the end, can be looked at as the works of the Holy Spirit. Stephen’s famous sermon tells how people of distrust had lived resisting the Holy Spirit. [Acts 7:51] You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! The work of the Holy Spirit had been around before. However, it was limited. But now the Holy Spirit will pour down like rain, upon everyone. It means this amazing era has come. Therefore, Acts is filled with works of the Holy Spirit. Not only the Apostles but also 7 deacons and elders were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were all the people of the Holy Spirit. Regardless of position, they were all people of the Holy Spirit, without exception. So, we can regard Acts as acts of the Holy Spirit, records of what the Holy Spirit did and works that Holy Spirit did within the apostles.