Acts 2: The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

Chapter one of Acts was an introduction to what happened just before Jesus left, reestablishing the disciples as they were faithful and obedient to Him as their Lord. Chapter two reveals what is necessary before we can work or ACT for Jesus: we need to wait to be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth… (John 16:13 ESV)

The empowerment from the Spirit of God began on the Feast of Pentecost, one of the three feasts that God commands His people to celebrate in Jerusalem. Israel celebrates this as the day God gave the Ten Commandments to lead and guide them in His ways. It is fitting, our Guide, the Holy Spirit came to mankind on that very day.

The windows rattled open where the disciples gathered to pray, and fire appeared, branching out over the heads of everyone. They began to speak in other languages. The passion of the Holy Spirit could not be contained, and it spilled out into the street. A crowd quickly gathered as the commotion grew. Some wondered what was going on:

“Then how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own (particular) dialect to which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and [the province of] Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and the transient residents from Rome, both Jews and the proselytes [to Judaism from other religions], Cretans and Arabians too—we all hear them speaking in our own native tongues [and telling of] the mighty works of God!” And all were beside themselves with amazement and were puzzled and bewildered, saying one to another, “What can this mean?” But others made a joke of it and derisively said, “They are simply drunk and full of sweet [intoxicating] wine.” (Acts 2:8-13 AMPC)

The disciples were obedient and faithful to do what the Lord had said: They waited seven days, hiding with a fear of being discovered, after all they had crucified their Lord. Then the Holy Spirit empowered them to work for the Lord and they didn’t hesitate. The entire group stepped forward, emboldened by the Holy Spirit. Those whose hearts were turned toward God heard them in their own particular dialect.

Those whose hearts didn’t belong to God made fun of them, accusing them of being drunk. This is where the term, “being drunk in the Spirit” comes from. It is this way whenever God speaks. It happened when Jesus was talking to people.

‘Now is My soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from Heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” (John 12:27-29 ESV)

You cannot mock God and His ways and expect to hear His voice. If you want to receive from God, do as the disciples did: learn His ways, be obedient and faithful to them and the things that God is telling you to do.

Peter had denied Jesus three times when He was taken by the religious leaders. Now he didn’t shrink from those who mocked the new gift of the Holy Spirit. First, Peter reasoned with them: it was only nine in the morning, and these people were not drunk! Next, he quoted scripture about what was occurring.

“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. (Acts 2:17-19 ESV)

This came to pass immediately in the lives of the disciples. One disciple even wrote an entire book of prophecy: the book of Revelation! These gifts were quieted for a long while, but began coming again in the 1900’s. The prophecy of Joel which Peter quoted is still being fulfilled because the conclusion is spoken of in Revelation.

And I will show wonders in the Heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ (Acts 2:19-21 ESV)

Jesus hasn’t come back yet, so the Holy Spirit is still working in mankind. God is sending signs upon the Earth now and two witnesses will be empowered to announce plagues as signs from God. Eventually, ash will fill the sky and turn the moon to blood everywhere and the whole sky will be darkened. All the while, the Holy Spirit will be poured out and working through Christians like He did in the remainder of this book.

Let’s look at some of those marvelous works in the remainder of this chapter. Peter continues, quoting several verses from Psalms 16 before explaining them in the very first Gospel message.

“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that He would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus, God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. (Acts 2:29-33 ESV)

Some of David’s songs were prophesies of what would happen, this made him a prophet. Peter connects one song to the death and resurrection of Jesus before quoting a second Psalm to show that Jesus is Lord. The words of Peter cut to the heart of many who heard and asked what they should do. Part of the answer will surprise you:

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2:38-39 ESV)

After going through the Gospels, we know that turning from sin is what God expects from us, so repentance is expected. The Holy Spirit also brought Peter wisdom that he wouldn’t recognize for quite a while. The forgiveness of sins is what brings salvation and the Holy Spirit is “for all.” At this time, they thought only Israel would be saved, but the words of the Holy Spirit came true, even though they didn’t realize the fullness of what He is saying.

When the Holy Spirit speaks through us, we may not fully understand all of what He is doing. If we follow Him, there will be good things that come from it.

And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles. And all who believed (who adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ) were united and [together] they had everything in common; And they sold their possessions (both their landed property and their movable goods) and distributed the price among all, according as any had need.

And day after day they regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes they broke bread [including the Lord’s Supper]. They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts, Constantly praising God and being in favor and goodwill with all the people; and the Lord kept adding [to their number] daily those who were being saved [from spiritual death]. (Acts 2:43-47 AMPC)

When we continue learning, continue connecting to God in prayer, the Holy Spirit continues to flow. He brought signs and wonders to help the church grow. The prophecy spoken by Jesus was also fulfilled during this turbulent time:

They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” (Luke 12:53 ESV)

Jesus said He came and families would be divided. Many would be kicked out because of their families when they dedicated their lives to Jesus. This did not hinder God!

The conviction of the first Christians, the first Church, was so strong that they bonded together as what we call “the family of God.” They had been shunned by the elders in the Temple, so they were creating their own close-knit group.

In that day and age, families often lived together in large compounds like many still do in Africa. “Had everything in common” means they were pooling their resources and living together. The journey for Israel began in the desert, as a million people traveled in tents. Now they were banding together once more as they embraced Jesus as the prophesied messiah.

The first Christians would be subject to great persecution in the coming years. This outpouring of the Holy Spirit was necessary, not only to establish the Church, but to help them survive. If we focus on God when times are hard and draw close to Him, the Holy Spirit will provide all we need!