Babel Reversed
Acts 2:5-13.
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.
And at this sound, the multitude came together, and they were bewildered because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.
And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
“And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?
“Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
“Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,
“both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians – we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Dear Royal Priesthood,
The day of Pentecost was a dramatic new beginning. It came to undo another dramatic event – the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). At Babel people were united in their challenge to God, so he confused their language and dispersed them. At Pentecost, God was bringing people back to himself and making it possible for all of them to hear his message, no matter their language.
Wonder (v. 5-8).
The crowd was surprised that they could hear the disciples in their own language. It is not clear whether they were given the ability to “hear,” or each heard a specific person speaking in his native language. The latter is more likely since the disciples were speaking many different tongues.
It is significant that God was speaking to people in the languages of the world. Previously, the Jews believed that prophecy only came in the Hebrew language. Pentecost also recalls Isaiah’s prophecy that God would speak to rebellious Israel in foreign tongues (Isaiah 28:11). To some who were well-read in the scriptures, it was clear that God was moving out of Israel to the Gentiles.
World (v. 9-12).
The nations mentioned in this list represent every place in the Roman Empire where there was a Jewish presence. It does not mean that every nation on earth was represented since there were lands that were as yet unknown to the Roman world. It is significant to note that the people who received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost were Jewish or converts to Judaism (v. 11).
Wine (v. 13).
It should not surprise us that there were mockers at such a great event. Not only did they say that the disciples were drunk – they said that the disciples were drunk on new wine. New wine was fresh grape juice and would have had little or no alcohol. This then was to suggest that the disciples were so weak that they got drunk on fresh juice. But the mockers spoke the truth without knowing it. The Spirit of God controls those he fills, just as alcohol does, but in the opposite. Instead of the loss of control, “drunkenness” in the Holy Spirit produces self-control (Galatians 5:23; Ephesians 5:18).
Have you received the Spirit who is given to those who believe or are you one of the mockers?
Your Loving Pastor Chris.