Acts 2:5 - Forerunner Commentary

Acts 2:5

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Forerunner Commentary
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Acts 2:2-11

The day of Pentecost is typically associated with stupendous signs and miracles. Acts 2 records that when the Holy Spirit was given, the display of ability and power astounded everyone present. There was a sound like a mighty rushing wind (verse 2). It appeared that fire rested on the apostles (verse 3), and when they spoke, every person present could hear what was being said in his own language, even his own dialect (verses 4-11).

Because of the brief description given in Acts 2, various religious denominations have sprung up which practice speaking in gibberish—which the disciples definitely were not doing—and being "slain in the Spirit," which is clearly not a biblical concept. These sincere but misled people focus on miracles and manifestations as "proof" that they have received the Holy Spirit. Every week they gather to "pray down" the Spirit—or at least a spirit—for their own use and gratification. The focus of their meetings is on the experience rather than on instruction, admonition, rebuke, or encouragement (see II Timothy 3:16).

Before this event in Acts, Jesus Himself explained to His disciples the importance of their receiving the Holy Spirit, as well as what signs would be shown as a result (Acts 1:4-9). The very last thing the resurrected Christ said before He ascended to the Father was, to paraphrase, "You will receive power when you receive the Holy Spirit, and this will enable you to be witnesses of Me." Through the giving of the Holy Spirit, Christ's disciples would have the necessary means to be lights to the world and to demonstrate a way to live that glorified God.

David C. Grabbe
The Pentecost Witness

Related Topics: "Slain in the Spirit" | Holy Spirit | Holy Spirit as Channel of God's Creative Energy | Holy Spirit as Force | Holy Spirit as God's Creative Power | Holy Spirit as Power | Holy Spirit, Manifestation of | Holy Spirit, Symbolized as Fire | Holy Spirit, Symbolized as Wind | Pentecost | Pentecost , Miracle of | Pentecost Witness | Rushing Wind, Sound of | Sound of Rushing Wind | Witness

Acts 2:5-11

Beginning with the Feast of Pentecost in AD 31, God opened salvation to those of any human language He chose to call. The miracle of languages seen in the apostles demonstrates that God can overcome any language barrier to enable His chosen people to call on His name in any language of men, as long as there is a new heart—a new spirit. What His people need are spiritual lips, speaking from a new heart, not carnal lips speaking Hebrew.

David C. Grabbe
What Is the Prophesied 'Pure Language'? (Part Three)

Related Topics: God Fashioning a New Heart | God Gives a New Heart | God's Holy Spirit as Core of New Heart | Hebrew not the Pure Language | Language Barrier | Miracle of Language | What is the Prophesied Pure Language

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