Happy Easter (Resurrection Sunday)!
He has risen! He has risen indeed.
Chapter 2 opens with the apostles and disciples gathered together in what’s commonly referred to as the “Upper Room”. According to Acts, this house was the residence of Mary, the mother of John Mark (Acts 12:12), who is traditionally believed to be Mark the Evangelist, author of the Gospel of Mark. The apostles and disciples gathered together in the Upper Room for prayer.
They were all together (v.1) for the Jewish feast of Shavuot (the Greek name is Pentecost). We can be certain the “all” included the apostles plus the 120 disciples mentioned in 1:15, especially since this was a major milestone for the Church, and I think we can be certain that God didn’t exclude any of His true followers, pending the coming of the Holy Spirit.
As they gathered in the Upper Room (Acts 1:15) the scene may have looked like this, with small groups scattered across the large room. Based on the size of a room needed to accommodate 132 people, some believe they gathered in one of the temple courts as per Luke 24:53. Solomon’s Colonnade is considered a likely place. So, who’s right? There are supporting arguments for the Upper Room in that they feared the Jewish leaders and would not have felt safe in the temple grounds, to worship the crucified Jesus Christ. Especially since they have not yet received the Holy Spirit.
Luke 24:50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
The traditional view for their gathering was the Upper Room, not the temple court. V.2 that tells us a violent wind “filled the whole house.” It doesn’t say what house—maybe Luke felt it wasn’t necessary—I think it’s safe to stick with the traditional view that it was the Upper Room noted in Mark 14:15 and Luke 22:12. I think it’s safe to stick with the Upper Room, the same room where Jesus held the Last Supper.
Pictures show the “Upper Room” mentioned in Acts and Luke, where Jesus held the Last Supper (Matt. 26:17-30; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-30). It was large enough to accommodated the apostles plus 120 disciples (Acts 1:15, 12:12). The word used in Acts differs from the word used in Luke, as in Acts the language suggests that the room or upper floor had been modified or converted. "Room upstairs” in Luke’s gospel, denotes any entire upper-floor or elevated part of the house (next slide). In either case it was a very large room. God knew how many people it needed to accommodate, and we can be certain He predetermined there was such a room.
What the outside of the building may have looked like this. The room would have encompassed the entire second story. People can be seen inside via the windows.
In Luke’s gospel (Luke 22:11-12), the Upper Room served as a dining-room, which was used for the Passover celebration—and Last Supper of Christ. Again, a sovereign God decreed where and how large the room would be for His purposes.
Luke 22:10 He replied, "As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, 'The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 12 He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there."
V.2 a wind filled the “whole house”, not a temple court. Two signs that they were being baptized by the Spirit was a strong wind and tongues of fire. No mention of water baptism. In the NKJV it’s called “a rushing mighty wind”. Tongues of fire was a one-time occurrence, not mentioned elsewhere in the New or Old Testament. In the O.T. God used different manifestations of His presence. The Holy Spirit’s presence was felt and seen by everyone in that room, which also served as conclusive evidence regarding who Jesus Christ was/is. There would be no doubt after this with any of them.
The burning bush in Ex. 3:2, was not consumed by the fire. It was a manifestation of God’s presence. God explained to Moses that He is sending him to lead the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, to the Promised Land of Canaan. When Moses expressed his doubt and inability for such a daunting task, God answers with "I AM WHO I AM". And then tells Moses what he is to say to the Israelites: "I AM has sent me to you.” In other words, it’s the I AM, Jehovah God, who will lead them through Moses. The same was true for those in the upper room in sharing the Gospel, their regeneration was the power of God as shown with the tongues of fire. As His people, we have that same Holy Spirit.
The apostles and disciple were “filled with the Holy Spirit”. This was a one-time occurrence not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament. Why was it important? It’s a special manifestation (sign) of regeneration of all those in Christ Jesus—as the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit’s presence was visible for everyone in the room to see. Think back to doubting Thomas; we can be certain there was not a hint of doubt in that room. What other tongues were they speaking in? The answer is in v.1:5-13.
Pentecost is the Greek translation for Shavuot from the Hebrew Septuagint, which was the spring harvest festival of the Israelites. It was the fiftieth day after the Sabbath (Passover week), one of three great annual feasts of Israel. Water Baptism came later as a sign of one’s repentance and faith; like with John the Baptist, water Baptism symbolized repentance and forgiveness of sin.
The wind and tongues of fire provided solid evidence of their baptism with the Holy Spirit (not water baptism) and being born again (regeneration), as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3-8, that you must be born again. It left no doubt in anyone’s mind as to the significance of what had happened. Being born of the Spirit doesn’t require any action from us, it is totally of and by God.
John 3:8 "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
The apostles were Galileans (V.7). V.5 explains v.4 regarding “speaking in tongues”, in that they were speaking “different languages” to communicate with the foreign Jews who were in Jerusalem for the feast days. The countries from which they came are noted in Acts 2:9-11. Jews had settled across the known world and established synagogues (John 7:35; James 1:1; 1 Peter 1:1) that God preordained, and Paul would visit during his missionary journeys.
Many Jews converted and took the Gospel message back to their hometowns. I couldn’t help but think of a coworker from Belgian who spoke several languages. I asked him what language he thought in, and did he translate what he heard in English into his native language? When he heard English he subconsciously translated some of it into his native French. What was happening here, was a step above that, no translating was needed. V.4 said the apostles were speaking in other tongues (languages). Most likely the apostles were thinking in their own language but when they spoke it was in each of the visitors’ languages by power of the Holy Spirit.
“Every nation under heaven” noted v.2:5, was “every known nation”. The Jews were merchants and saw commercial opportunities in those places, going back several generations (like Jews born in America, English is their native language). All of which provided a basis for bringing the Gospel to those places, since the synagogues was one of the first places Paul visited. We looked at the sovereignty of God before. Here we see a roadmap laid out by God. It was no accident that Jews settled across the known world; it was God’s preordained plan in order to spread the Gospel message. Don’t ever doubt the sovereignty of God in all things, even the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was apparent from v.13, not everyone heard them in their own language; some heard a kind of babble or gibberish. The Holy Spirit allowed those chosen to hear in their own tongues, and those not chosen not to understand and make fun of what they heard as gibberish. The message for us is when we share the Gospel with someone that they will hear it as God intended, and not just reject it off hand as gibberish.
Peter was a fisherman by trade and not a public speaker. Even his Galilean accent indicated someone lacking a formal education; which made what he said that much more compelling. We see that in the following verses beginning with v.14. When the opportunity arises, will we have a similar ability to share the gospel? I think so. Think of the difference between Peter and Paul who was a highly educated Pharisee. God used each one in a compelling way.
Peter told the visiting Jews that he and the others weren’t a bunch of babbling drunks, which (as previously stated) seems to indicates that some may not have understood what was being said.
Why did Peter bring up Joel’s prophecy referring to the last days? (Joel 2:28-32). Much of the O.T. was still a mystery to the Jews, like this prophecy, but it’s a prophecy for all people—both Jew and Gentile—of every generation. V.17-20 may be referring to the second 3 ½ years of the Tribulation. Peter’s words were inspired by the Holy Spirit. They are God’s words intended for all Christians in every century that their will be a period of Tribulation for a sinful world. Like them, we do not know the time or the hour.
V.22 Peter reminds them of Jesus miracles. Perhaps some were the very same ones who demanded Jesus' death. In v.24 the coup d’etat, is that Jesus rose from the dead. We can be certain that Jesus’ resurrection, even as a rumor, had spread throughout Jerusalem. Peter’s words may have stirred resentment by accusing them of putting Jesus—as the promised Messiah—to death. (v.23). Acts 2:14-36. We have reason enough to think that the other disciples continued to speak to those who understood them (and therefore flocked about them) in the languages of their respective countries.
Again, Peter is referring to Jesus as the one David spoke about. This is clear from v.27, since David died and did see decay as stated in v.29 (next slide). Christ was the only one who died and did not experience decay—because He rose from the grave on the third day.
Again, Peter states that David died and was buried and still rest in his tomb. In v.31-32 Peter states that David was speaking about the resurrected Christ (the Messiah). And that Christ’s resurrection was witnessed by many. It isn’t just word of mouth, but an actual event.
Peter continues his explanation of who David was referring to. David did not ascend into heaven, but Jesus did and now sits at the right hand of God (v.24-35)
In v.36 Peter reminds them that they crucified Christ (Messiah). Many apparently, were pained by this accusation and in v.37 asked what they could do. Peter’s response (v.38) “repent and be baptized”. Was baptism necessary to be forgiven? No, but it was a sign of repentance. The end of v.39 speaks volumes in that God does the calling. This points to the doctrine of predestination and election (another study).
A message from John Calvin fits the occasion. In other words, Christ doesn’t help us to obtain righteousness, but through the power of the Holy Spirit He becomes our righteousness. This is the message Peter was sharing.
Some may say that v.40 tells them to save themselves—he didn’t mean spiritually, but telling them to separate from a corrupt generation and stop sinning. V.41 explains, those who accepted his message did so because they repented of their sins and were baptized as a sign of their faith in Jesus. They weren’t saved because they were baptized; they were baptized because they were saved.
As we are told in v.41, three thousand converted. Scripture doesn’t mention how many, if any, joined the Church but later fell away. We’ll see an example a little further on in our study. Why would some fall away? Their decision may have been emotional, but not a sincere conversion in faith and rebirth by the Holy Spirit. The same may be true as to why people join a particular church even today—perhaps for fellowship to fill empty hours; or great music and entertainment that satisfies them, etc.
From that day on they came together as one body. The breaking of bread was also used in communion. It didn’t stop there as we see in v.47, many more joined them. Most likely many were anxious to share their newfound faith with family and friends.
The church isn’t membership in an organization or fellowship, it is a communion of those who professed a sincere faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and were regenerated by the Holy Spirit as members of the Body of Christ.
The Bible isn’t just church history, it is also a guide for how we should live as Christians, as members of the Body of Christ. Don't skip over Adrian Rogers' powerful message.
Adrian Rogers’ 47-minute sermon: “Lets Celebrate Passover“– is a powerful message that explains that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin, and that Jesus paid the price on our behalf as the Paschal Lamb of God. Professing Jesus as Lord and Savior doesn’t require any act on our part, not even an altar call, but it is a matter of focusing our mind and heart on Him in true repentance.
https://youtu.be/zu9L_V5Vqmo
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Pray for the United States of America. The future of the United States rests in God’s hands. Nevertheless, Jesus, Himself told us to pray (Matthew 6:5-15). Pray for our Pastor, his family, and our church and its members.
