Acts 2:14-28
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. 23 This Man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. 24 But God raised Him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him. 25 David said about Him:
“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because He is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest in hope,
27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
you will not let your Holy One see decay.
28 You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
Acts 2:14:18 GOD’S SPIRIT POURED OUT ON ALL PEOPLE
Springford Baptist Church: June 5, 2022.
Lately, I have been giving a great deal of thought to the importance of words when it comes to knowing. Choice of words can either communicate clearly or lead to misunderstanding and confusion.
It is not just words spoken, but how those words are received.
This was a miraculous event recorded in Acts 2 during the Feast of Pentecost when the promised Holy Spirit of God was poured out on people.
As a result of this gift of God’s Spirit poured out, people were able to speak languages they did not know and those who heard them speaking were able to hear the mighty works of God spoken of in their own languages. (vss. 8 & 11)
Those who heard knew these men did not speak their various native languages so this was something unusual and drew attention. Some people were amazed and perplexed (vs. 12) and asked, “What does this mean”? “Some, however made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” (vs. 13)
Peter is eager when he stands up to speak to set things straight. This is evidence of God’s Spirit poured out, just as had been promised. Peter does not want people to misunderstand and to draw the wrong conclusions after what they have heard.
Peter is the spokesperson. The other disciples stand with him, but Peter speaks on their behalf. The pattern of the way he presents things became a common one in the early church:
1) an explanation of events
2) the gospel/good news of Jesus –his death resurrection and exaltation (return to heaven)
3) an urging to repentance and baptism.
Words must always be chosen carefully to say what needs to be heard. God’s Spirit can and will assist us with this.
When there has been misunderstanding, there is a possibility for understanding.
Here Peter explains that the conclusion that these men are drunk is not accurate. It is only 9 in the morning and on a festival day such as Pentecost, a Jew would not break his fast until at least 10 am.
Now Peter offers a different explanation of these people speaking in foreign languages. When we have drawn an inaccurate conclusion or misunderstood something, how open are we to the truth? How willing are we to admit that we were wrong. This willingness to admit misapprehension is key to hearing the truth accurately, key to knowing.
And the truth is that these unfamiliar languages are evidence of God’s Spirit poured out.
The disciples had been expecting this because even before Jesus went to the cross, He had promised that He would send the Holy Spirit to be a Helper, a Comforter, an Advocate for them.
They had then been told that when Jesus returned to heaven, they were to wait there in Jerusalem until they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4b)
And now Peter goes on to quote from the prophet Joel:
“In the last days God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” (Joel 2:28-32)
All people will receive God’s Spirit. Neither gender nor age will be reasons for exception, reasons to be excluded.
This pouring out of God’s Spirit is all about inclusion.
God’s Spirit will not just be poured out on prophets, priests, and kings as had been the case in Old Testament times.
Jesus initiated a new day when all are recipients of this gift of God’s Spirit poured out!
Often there are exceptions in our society that exclude people for various reasons.
Our church sign expresses “ALL WELCOME” and that is consistent with what we see here that God’s Spirit will be poured out on all people.
And what will be the result or evidence of God’s Spirit poured out?
Sons and daughters will prophesy (speak God’s words). No gender exclusion.
Young men will see visions and old men will dream dreams. No age exclusion.
(vs. 18) Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.” Again no gender exclusion.
The disciples have just been speaking the words that God has given them and this is prophesying.
God does his part by confirming the words that He gives with signs and wonders. (vss. 19, 20)
We see here in Acts 2 that the pouring out of God’s Spirit involves God speaking through human beings and also God taking action Himself.
When there is a special occasion and only certain people are invited, this necessarily means that some people feel left out.
The quoted prophesy from Joel emphasizes,“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Acts 2:21)
All can be saved and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!
Calling on the name of the Lord involves more than words. This calling involves faith and response and that is what sets us right with the Lord and saves us.
(vs. 22) Not just words spoken. Jesus was accredited by God by miracles, wonders, and signs. The miraculous works that Jesus carried out were signs that the Messiah, the Promised One had come. No one could do what Jesus did if God were not at work in and through that person.
How will we see evidence in us who belong to Jesus today that God is at work in us and through us, that God’s Spirit has been poured out on us?
How will this impact other people and draw them to discover God and His life changing power for themselves?
When we talk about wonders and signs, the most remarkable is the resurrection (the raising again to life of Jesus) after He had died on the cross.
God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him. (vs. 24)
And in keeping with wonders and signs, we now have the pouring out of God’s Spirit.
Peter quotes from Psalm 16 “you will not abandon me to the grave or let Your Holy One see decay.” (vs. 27)
These words perfectly describe what happened with Jesus.
The pouring out of God’s Spirit in this Pentecost experience becomesan ideal opportunity for Jesus the Messiah to be highlighted.
One of the ways we can verify the pouring out of God’s Spirit is when the attention is directed toward Jesus and not those who have been recipients of God’s Spirit.
I want to return to this matter of God’s Spirit being available to all people.
When God’s Spirit is poured out what can we expect?
We can expect to hear God’s words for us. This is prophesy.
We can expect to be given words that God wants us to share. This also is prophesy.
When we are apprehending God’s words, we do not need to be anxious about what to say or how people will receive it.
We can place our confidence in God.
What if we take on this approach of everyone being included as a potential recipient of God’s Spirit and God’s message?
Then there can be confirmation of what God is saying and we can together determine how we need to respond.
There can also be confirmation through the miraculous things that God brings about- like answers to prayer.
And notice that all of this indicates the last days, moving steadily toward the time of Jesus’ second coming and return for His own.
God’s Spirit was not poured out then at the time of the Feast of Pentecost without purpose.
As the disciples spoke in various languages, they were declaring the wonders of God and the people hearing in their own languages were able to respond to what God had been doing.
Today when God pours out His Spirit on all people and expression is given to the wonders of God, again people who hear are able to respond to what God has been doing.
We can be thankful and in awe of the way God does work.
He does not leave us alone to determine what to say or how to initiate people recognizing the wonders of God.
If it were up to us, we would have every reason to panic, but it is not solely up to us.
When God’s Spirit is poured out, then God takes responsibility for people hearing and receiving what He has for them.
God had planned all along to send His Holy Spirit after Jesus returned to heaven. This is God’s way of continued close connection with Himself.
God is generous when He pours out His Spirit and the result can be discovery of who Jesus is and why He has come.
We can and should mirror God’s approach in the pouring out of His Spirit by including all people and not excluding or making exceptions.
We can and should expect that God’s Spirit will give us a keen sensitivity to the words that we should speak so that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!