What does this mean?
Scripture reading for May 7: Acts 2
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 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?”. . . —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?”“ Acts 2:4-8
Jews from every nation gathered in Jerusalem for the annual Feast of Pentecost and the celebration of the giving of God’s law. This Pentecost was following the Passover where Jesus gave His life as the “Lamb of God.” After forty days of ministry the resurrected Jesus had ascended to heaven ten days before and had told His disciples to wait for the Promise of the Father. (Acts 1:4-5) This happened at the Feast of Pentecost as described here by Luke. The one hundred twenty disciples, men and women, were waiting in an upper room of the temple as instructed. Tongues of fire came on a rushing wind from heaven and filled the room. All began to speak in other tongues and praise God, spilling out of the room into the temple.
The Jews gathered there were amazed, bewildered, perplexed, and astonished. “What does this mean?”, they asked. They were hearing Galilean Jews speaking their native languages and telling the ‘mighty works of God.” Others thought that they were under the influence of wine! This event, the baptism of the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in other tongues, disrupted world views drastically! Tongues are a ‘sign’ to unbelievers to reach them. (1 Corinthians 14:21-22)
Why do you think God chose to grant new languages to Jesus’ followers, causing this disruption? Have you experienced this spiritual empowerment for yourself? Have you heard believers mocking those who speak in other tongues?
Prayer: Father God, Lord of all nations, thank You that for reaching every person, tongue and nation with the Good News! Your ways are higher than my ways, and I have at one time made fun of those You have baptized in the Holy Spirit. Forgive me Lord and use me to clear up misunderstanding. Amen.
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