ACTS 2:4

We are in the passage where the Holy Spirit is given to the apostles and the other disciples with them for the very first time. This was a significant event, not unlike the birth of Christ when He first came into the world. The apostles did not see the Holy Spirit. They heard a wind, and they saw tongues and fire. Acts 2:4 tells us the first result of having the Holy Spirit come upon them. It says, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” The word “tongue” refers to language. We use it in the same way today, such as in the phrase, “I know that you speak several languages, but what is your mother tongue?”

It was not a special spiritual language as the charismatics falsely claim. It was the miraculous ability to speak forth the Word of God in a foreign language. That is made very clear in the verses that follow. Acts 2:5-11 says, “And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation out of heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, and in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphilia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya near Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”

Notice carefully in the verses above that the phrases “in his own language” and “in our own tongue” are used interchangeably. This phenomenon on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was first given bears absolutely no resemblance to what the charismatics of our day call speaking in tongues. If the devil cannot get you to stop wanting to serve God, then he will try to find a way to get you involved in some activity that seems religious but in reality is not serving God. That very thing has happened in the charismatic movement.

This miraculous speaking of foreign languages had at least two significant lessons that it taught. The fact that so many people from so many different countries were brought together at Jerusalem and then heard the word of God in their own language was God emphasizing the fact that He wants all people to hear the gospel. God wants the gospel to be preached to everyone in the world. This was a new way to preach the gospel to those from other lands. Always look for new ways. For example, the internet is a way of spreading the gospel throughout the world. Immigrants have come to America like never before. We no longer have to go to other lands to spread the gospel to people of other lands. They come to us, and they learn our language. If they become converted to Christ while they are here, they can return to their own land some day and be better missionaries there than we could ever be. Of course, each Christian must go where God leads them. There are still places on this world that need missionaries. You can learn their language well enough to tell them about Jesus if that is God’s will for you.

By the miraculous speaking of foreign languages on the day of Pentecost, God showed that there would be no obstacle too great that He would not in some way help to overcome so that His servants would be equipped to spread the gospel. Also, notice the unity and the common experience of all these people brought together from so many countries to hear the gospel and the wonderful words of God. At the tower of Babel human beings became separated and divided, and one of the greatest elements in that separation was the multitude of languages that developed as humans spread across the earth. The gospel can unite people and bring them back together. You should be united with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Bible says in Acts 2:12-18, “And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What does this mean? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, You men of Judea, and all you that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day, But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.” Peter correctly recognized that what took place on the day of Pentecost was a fulfillment of an Old Testament prophesy given by the prophet Joel. It is important to note when the prophecy would be fulfilled: “in the last days.” There are different ways of looking at the phrase “the last days,” but from this perspective the last days started in the first century and continue to this day. The last days is an age that started with the ministry of the apostles and will end with the return of Christ. We also are the last days which started two thousand years ago. All of the characteristics of the last days we see: the antichrists, the wickedness of the human race, the falling away from the faith, the false doctrines, the persecutions of the true believers.

From God’s standpoint one of the most important activities of the last days is the preaching of the Word of God. That is one of the main reasons that the Holy Spirit was given: so that we would be equipped and empowered to spread the Word. Twice in just these few verses after mentioning that the Spirit would be given, it is mentioned that the believers would prophesy. To prophesy means to speak forth the Word of God. Yes, it might sometimes refer to prophetical events, but many times it does not. If you are speaking forth the Word of God, then you are prophesying. In Ephesians 4:11 are mentioned gifts of the Spirit that are given to some believers for the purpose of the spreading of the Word. It says, “And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.”

By the way, for those who are against women preachers, notice that in Acts chapter two it says that “your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.” For decades churches have sent women to spread the gospel as missionaries to other countries, but when they return to this country, the women are not allowed to preach. Of course, when someone gets up and gives a word of testimony, that is preaching. To preach means to publicly proclaim. To show the equality of the believers in their relationship with Christ, not only are male and female mentioned, but so are young and old. It says that your “young men shall see visions,” and “your old men shall dream dreams.” If you are young, let no man despise thy youth. You can do whatever God wants you to do because you have the Spirit. If you are old, do not ever think that you are washed up and put out to pasture. Because you also have the Spirit, you can do whatever God wants you to do. You are here for a reason, male and female, young and old. Make sure that you find that reason. You have the power to do whatever God wants you to do because you have the Holy Spirit.

It is written in Acts chapter two that “your young men shall see visions” and “your old men shall dream dreams.” The Apostle John saw a vision, and he recorded what he saw for us in the book of Revelation. It is a great vision of the future, and blessed is he that reads the words of that vision. How did that happen? It happened because John had the Spirit. The Apostle Paul had a dream. He had a dream and a vision in which he saw a man standing across the Mediterranean in Macedonia and saying, “Come over and help us.” Paul followed that dream and countless souls were saved and the history of the world was altered forever. How did such a thing happen? It happened because Paul had the Spirit.

In Acts 2:19-21 Peter continued to quote the Prophet Joel and said, “And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come; And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” These verses speak of events that still have not happened yet. These are events also spoken of in the book of Revelation that will happen at the Second Coming of Christ. This shows one of the difficult things of Bible prophesy: the difficulty of giving dates to events. Peter quoted from the book of Joel and he quoted 4 verses. The first two of those verses are obviously speaking of the vents of the day of Pentecost: a day that took place almost two thousand years ago. The next two verses are events that have not yet happened. We now know that these verses in Joel are separated in time by at least two thousand years, and maybe many more. Those who try to give dates to prophetic events will be proved wrong over and over as time goes by.

The last phrase that was quoted from Joel refers to the circumstance that existed on the day of Pentecost. This circumstance has existed throughout all these two thousand years since, and will exist even in that great and dreadful day of the Lord when He returns to judge the earth. The prophet Joel said about these last days, “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” This same phrase is also found in Romans 10:13, and is one of the most common Bible verses used to tell people how to be saved. It is also an interesting Bible verse that equates the Jehovah of the Old Testament to Jesus. When the prophet Joel said, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD,” Joel was talking about Jehovah. When Peter and Paul interpreted by the Spirit that promise, they knew that it was talking about Jesus.

“Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” We live in the age of grace. Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ. Someone who has come to the end of himself or herself and realizes the greatness of his sins, will gladly call out to the name of the Lord for salvation. Notice that no one who calls out for salvation is ever turned away. That is why this promise says, “Whosoever.” The greatest sinner in the world may call upon the name of the Lord. You may call upon the name of the Lord. If you do, you will be saved. If you do not, you will be lost forever.

Jesus is the Savior. Jesus is the One upon whom you must call in order to be saved. In his sermon here on the Day of Pentecost Peter begins to go into detail about Jesus. Peter was filled with the Spirit, and the Spirit does not speak of Himself: He speaks of Jesus. Peter said in Acts 2:22-23, “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.”

First Peter reminded his audience of the goodness and the greatness and the godliness of Jesus. No one can deny that. No one can deny the exemplary life that Jesus lived. The miracles and the wonders and the signs that God performed through Christ are astounding. Even more astounding is the contrast to the wickedness of human beings, who when the Christ was in their midst, they took Him and crucified Him and killed Him. “He came unto His own and His own received Him not.” Look at what happened when the Christ came to the earth. He found Himself in the midst of selfish, power-hungry, jealous, and deceitful men; and with wicked hands they killed Him. People have not changed much over the ears. Human nature is still what it was two thousand years ago. You can go into almost any organization today and find people just like the ones who slew the Christ.

In this verse where Peter spoke of the crucifixion of Christ, Peter also spoke of God’s foreknowledge. God knew that Jesus would be crucified. God knew that wicked men would take the Christ and nail Him to a cross. God knew before it happened. In a way we could say that God planned it all. God is so wise and so powerful that His plans become fulfilled even as human beings go about making their choices. Both of these things have always taken place, and still take place even as we speak. The omnipotent power of God is controlling all things according to His will. And somehow at the same time the free will man is making choices that permanently affect his own destiny.

God sent His Son to die for the sins of the world, and to die for your sins. The question is: what choice have you made? Have you chosen to repent of your sins, to believe on Him, and to call upon the name of Christ?

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