Acts Chapter two:
The Day of Pentecost, which was celebrated 50 days past the Passover.
Please do not get captivated by the word “Tongues”, that word just means languages. In chapter two we see the church empowered to speak to everyone there during Pentecost in their own language. Yes it was the empowering of the church and a miraculous event, but it was not unknown or some special heavenly language.
What should I share and how should I share it? This is the struggle of these short devotionals. Many believe Peter quoting Joel is a little misplaced and most of what Peter is quoting will take place in the millennium. I will say this, by reading the scriptures alone it seems as if Peter intended for us to believe it was for us. With this in mind, I do believe God desires to work in and through His people by His Spirit. Don’t go all “Pentecostal”, it is very Baptist to believe in the power and working of the Holy Spirit.
Peter then turns to a prophetic Psalm David wrote concerning Christ. Peter makes a clear testimony of Christ’ death, burial and resurrection pointing out to the people many times, “who you have crucified”. As Peter unfolds the Old Testament and connects Christ into their belief system, Peter calls everyone to repent in verse 38. Not only repent but to be baptized. The word “for” can mean because. For example you go to jail for murder, not to murder, but because you have murdered. After salvation we should be baptized, not for salvation but because of salvation. Verse 41, said “those that gladly believed where baptized”.
What happened after the Holy Spirit came and souls where saved? They continued together learning the doctrines of Christ from the apostles. This transformation caused a hunger for God’s Word. The early church also took care of one another. The new believers where excommunicated from the Jewish faith and they found themselves without employment or family. The church became their family. They took care of one another praising God for what He has done.
What transformation has salvation and the indwelling of God’s Spirit at salvation done to you?
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