Acts 2.1-13
Have you ever been in a situation where everyone else was speaking in a language you didn’t understand? I remember once walking in Rome at nightfall, free from daytime tourists, and hearing only Italian all around me – it was slightly disorientating! Now imagine that situation, but compounded by multiple languages. (Perhaps the closest equivalent today would be a multicultural city such as London.) That was the scene in Jerusalem during Pentecost, aka the Feast of Weeks, a Jewish holiday held seven weeks after Passover, with Jews from around the world gathering to celebrate.
In the midst of this bumbling chaos suddenly comes piercing through a recognisable sound. In fact, it’s someone speaking… English [or insert your native language here]! Like an ultra-sensitive radar picking up on a clear signal, the myriad of pilgrims hear and comprehend someone testifying about ‘God’s deeds of power’ (v.11) in their own languages. If you’d been there, you’d probably have been “amazed” and “astonished” and “perplexed” too! (vv.7,12)
This particular Pentecost was thoroughly abnormal. This wasn’t what usually happened. And it’s clear from the start of the passage, as we are made privy to the apostles’ thoughts and experience, that they too were aware this was no ordinary moment either. They knew that according to Jesus they were waiting to ‘be baptized with the Holy Spirit’ (1.5), to ‘receive power when the Holy Spirit [comes] upon [them]’ (1.8). I suspect they weren’t expecting to experience the magnitude of Holy Spirit’s power in the form of wind and fire! Imagine if they’d just had the experience without the knowledge, or vice versa – how incomplete that would have been. It was the combination of both that was life-changing.
Notice that when Holy Spirit fills them, the physical manifestations come ‘from heaven’ (v.2), i.e. beyond us and from God. But it’s not kept a secret, nor is it only for their own benefit. Instead, the ability to speak in a multitude of languages is for the Jews ‘from every nation under heaven’ (v.5). This wasn’t purely for the sake of showing off; this was God reaching from heaven, to them under heaven, communicating in ways they understood. In the same way, God still reaches from heaven, to us under heaven, communicating in ways we understand.
A quick word on the contentious issues in this passage: Some make a distinction between “glossolalia” (angelic languages) and “xenolalia” (natural languages), and argue for either/or. Others debate whether or not this was a “miracle of speaking” (the apostles miraculously speaking in other languages) or a “miracle of hearing” (the Jews miraculously hearing what was said in other languages). At the end of the day, however, I think what’s most important is the fact that this was a miracle, this was God’s empowering and equipping of the apostles by His Spirit, and this was God reaching down and communicating to people from all nations!
Let me end by sharing a testimony from when I was on a week-long mission trip in London a few years ago.
On the first day, my team was tasked to write a prophetic song of blessing to sing over the tower blocks in the neighbourhood. We visited three tower blocks over the week, and at each one, we went up to the top storey (10th), knocked on the doors of the four flats and sang our song, hoping that people would listen to and be blessed by it. Then we’d go down a storey (9th) and sing it again. Then the 8th, 7th, and so on. Not everyone opened their doors, but a few did. And in each tower block, there was at least one person visibly moved to tears whom we also got to pray for. One of these was a man from Morocco, and we got to share with him that this was Holy Spirit touching his life.
Fast forward to the fun day we hosted at the end of the week when this same Moroccan man showed up and shared what had actually happened: ‘I heard the knock on my door but I had no intention of opening it. But then I heard the song… and it was in my own language! I thought to myself, “Who’s singing that?! I know of no one around here who comes from my country.” When I saw you guys, I knew then that this was a miracle!’
Keep in mind, we were singing in English! Yes, it was a miracle of hearing, but most significantly, it shows that our God is still a loving God who intimately sees, knows about and pursues each individual, communicating directly to our hearts in ways we understand.
Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to us on earth 2,000 years ago at that history-defining, life-changing Pentecost. May we know and experience your Spirit with us to a greater degree. Thank you for empowering and equipping us to testify about Jesus to those around us from every nation. You are a God who continues to love, pursue and communicate with us. Just like you spoke through the apostles then, would you also speak through us today. Fill us with your Spirit anew. In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.