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Backgrounder: May 24, 2023

Acts 2:1-11

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled,
they were all in one place together.
And suddenly there came from the sky
a noise like a strong driving wind,
and it filled the entire house in which they were.
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem.
At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd,
but they were confused
because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
They were astounded, and in amazement they asked,
“Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?
Then how does each of us hear them in his native language?
We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites,
inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene,
as well as travelers from Rome,
both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs,
yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.

BACKGROUNDER
The wind and flames that manifest when the disciples gather mark what is often called “the birthday of the church”. Let’s look at who’s in the room and what they are doing. There are 120 people, led by the Twelves Apostles, including Peter, and a new member of the Twelve named Matthias (who replaced Judas), and Mary the mother of Jesus. “All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:14).

They are united and receptive, waiting for Jesus to fulfill his promise: “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you”. Jesus made this promise so that they “will be [his] witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. (Acts 1:8)

The crowd of people who gathers outside the room may be drawn by two things. They may have heard the “sound like the rush of a violent wind, and [which] filled the entire house”. The crowd may also have heard the 120 disciples rushing out into the streets, speaking of the might deeds of God.

The disciples are on fire with the Holy Spirit, who now fills them and sends them out into the world. How were they doing before they received the Spirit? They were locked into a room, away from the world, uncertain, perhaps afraid. They are so changed, filled with joy and boldness, that nothing can hold them back.

What will follow is an invitation to transformation for all who listen. That very day 3,000 people will repent and receive Baptism, receiving the Holy Spirit, and joining the Church. How amazing to know that the same Holy Spirit comes to us today, filling us with joy, leading us into mission, and drawing ever more people into a brand new life in Christ.

Letting God's Word soak into your heart!

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