Acts 2:1-13
The Spirit’s coming fulfills promise, forms a witnessing community, and declares that the saving reign of God in Christ is for people from every nation.
1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.
4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.
6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?
8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?
9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,
10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”
12 They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
13 Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”
The Spirit’s coming fulfills promise, forms a witnessing community, and declares that the saving reign of God in Christ is for people from every nation.
To record the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the public manifestation of Spirit-empowered witness in diverse languages.
Acts 2:1-13 follows the season of waiting, prayer, and leadership restoration in the upper room. The disciples have obeyed the Lord's command to remain in Jerusalem until they are clothed with power from on high. Now, during the Jewish Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), when devout Jews from many nations are gathered in Jerusalem, the promised Holy Spirit is poured out. The sound of a violent wind and what appears like tongues of fire signal a new redemptive moment. The disciples begin to speak in other languages as the Spirit enables, and the multinational crowd hears the wonders of God in their own tongues. The initial reactions of amazement, perplexity, and mockery set the stage for Peter's explanatory sermon in the following verses.
Acts 2:1-13 takes place in Jerusalem during the Feast of Pentecost, fifty days after Passover. Pentecost (Feast of Weeks) was a major pilgrim festival celebrating the wheat harvest and later associated with the giving of the Law at Sinai in Jewish tradition. Jerusalem is filled with devout Jews and proselytes from across the Mediterranean and Near Eastern world. The disciples are gathered together, likely the same group that has been praying and waiting as instructed. In this context of covenant memory and international gathering, God pours out the Spirit, signaling a new covenant reality and the beginning of the church's worldwide witness.
The Spirit Comes and Christ Is Proclaimed
Acts 2 shows that the exalted Christ pours out the promised Spirit so the gospel may be proclaimed, sinners may repent, and the church may be formed around his word.