The Acts of the Apostles 2021

06. The Coming of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (02:01 – 02:13)

• Breakup of the Events on the Day of Pentecost

o 02:01-13 – The Coming of the Spirit on the DoP
 02:01-03 – The Evidence [Audible and Visible]
 02:04-13 – The Effect [Speaking in Tongues and Confusion among the Audience]
o 02:14-36 – The First Evangelistic Preaching on the DoP
 02:14-21 – Explanation of the Event [Fulfillment of OT Prophecy]
 02:22-36 – Preaching of the Cross and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
o 02:37-47 – The People’s Response on the DoP
 02:37-41 – Call to Repentance and Initial Response (3000 souls converted to Christ)
 02:42-47 – Transformed Lives (Fellowship, Learning, Sharing, and Numerical and
Spiritual Growth)

THE EVIDENCE [AUDIBLE AND VISIBLE]

• OT Significance of the Day of Pentecost
o It celebrated the offering of the first-fruits of the wheat harvest, and was the second of the
three great festivals of the Jewish agricultural year. It was celebrated 50 days after the first
fruits of the harvest were offered to the priest.
• Tongues of Fire
o Fire is often associated in the Old Testament with the presence of God (Exo 3:2; 13:21-22;
24:17; Isa 10:17) and with His holiness (Psa 97:3; Mal 3:2). Likewise, in the New Testament,
fire is associated with the presence of God (Hebrews 12:29) and the purification He can bring
about in human life (Revelation 3:18). God’s presence and holiness are implied in the
Pentecostal tongues of fire. Luke is careful to say that this was not actual fire; only “what
seemed to be . . . fire” (Acts 2:3).
o The dividing of the “fire” into small, tongue-shaped flames signifies several things: John the
Baptist’s prophecy of Jesus’ baptizing people “with the Holy Spirit and fire” was possibly
being fulfilled (Matt 3:11), there is one Spirit who gives many gifts (1 Cor 12:11), there was
a great variety of languages that the disciples were being enabled to speak (Acts 2:6-11), and
the disciples were being granted “fiery” eloquence to preach the gospel to all nations (see
Acts 4:13).

THE EFFECT [SPEAKING IN TONGUES AND CONFUSION AMONG THE AUDIENCE]

• Filled with the Spirit: The Spirit took control of the believers
• Speaking in Tongues: The gift was given to the believers to speak (and not for the unbelievers to
hear). The believers were supernaturally enabled to speak the mighty works of God in a language
that was unknown to them but known to the audience.
• Some of the countries that were represented by the audience on the DoP: Israel, Iran, Iraq,
Turkey, Kuwait, Syria, Egypt, Libya, Italy, Greece, Arabian countries

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 The Acts of the Apostles 2021

STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS

1. What is the OT significance of the Day of Pentecost?

2. How did the Holy Spirit demonstrate His presence on the Day of Pentecost?
3. What does “filled with the Spirit” mean (in the current context)?
4. What does it mean to speak in tongues (in the current context)?
5. What did the audience on the Day of Pentecost hear?
6. The people of which countries were present on the Day of Pentecost?

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