The Mighty Wind

April 14, 2013

Lesson: Acts 2:1–21

Key Verse: Acts 2:2

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Introduction

God chose a day upon which he would keep his promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon his Church. The day of Pentecost came. It was the day that the Lord chose for the keeping of his promise. The Holy Spirit would come at a time when a great assembly of people crowded Jerusalem. It was the time of the Feast of Weeks, 50 days after the offering of barley sheaves at the feast of Unleavened Bread. In the unity of faith, the disciples of Christ waited one with another.

The Lord has given to himself a people: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, and the people whom he hath chosen” (Ps. 33:12). The King and Head of this divinely appointed nation is Christ Jesus, who was chosen by the Father. Scripture records this election with these words of God: “Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious; and he that believeth in him shall not be confounded” (1 Pe. 2:6). The character of this elect nation is seen in these words: “ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath call you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (2:9). We are therefore called a people who have obtained mercy.

The Chief Cornerstone has been placed upon this earth, and upon this Cornerstone Christ is building his church, an elect people of God. Thus we are enabled to testify with Peter that Christ is our Rock, saying, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” to which our Lord answers, “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father who is in Heaven. And I say also unto thee …and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:16-18).

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The Coming of the Spirit—Acts 2:1–13

Suddenly “there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” Cloven tongues “like as fire” came upon each one. Being filled with the Holy Spirit they “began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”  A great multitude came together, “devout men out of every nation under heaven.” They were amazed to hear these apostles speak in their own language: “how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” Men from Asia, Egypt, Rome and Arabia, and others, cried out, “we hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.” Matthew Henry wrote that they “took lodgings there, because there was at this time a general expectation of the appearing of the Messiah; for Daniel’s weeks had just now expired, the sceptre had departed from Judah, and it was then generally thought that the kingdom of God would immediately appear (Luke 19:11). This brought those who were most zealous and devout to Jerusalem, to sojourn there, that they might have an early share in the kingdom of the Messiah and the blessings of that kingdom.”

Some were amazed and others doubted, while others mockingly said, “These men are full of new wine.” To those who were astonished and those who taunted, Peter rose to speak. The message is one of fulfillment, the outpouring of the Spirit, the reality of the coming of the Savior, judgment upon all nations, and the deliverance and glorification of God’s people. Jesus said that the kingdom of God was at hand, now we see the kingdom of God spreading its branches. With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit came the authority to preach the glorious redemption that alone can come in the person of Christ Jesus. They heard, in their own language, the wonderful grace of God. The praise of the Apostles was heard in the preaching of the Gospel of Christ; their hearts were being taught by Spirit of the divine nature of that Gospel.

Discussion: What is the glorious meaning of that Day of Pentecost?

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The Spirit of God—Acts 2:14–21

Peter stood with the apostles, calling upon his listeners to hear and know. The speaking in the languages of those who came from different nations was not of the apostles’ doing. This was not a planned meeting, but a fulfillment of the prophecy of God. Moving from the absurdness of the charge, Peter declared that what they witnessed was that which was spoken by God’s prophet, Joel: that by the coming of Christ in those days, they will witness the restoration of the kingdom.

God said, “I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh.” The world will know the coming of the Spirit. They will respond in obedience or rebellion. There shall be prophecy. The apostles join the prophets of the Old Testament in writing by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Yet the kingdom’s promise is that the written Word of God will be understood and proclaimed by young and old. Through his Word, the Spirit teaches us the wisdom of heaven. The prophet wrote of this coming of the kingdom: “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord; for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquities, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jer. 31:34).

The promise of the Holy Spirit is for the servants of the true God. By the Spirit, Christ is drawing a church to Himself, the only Mediator between us and the Father. Those who heard the Gospel on the day of Pentecost heard the divine message of heaven; thus there were wonders and signs accompanying the building and expansion of Christ’s kingdom. The people would understand the signs of darkness and blood, which would bring judgment upon Jerusalem (as with Titus) and upon all the wicked until that last Day of Judgment, when Christ will return.

As all these things will come to pass, the Sovereign Lord will be recognized, and so, “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Let us come to Christ in faith; he is our Savior, the One who has given his life for the forgiveness of our sins.

Discussion: How do we see the advancement of the Kingdom of God?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2013 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.