LECTIO DIVINA Acts 2:1-11 Pentecost Sunday Year B Fr. Michael Brizio, IMC

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1 Page 1 of 14 LECTIO DIVINA Acts 2:1-11 Pentecost Sunday Year B Fr. Michael Brizio, IMC 1) OPENING PRAYER: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. Amen. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations. Through Christ Our Lord. 2) READING OF THE WORD (What the Word says): Acts 2: When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. 2 And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. 3 Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. 5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. 6 At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? 9 We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

2 Page 2 of Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, 11 both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God. 3) EXPLANATION (What the Word means): Jewish law required Jewish people to observe three pilgrimage festivals annual festivals in Jerusalem that Jewish men were expected to attend: Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, observed in March-April (Leviticus 23:4-8; Numbers 28:16-25; Deuteronomy 16:1-8). These were originally two festivals, but by New Testament times the Jewish people had combined them. They celebrated the Exodus from Egypt. The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), observed toward the end of May or the beginning of June (Leviticus 23:10-21; Deuteronomy 16:9-12) also known as the festival of harvest (Exodus 23:16) or the day of the first fruits (Numbers 28:26).

3 Page 3 of 14 The Feast of Booths (or Feast of Tabernacles), observed in late September or early October (Leviticus 23:33-36, 39-43; Deuteronomy 16:13-15). This was a harvest festival, celebrating the ingathering of the crops. THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LUKE-ACTS CONTEXT Luke wrote both the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles the Gospel being the story of Jesus and Acts being the story of the early church. It is unfortunate that the two books are separated in the New Testament by the Gospel of John, because placing Acts directly after Luke would help us to see how the Acts of the Apostles picks up where the Gospel of Luke leaves off. This is significant to the story of Pentecost, because the first Christian Pentecost is deeply rooted in the Gospel of Luke. We might think of the first Christian Pentecost as beginning, not with the words, When the day of Pentecost had come (Acts 1:1), but with the words of the angel to Mary, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you (Luke 1:35).

4 Page 4 of 14 The Spirit responsible for the birth of Jesus is also responsible for the birth of the church. The birth of the church in Acts 1-2 parallels the birth of Jesus in Luke 1-2. The gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 fulfills the prophecy of John the Baptist in Luke s Gospel, He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16). Spirit not many days from now (Acts 1:5). Jesus alluded to the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost when he told his disciples to stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49). He restated that in Acts, saying, You will be baptized with the Holy The Spirit that fills the disciples (Acts 2:4) is the same Spirit that descended upon Jesus at his baptism (Luke 3:22). Jesus began his ministry Spirit-filled (Luke 4:1), and so does the church (Acts 2:4, 38). Jesus told the disciples not to worry about what they would say when brought before the authorities, because the Spirit would teach them (Luke 10: 11-12) a prophecy that we see fulfilled in Acts (4:8; 5:29-32; 6:10; 7:1-55; 13:46-47; 16:35-39; 21:37-22:39; 23:6-10; 24:10-21; 25:1-12; 26:1-32; 28:23-30). v.1a: When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, Luke began his Gospel with the story of Jesus birth. He begins the book of Acts with the story of the church s birth. First came the Messiah; now comes the Holy Spirit. The fulfillment language is important here. Jesus promised, You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now (Acts 1:5). Now his promise is fulfilled. Pentecost is also known as the Feast of Harvest. It is not accidental, of course, that the birth of the church, this great harvest of souls, should occur on this important (harvest) festival (Cousar, 329). Pentecost is also known as the Feast of Weeks. Leviticus 23:15-21 requires Jews to observe the Feast of Weeks fifty days after the offering of the barley sheaf at the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It says, You shall count until

5 Page 5 of 14 the day after the seventh Sabbath, fifty days; then you shall present an offering of new grain to the Lord (Leviticus 23:16). Thus, the feast became known as the Feast of Weeks, because the countdown was seven sabbaths seven weeks a week of weeks. Numbers 28:26-31 and Deuteronomy 16:9-12 provide details about offerings to be offered and persons to be included. The word Pentecost is Greek, meaning fifty, reflecting the fifty-day countdown. As already mentioned, it is one of three great pilgrimage festivals (the others being Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles), which Jewish males living near Jerusalem are required to attend and to which Jews from other nations make pilgrimage as they are able. As many as 180,000 people attend two-thirds from foreign lands. Scholars believe that, at some point, Pentecost became primarily a celebration of God s gift of the Law of Moses to Israel, (serving to remind the Jewish people) of the fifty-day interval between Passover in Egypt and the giving of the law at Mount Sinai (Walaskay, 34) but it is uncertain whether this meaning prevailed at the time of the first Christian Pentecost. Parallels between Moses experience and the first Christian Pentecost include: Pentecost wind and fire parallel Sinai thunder and lightning (Acts 2:2-3; Exodus 19:16); Peter parallels Moses as God s spokesman (Acts 2:14-40; Exodus 31:12); The Spirit-inspired speaking in languages by 120 disciples at Pentecost parallels God s gift of the Spirit at Sinai to the Seventy, who prophesied (Acts 2:1-4; Numbers 11:16-30); On both occasions, there is a focus on the Lord s salvation and the offer of a new relationship between the Lord and the people (2:21, 38-39; Exodus 19:4-6) (Faw).

6 Page 6 of 14 v.1b: they were all in one place together. These events take place in Jerusalem. For Luke, Jerusalem is not merely a geographical location but is also of theological significance; it is the place of temptation (Luke 4:9-13) and of death (Luke 9:31; 13:33; 18:31-32). Thus, the way of Jesus is towards Jerusalem, where he suffers, dies and rises... By contrast, the way of the church is from Jerusalem toward Rome (Acts 1:8) (Randolph and Kingsbury, 3). The people who are gathered together in 2:1 are presumably the 120 disciples mentioned in 1:15 although they could be only the apostles (v. 14). The mention of a house in 2:2 suggests the possibility that they have returned to the upper room. In any event, they move outdoors to preach to the crowd. v.2a: And suddenly there came from the sky Jesus disciples retreated into hiding after the crucifixion and waited quietly for God to act. Now the time has come! This gift of God comes from the sky - from God. v.2b: a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. At the creation of the world, the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being (Genesis 2:7). Then God breathed breath into Israel, the first people of God, and their dead bones came to life (Ezekiel 37:7-10). Now at Pentecost God s great wind/breath breathes life into the new people of God the church. house, but a noise like a strong driving wind. The heavens roar. But it isn t the wind that fills the The purpose of this sign is to announce the presence of the Spirit. No tornado or hurricane is required just the sound will do.

7 Page 7 of 14 v.3: Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. In the Old Testament, God showed his presence as a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch (Genesis 15:17) and a flame of fire out of a bush (Exodus 3:2-6) and a pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21) and smoke and fire at Sinai (Exodus 19:18) and a devouring fire (Exodus 24:17). God used fire to demonstrate his power and the powerlessness of the prophets of Baal and to execute judgment on the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:17-40). God used fire to execute his judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24) and Egypt (Exodus 9:23-24) and the Israelites who made the golden calf (Exodus 32:20). God also instructed Israel to make offerings burned with fire to atone for their sins (Exodus 29:18). v.4a: And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit This is a theme that recurs throughout the Acts of the Apostles: Spirit (2:38). As the conclusion of his Pentecost sermon, Peter says, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy When Peter and John are arrested and required to appear before the council of rulers, elders, and scribes in Jerusalem, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, addressed the council with a compelling sermon (Acts 4:8). After Peter and John are released from jail, they gather together with other Christians to pray, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31).

8 Page 8 of 14 When the work of feeding widows fairly becomes more than the apostles can handle, they direct the church to select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and wisdom to take care of that task (Acts 6:3.5). When Stephen is stoned to become the first Christian martyr, he is described as filled with the Holy Spirit as he gazes into heaven to see the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (7:55). When Saul has his Damascus road encounter with Christ and Ananias comes to lay hands on him, Ananias says, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit (9:17). Barnabas is described as a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith (11:24).

9 Page 9 of 14 When Paul encounters the magician Elymas in Cyprus, Paul is described as filled with the Holy Spirit (13:9), while he describes Elymas as full of deceit and villainy (13:10). Peter is the great preacher this day, but note the emphasis on the community of faith: They were all together (v.1); A tongue rested on each of them (v.3); All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak (v.4). In the past, God has set his Spirit on a chosen few, but in the era that begins with this first Christian Pentecost, God gives the Spirit to all who belong to the believing community.

10 Page 10 of 14 v.4b: and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. Speaking in different tongues at Pentecost is different from the speaking in tongues that Paul addressed in 1 Corinthians and is probably different from the two occasions in Acts where people are said to speak in tongues (Acts 10:46; 19:6). At Pentecost, speaking in other languages is for the purpose of communication - making it possible for each person to understand in his or her own language. No interpretation is required. There is no record of apostles using this gift elsewhere in their missionary work, probably because it was unnecessary. Most Jews understood Aramaic and/or Greek. At Pentecost, the disciples are NOT said to be speaking in tongues. The word tongues appears in 2:3, but those are tongues, as of fire - symbols of the power that the Spirit has conferred on the disciples. To confuse those tongues of fire with speaking in tongues would constitute a distortion of the text. The speaking of tongues of which Paul speaks in 1 Corinthians is ecstatic speech that hinders communication unless an interpreter is provided. Paul regards it as a legitimate gift, but neither as the greatest gift nor as essential (1 Corinthians 13:1). There are numerous references in the book of Acts to Christians who have the Holy Spirit (2:4; 4:8, 31; 6:5, 10; 7:55; 8:17; 9:17; 10:19, 44-47; 11:15-17, 24, 28; 13:2, 4, 9, 52; 19:6; 20:23, 28; 21:4) -but on only two of those occasions is there any mention speaking in tongues (Acts 10:46; 19:6). It is not clear whether these two occasions (10:46; 19:6) constitute intelligible speech, such as that in Acts 2 - or speech that requires an interpreter, such as that mentioned by Paul in 1 Corinthians The fact that the speech in Acts 2 is not labeled as speaking in tongues leads us to believe that the speech in Acts 10 and 19 is a different phenomenon - more like the ecstatic speech of 1 Corinthians than the intelligible speech of Acts 2. The church of Christ still speaks in many tongues, and if her speech is not now normally of the supernatural order that marked the day of Pentecost, the message is the same the mighty deeds of God (Bruce, 53).

11 Page 11 of 14 v.5: Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. Devout Jews would be Jews who observe the law. It is natural that it would be devout Jews observant Jews who would come to Jerusalem for this Pentecost observance from every nation under heaven. Only a devout Jew would go to the trouble and expense of a trip to Jerusalem for this festival. But their devoutness will not insure their salvation. Peter will later call them to repent and be baptized so that your sins may be forgiven (2:38). The time will come when Peter will proclaim Christ to Gentiles, but his first appeal is to Jews (Romans 1:16; 2:9). v.6: At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Some scholars have noted that Pentecost reverses the curse of the Babel story, in which the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth (Genesis 11:9). But other scholars have noted that at Babel one language became many, and at Pentecost they continued to be many. The confusion that took place at Babel was permanent. The miracle that took place at Pentecost was limited and temporary designed to communicate in a special way for this crowd only. v.7: They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Judea, home of Jerusalem, is urbane, and the people of Jerusalem regard Galileans as peasants likeable enough, but unsophisticated people whose dialect and manners mark them as different. They don t expect much from Galileans certainly not mastery of foreign languages. That s why they are astonished when these Galileans start preaching in a dozen different languages.

12 Page 12 of 14 Of the oratory that pours from these Galilean mouths, one commentator says, The language of the Spirit is not communicated with perfect or heavenly diction, free from the marks of human identity; it is the language of particular human groups, spoken in their idiom (Wall, 58). God often uses very ordinary people to do extraordinary work. Like the sound of wind and tongues of fire, these languages attract people s attention. There is something compelling about hearing one s own language while traveling far from home. Their ears perk up as they hear the disciples speak in their hometown vernacular. v.8: Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? v.9: We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, v.10: Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, v.11a: both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, Luke not only tells us that the crowd has gathered from every nation under heaven (v.5), but also lists the nations (listed below with rough present-day equivalents): Parthia = Northern Iran, southwest of the Caspian Sea Media = Northern Iran, southeast of the Caspian Sea Elam = Southwest Iran, near Kuwait, north of the Persian Gulf Mesopotamia = Iraq and eastern Syria

13 Page 13 of 14 Judea = The West Bank of Israel and west to the Mediterranean Cappadocia = Eastern Turkey Pontus = Northern Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) on the Black Sea Asia = Western Asia Minor (Turkey) Phrygia = West-central Asia Minor (Turkey) Pamphylia = Southern Asia Minor (Turkey) Egypt = Northeast Africa on the Mediterranean Libya = West of Egypt on the Mediterranean Cyrene = A small part of Libya on the Mediterranean Rome = Rome, Italy Crete = A large Greek island located southeast of mainland Greece Arabs = Saudi Arabia To see the scope of the nations involved, look at a modern map of the area. Start with Rome, and move east to Turkey and Iran then move west and south through Iraq and Saudi Arabia then move west through Egypt and Libya and then move north across the Mediterranean to Rome. You will find that you have traced a rough circle with Judea and Jerusalem at the center. As we will see later in this chapter (2:41), three thousand members of this crowd will be baptized at the conclusion of Peter s sermon. We can be sure that they carried the word of their Pentecost experience and their testimony to Jesus to all of the places listed above and more. In a day when Roman rule imposed its rule on all these peoples, this list of nations points to a day in the future when Christ will reign in the hearts of men and women throughout the world. v.11b: yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God. All are amazed to hear in their own languages. It is clear that they understand, because they speak of a message of God s deeds of power. 4) MEDITATION (What the Word suggests to me): a) We read the Word again. b) Select the word or a brief phrase which touched you or impressed you. Repeat this word/phrase aloud and slowly 3 times. Between each repetition allow a moment of silence to allow the Word to penetrate into our hearts. c) We will remain silent for a few minutes, and let the Lord speak to us.

14 Page 14 of 14 d) We now share what the Lord has given us in this word. We will avoid discussions or sermons or comments on what others have said. We share what the Lord has told us personally by using such expressions as, To me this word has said 5) QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: (What the Word asks me) a) Do I frequently remind myself of the Holy Spirit s presence in me? b) Do I pray and rely on the Holy Spirit s power in my daily life? c) What in my life prevents the Holy Spirit from bearing fruit in my life? d) Do I use for the building up of the Body of Christ the special gift the Holy Spirit has given me? 6) WORD OF LIFE (What the Word reminds me): Filled with the Holy Spirit 7) ACTION (What the Word invites me to do): Often during the day I will invoke the Holy Spirit. 8) FINAL PRAYER (What the Word makes me pray): The Sequence Come, Holy Spirit, come! And from your celestial home Shed a ray of light divine! Come, Father of the poor! Come, source of all our store! Come, within our bosoms shine. You, of comforters the best; You, the soul s most welcome guest; Sweet refreshment here below; In our labor, rest most sweet; Grateful coolness in the heat; Solace in the midst of woe. O most blessed Light divine, Shine within these hearts of yours, And our inmost being fill! Where you are not, we have naught, Nothing good in deed or thought, Nothing free from taint of ill. Heal our wounds, our strength renew; On our dryness pour your dew; Wash the stains of guilt away: Bend the stubborn heart and will; Melt the frozen, warm the chill; Guide the steps that go astray. On the faithful, who adore And confess you, evermore In your sevenfold gift descend; Give them virtue s sure reward; Give them your salvation, Lord; Give them joys that never end. Amen. Alleluia. And may the blessing of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit descend upon us and with us remain forever and ever.