Acts. Chapter 2:1-13 Are We in the Last Times?

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1 Acts Chapter 2:1-13 Are We in the Last Times? O ne thing Howard-Browne did produce, however, was an epidemic of spiritual drunkenness. In response to his cries of Fill, fill, fill! More, more, more! or Git em, Jesus! Git em, git em, git em! a growing number of people began to manifest signs of intoxication. Some fell to the floor in uncontrollable laughter while others got stuck in Holy Ghost glue. As Howard-Browne commanded God to give people double and triple doses of his new wine, some even went dumb in the Spirit. Most notable among them was Pastor Strader, who struggled pathetically to speak but could only emit unintelligible grunts. Eventually, when he came to himself, Strader declared this extravaganza to be the greatest move of God I ve ever seen. It was something in the history books. Strader when on to report that at two in the morning Howard-Browne could still be found baptizing people who were dead drunk, having them fished from the water, and then stacking them, wet, on the platform. Despite the absence of Holy Ghost tornadoes and spiritual levitation news of Howard- Browne s success spread quickly on the charismatic grapevine. The laughter that erupted in Lakeland was enough to draw thousands of spiritually starved saints to the church sanctuary. What was originally scheduled to be a week s worth of meetings eventually stretched into three months. The wine served up by the Holy Ghost Bartender in Lakeland had only begun to ferment. 1 Apparently, some people, like the cynics in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost simply don t get God. And what they re looking for isn t want God intends to offer. III Peter and the Gospel to the Jews 1:1-12:24 B. The Founding of the Church in Jerusalem 2:1-7:60 1. The Coming of the Spirit and Peter s First Sermon 2:1-41 b. Coming of the Spirit Verses 1-4 c. Reaction to His Arrival Verses 5-13 d. Peter s Sermon Verses i. Peter s Response Verses ii. Peter s Message Verses The Coming of the Spirit : We ve talked about the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit for the last couple of weeks. We have done so, in the context of His coming in a new way, on the day of Pentecost. Now we are returning to Acts. For purposes of continuity let me reiterate what I said regarding Chapter 2, Verses 1-4. b. Coming of the Spirit: The Holy Spirit manifested Himself in ways that linked His current coming to a long history of the Old Testament. This, in and of itself, reinforces a sense 1 Hanegraaff, Hank, Counterfeit Revival, World Publishing, Dallas, TX, 1997, p. 29.

2 of continuity. What the disciples were about to do, go out into all the world, is simply a continuation of all that has gone before. So, Wind: the Holy Spirit manifested Himself in three aspects, wind, fire, and speech. The importance of the event, the need to encourage the disciples, and a sign to the people mandated these manifestations of God s working. Jesus previously noted The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit (John 3:8). Fire: The next manifestation of God s presence was tongues of fire. Just as the Spirit appeared in the form of a dove at Jesus baptism, here He appears as of tongues of fire. And these tongues descend on each of the disciples. Of course God manifesting as fire is nothing new. There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night (Exodus 3:2; 13:21). Inspired Speech: But the wind and the tongues of fire are simply auditory/visual manifestations of the coming of the Holy Spirit. The disciples are filled with the Spirit. The filling is significantly different then the baptism of the Spirit. And the filling is signified by the disciples speaking in other tongues. The coming of the Spirit was both corporate and individual. He came on all the disciples at once, but His presence was manifested individually. This points to the significant difference between His role under the Old and New Covenants. His role was primarily corporate in the Old and is now both corporate, within the church, and individual, in each believer. The word tongues in the Greek is: glw ssa gloœssa; of uncertain affinity; the tongue; by implication, a language (specially, one naturally unacquired): tongue. 2 Note: unacquired not unknown. Clearly these other tongues were not an ecstatic language, but languages spoken by Jews from other regions. Equally clear is, the disciples didn t understand the languages they were speaking. Obviously this is another manifestation of the supernatural power of the Spirit. We know this because the witnesses to these events stated: Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? (Acts 2:7-8). So the argument that speaking in tongues is a sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is fallacious on all levels. First, remember these events are not normative. Second, the disciples were speaking in known languages, not ecstatic ones. 2 Bennett, Rick, Key Dictionary of the Greek New Testament, OakTree Software, ) 58 (

3 Note: Now it should be noted proponents of the position the gift of tongues is an ecstatic one may agree that is not the case here. But, they would argue, the ecstatic tongue arises later in the New Testament. It was of this Paul was speaking of in 1 Corinthians. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:7-10). But, as the Holman Dictionary notes: Some interpreters have postulated that the tongues speech at Corinth differed from that in Acts in that it was not languages, but ecstatic speech. This cannot be proven from the linguistic evidence, since both Luke and Paul use the word glossa predominately. Nor can it be proven contextually, as there is no evidence in the text that this was a different kind of speech than that in Acts. One would not be likely to come to such a conclusion simply from looking at the text of Corinthians. This interpretation likely arises out of experience in communities that practice glossolalia, since they rarely attest to actual languages being spoken. 3 In other words there is not basis for an ecstatic language biblically, only experientially, which isn t enough evidence to be the basis of a doctrinal position. Third, the speaking in inspired languages wasn t for the disciples benefit anyway, but to demonstrate to the Jews God s working in these events. Finally, It was the Holy Spirit who directed their words. Their audience understood what they were saying even if they didn t. c. Reaction to His Arrival: And while the tongues may have been for the benefit of the crowd, not all of them appreciated it. But first consider Luke s description of the people who become Peter s audience. He says there were many devout Jews, including proselytized Gentiles, from around the world dwelling in Jerusalem. This group may have included residents and pilgrims. And considering how far some of these men may have traveled, they may have chosen to stay there from Passover through Pentecost. The long list of nations covers most of the first-century Roman world, particularly areas where Jewish communities existed (see map below). It provides one of the most comprehensive ancient catalogs of the Jewish Diaspora (Jews living outside Palestine) and is confirmed by other ancient lists (esp. Philo, Embassy to Gaius ), by early Jewish archaeological remains, and by many ancient literary sources. 4 What is important to note is the term devout (eujlabh/ß). These men were pious, committed to a godly walk. Now understand, this doesn t mean they all were open to God s leading. Remember, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, etc. were devout men. They were careful to keep 3 Brand, Chad, gen. ed., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, TN, Dennis, Lane T. and Wayne Grudem, eds., English Standard Version (ESV) Study Bible, Crossway Bibles, Wheaton, IL, 2008 ) 59 (

4 the Law as they defined it. And keeping this in mind, it isn t surprising the responses to the sounds and then the men speaking in tongues as described by Luke were varied. Longnecker, in analyzing the passage, views the noise and acts of the Spirit as being heard though out the area. Consequently, a crowd rushes over to see what s happening. The reaction, to all of the chaos, is one of confusion. It is apparent the crowd recognizes the disciples were Galileans. At the same time these men were speaking in the varied languages of the variety of the Jews represented in the crowd. And what they were hearing were Galileans praising God in the listeners own languages. Longnecker explains why the reaction of confusion: Galileans had difficulty pronouncing gutturals and had the habit of swallowing syllables when speaking; so they were looked down upon by the people of Jerusalem as being provincial. Therefore, since the disciples who were speaking were Galileans, it bewildered those who heard because the disciples could not by themselves have learned so many different languages. 5 It is interesting when you think about it. This event is a reverse Tower of Babel. In that case God broke one language into many to separate men, making it harder for them to rebel and rise up against Him. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. And the LORD said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another s speech. So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth (Genesis 11:5-9). Now God, thought the power of the Spirit, unifies men in spite of their languages into what was becoming one body, the Church. Under the power of the Spirit differences were, are, and will be overcome. This is one of the miracles of Pentecost. Luke records essentially two types of responses. The first is open, amazement, wondering, and questioning. The second was cynical. It s just a bunch of drunks. This may have been said because of a natural rejection of anything godly that didn t conform to their view of Him. Keener 6 relates it to the Greek concept of divine drunkenness, spiritual ecstasy. Considering we ve already noted these men were devout, I m inclined to discount this view. Though apparently some proponents of the Word of Faith movement lean in this direction. d. Peter s Sermon: It s too bad this bunch didn t bother listening to Peter s response. And with it begins the first of a number of sermons found within the book. Here s a listing of these messages. 5 Longnecker, Richard N., The Expositor s Bible Commentary, Acts, Zondervan Publishing, Grand Rapids, MI, Keener, Craig S., IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, Downers Grove, IL, ) 60 (

5 MAJOR SERMONS IN ACTS 7 Speaker Text Audience Peter 2:14 36 Jews in Jerusalem 3:11 26 Jews in Jerusalem 10:34 43 Cornelius s household Stephen 7:1 53 Jews in Jerusalem Paul 13:16 47 Jews in Pisidian Antioch 17:22 31 Greeks in Athens 20:18 35 Church elders in Ephesus 22:1 21 Jews in Jerusalem 24:10 21 Felix and his court 26:1 29 Agrippa and his court i. Peter s Response: Now, back to the Spirit filled Peter, a significantly different Peter from who he was when he walked with Jesus. His first words are specifically directed to the cynics in the crowd. It s too early in the morning, 9 AM to be precise, for these men to be drunk. So, now that he has the attention of the crowds, he explains that what they are observing is the beginning of the last times. It is important to understand that if someone asks are we in the end times, the last days, etc., the answer is yes, because they started some two-thousand years ago. What the crowds were seeing is was the beginning of the fulfillment of the words of Joel. And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the survivors whom the LORD calls (Joel 2:28-32). Just as the disciples were involved with the culmination of God s phase one, the gift of salvation through Jesus work on the cross, these men were observing the beginning of phase two, the restoration of all creation. And this work began with the birth of the Church, continuing through the Second Coming and the purifying of all creation of all unrighteousness. 7 Dennis. ) 61 (

6 What is important to keep in mind is that Joel s prophecy encompasses all of the work of the Messiah, both First and Second Comings. So what was occurring here is only a piece of the action. Its complete fulfillment will only occur during the Millennial kingdom. The other point to remember here is that while Joel s words will be fulfilled literally at some point, Peter s expectation was that it would be sooner than later. There were none who could have anticipated so much time would pass, and is still passing, until the final aspects would be fulfilled. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them. The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. (Revelation 8:5-10; 9:2-3, 17-18) Immediately after the distress of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory (Matthew 24:29-30). The important point though, and the one the crowds needed to understand was, now is the time of salvation, available to all who call on the name of the Lord. Just what that means and who is the Lord is what Peter is going to explain the main section of his message. So, as those whose lives are recorded in Vol. 21 of the Acts, we have the same message to give to those around us, We are in the last times and now is the time of salvation. Call upon the Name of the Lord. ) 62 (

7 I will call upon the Lord Who is worthy to be praised So shall I be saved from my enemies The Lord liveth and blessed be the Rock And let the God of my salvation be exalted The Lord liveth and blessed be the Rock And let the God of my salvation be exalted 8 8 O Shields, Michael, Maranatha! Music Praise Chorus Book, I Will Call Upon the Lord, Maranatha! Music, USA, 1993, #180 ) 63 (

8 Acts Chapter 2:1-13 Are We in the Last Times? III Peter and the Gospel to the Jews 1:1-12:24 B. The Founding of the Church in Jerusalem 2:1-7:60 1. The Coming of the Spirit and Peter s First Sermon 2:1-41 b. Coming of the Spirit Verses 1-4 c. Reaction to His Arrival Verses 5-13 d. Peter s Sermon Verses i. Peter s Response Verses ii. Peter s Message Verses The Coming of the Spirit : b. Coming of the Spirit: Wind: (John 3:8) Fire: (Exodus 3:2; 13:21) Inspired Speech: Note 1: (Acts 2:7 8) Note 2: (1 Corinthians 12:7-10)

9 c. Reaction to His Arrival: (Genesis 11:5 9) d. Peter s Sermon: MAJOR SERMONS IN ACTS 1 Speaker Text Audience Peter 2:14 36 Jews in Jerusalem 3:11 26 Jews in Jerusalem 10:34 43 Cornelius s household Stephen 7:1 53 Jews in Jerusalem Paul 13:16 47 Jews in Pisidian Antioch 17:22 31 Greeks in Athens 20:18 35 Church elders in Ephesus 22:1 21 Jews in Jerusalem 24:10 21 Felix and his court 26:1 29 Agrippa and his court i. Peter s Response: (Joel 2:28-32; Revelation 8:5 10; 9:2 3, 17 18; Matthew 24:29-30) 1 Dennis.