All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:4
Forty days had passed since Jesus’ resurrection. A few more days had passed since Jesus ascended to heaven. And now it was the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost in Greek. It was celebrated 50 days after Passover and was a time to commemorate the Law of God given to Moses on Mount Sinai. Now on that same day many centuries later, the Spirit of God was given.
Jewish pilgrims from all over were once again in Jerusalem. The list that Dr. Luke shares in this passage in Acts 2 is impressive: “Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs.”
In the interim between Jesus’ ascension and Pentecost, the disciples were back in Jerusalem and had gathered in a home on the Mount of Olives overlooking the Old City. The number of believers was 120, but it wasn’t going to stay that small—ever again. They decided to replace Judas among the Twelve and selected a man named Matthias who had been with them from the beginning.
When Pentecost arrived, the believers were together again, and then it happened. The prophesied Advocate (John 14:26), or Helper, had arrived. He would be the One to help guide them and us each day until our death or the Lord’s return, whichever comes first.
How the Spirit came is described as like a “violent wind” entering their presence and then “tongues of fire” separating and landing on each person. Can you imagine the powerful manifestation in that moment?
This group of believers was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in literal tongues of other languages. This must have taken place near a public setting (such as the temple courts), for others had heard the sound of the wind and now these people speaking in other languages. Galileans such as the disciples had an accent, and so their ability to speak clearly in other languages was hard to believe. The only conclusion the crowd could reach was that this was a drunken gathering, not the arrival of the Holy Spirit.
The Christian world today cannot seem to agree whether “speak[ing] in other tongues” is the ability through the Holy Spirit to speak other languages or to also speak a heavenly language. Regardless, it is clearly mentioned as a spiritual gift and discussed in 1 Corinthians chapters 12–14. For today, we are focusing on the bestowed gift of the Holy Spirit Himself—a most precious gift indeed due to the physical absence of our Messiah.
Like the “tongues of fire” that descended on each believer present, so too is the Holy Spirit given to each of us. He is there to guide and direct our every decision if we will let Him. This makes it imperative to repent of sin, study God’s Word, and fellowship with other believers. This will clear up our spiritual vision and unclog our spiritual ears. So I encourage you today to commit yourself anew to live by the Spirit and let Him direct your life for God’s glory!