Saturday 5 October 2013

On the day of Pentecost (Act 2)

On the day of Pentecost (Act 2)
Rights (C) Raymond D Lombard


When I read Acts 2, I read about the 12 Apostles who were all with one accord in a place. Flames of fire rested on them which filled them with the Holy Spirit! Then the Apostles began to speak in tongues (verse 4). However, many other religious men from every nation under heaven (their origins are mentioned in verses 9-11 & were surely over 3000 i.e. verse 41), heard the Apostles speak in their native language (verse 6).

How is it that the Apostles, that were all Galileans, could speak other native languages?

People of other origen were amazed, surprised and marveled! (verses 6-8)

What does this mean, they wondered? (verse 12)

Others present, however, mocked and said the Apostles are filled with sweet wine! (verse 13)

OK, how is it possible that the languages spoken by the Apostles (verse 4) were audible intelligible languages, heard and understood by some present (verses 6-8)?

Is (verse 4) really a scriptural reference to the gift of speaking in tongues practiced by believers today?

Is it not true that speaking in tongues is a language incomprehensible to a man, but understood by God?

1Co 14:2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. For no one hears, but in spirit he speaks mysteries.

Well, the Bible does not contradict itself!

To understand what really happened, we need to first analyze the following;

Flames of fire that rested on the Apostles; What does this mean?
The Person of the Holy Spirit
Baptism by the Holy Spirit
Baptism with the Holy Spirit
Baptism with the Holy Spirit gifts
The Categories of Holy Spirit gifts
The Centurion Cornelius
Paul shares the gospel in Ephesus
On the day of Pentecost

Then only we will know what really happened!!!!

Flames of fire that rested on the Apostles;
What does this mean?

The Holy Spirit is revealed in scripture in particular ways through his ministry and His Person by way of examples and metaphors. These examples and mataphors is called "the typology of the Holy Spirit".

A Type is nothing other "than a Divinely-conscious illustration preceding a corresponding truth".

The scripture so uses Types for us to understand the Person and work of the Holy Spirit better.

Act 2:4 And they were all filled of the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Fire was the Type for the Spirit (as Person) whom His actions (the Holy Spirit power) cleanced and ratified.
  The Person of the Holy Spirit

Joh 14:15-17 If you love me, keep my commandments. (16) I will ask the Father to give you another Helper, to be with you always. (17) He is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. But you recognize him, because he lives with you and will be in you.

The Holy Spirit is a Divine Person and not a mere power. He is the Third Person in the Trinity of God. In other words, the Holy Spirit is God himself with all the attributes and activities of God.

Read more about the Person of the Holy Spirit;  HERE

Baptism by the Holy Spirit

Baptism by the Holy Spirit is dispensational i.e it started only after the day of Pentecost. The baptism into the body of Christ relates to the Church, and it relates to truly reborn believers after the death, resurrection and accension of Jesus Christ.

Baptism by the Holy Spirit places a believer into a new position, namely in Christ himself

The believer is in Christ and Christ is in the believer. As a result of this union with Christ, the Father sees the saved person in Christ, as a living part of his own Son, and He loves the believer as He loves His Son.

Eph 1:5-6 having predestined us to the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, (6) to the praise of the glory of His grace, in which He has made us accepted in the One having been loved.

Joh 17:10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine; and I am glorified in them.

Baptism by the Holy Spirit happens together with the rebirth of a believer. Salvation and baptism is therefore simultaneously and it is impossible to be saved without this aspect of the work of the Holy Spirit i.e. "Baptism by the Holy Spirit".

1Co 12:13 For also by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free, even all were made to drink into one Spirit.

Baptism with the Holy Spirit

The word "pneuma" translates in English as "spirit" and word 'hagion' as "holy"'.

The use of the word "pneuma" in combination with word "hagion" is translated in the scripture as a rule as "the Holy Spirit".

A careful review of the scriptures where the concept "pneuma hagion" occurs, shows that it refers to the Holy Spirit's gifts and operations.

In regard to the Holy Spirit's gifts and operations, when you read a reference to "'the Holy Spirit", you should rather read it as "Holy Spirit" and perhaps even more correctly, read it as; "the gift of the Holy Spirit".

Obtaining the correct meaning can be achieved in comparing Acts 1:4-5 and Luke 24:49.

In Luke Jesus calls the "promise" the "power from on high" and in Acts then Jesus calls the "promise" the Holy Spirit i.e "pnuema hagion".

Luk 24:49 And behold, I send the promise of My father on you. But you sit in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.

Act 1: (4) And having met with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to await the promise of the Father which you heard from Me. (5) For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.

Baptism with the Holy Spirit gifts

'Pnuema hagion' or 'holy spirit' means never the Person of the Holy Spirit, but always His power as it is manifested in different ways.

Act 2:4 And they were all filled of the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit ("phuema hagion" without the definite article; thus the gift of the Holy Spirit) and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit ("pneuma" with the definite article, the Person, the Giver, the Spirit of God) gave them to speak out.

The Categories of the Holy Spirit gifts

1Co 12: (8) For through the Spirit is given to one a word of wisdom; and to another a word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; (9) and to another faith by the same Spirit; and to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; (10) and to another workings of powers, to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; and to another kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues.

The three categories are;
Revelation; wisdom, knowledge, at the discerning of spirits
Power; faith, healing, working of powers
Speach; speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy

Baptism with the Holy Spirit speach gifts is one of three ways;
speaking in tongues (to only speak in tongues)
speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues, (to speak and/or to interpret)
speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues, and prophesying ( to speak and/or interpret and/or prophecy)

Speaking in tongues

The following verses as reference; 1Co 14:1-5, 13-14

Speaking in tongues is not onderstood by humans

1Co 14:2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. For no one hears, but in spirit he speaks mysteries.

1Co 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

interpretaion of tongues and prohecying is in understandable / familiar words (languages)

1Co 14:13 So then he speaking in a language, let him pray that he may interpret.

1Co 14:3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for building up, and exhortation, and comfort.

The Centurion Cornelius (Act 10:1-48)
(The gifts of speaking in tongues and/or interpretaion of tongues was evident)

Cornelius prayed to GOD
Act 10:2 one devout and fearing God, with all his household, both doing many merciful deeds to the people, and praying continually to God.

Peter was called to start sharing the gospal with non Jews
Act 10: (9) On the next day, as these went on the road, and drawing near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. (10) And he became very hungry and desired to eat. But while they made ready, an ecstasy fell on him. (11) And he saw the heaven opened and a certain vessel like a sheet coming down to him, being bound at the four corners and let down to the earth; (12) in which were all the four-footed animals of the earth, and the wild beasts, and the reptiles, and the birds of the heaven. (13) And a voice came to him, saying, Rise, Peter! Kill and eat! (14) But Peter said, Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.

Act 10: (19) And while Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said to him, Behold, three men are looking for you. (20) Therefore arise and go down and go with them without doubting, for I have sent them.

Peter shared the Gospel
Act 10:28 And he said to them, You know that it is an unlawful thing for a man, a Jew to keep company with or to come near to one of another nation. But God has shown me not to call any man common or unclean.

Act 10: (34) Then Peter opened his mouth and said, Truly I see that God is no respecter of persons;
(35) but in every nation he who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit was poured out
Act 10: (44) While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those hearing the Word. (45) And those of the circumcision, who believed (as many as came with Peter), were astonished because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on the nations also. (46) For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. 

What happened?

All the Gentiles (non-Jews) who heard the word Peter spoke (Act 10:23-43); was baptised by the Holy Spirit with the gift of speaking in tongues. The faithful of the circumcision (the Jews) had the gift of interpretation of tongues because the Jews heard the Gentiles speaking in tongues and magnify God.

Baptism with the Holy Spirit speech gifts was thus; speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues

Paul shares the gospel in Ephesus
(The gifts of speaking in tongues and/or interpretaion of tongues was evident)

deciples were baptized by Paul
Act 19: (5) And hearing, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (6) And as Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Baptism with the Holy Spirit speech gifts was thus; Speaking in tongues and prophesying!

On the day of Pentecost
(The gifts of speaking in tongues and/or interpretaion of tongues and/or prophecying was evident)

Key verses (Act 2:1-18)

Act 2:4 And they were all filled of the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Act 2: (5) And dwelling at Jerusalem there were Jews, devout men out of every nation under heaven.
(6) But this sound occurring, the multitude came together and were confounded, because they each heard them speaking in his own dialect. (7) And they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, Behold, are not these who speak all Galileans? (8) And how do we each hear in our own dialect in which we were born? (9) Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, (10) Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya around Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, (11) Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking the great things of God in our own languages. (12) And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying to one another, What does this mean? (13) But others mocking said, These men are full of sweet wine.

Act 2: (14) But Peter, standing up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice and said to them, Men, Jews, and all who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. (15) For these are not drunk as you suppose, for it is the third hour of the day. (16) But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel: (17) "And it shall be in the last days, says God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. (18) And in those days I will pour out My Spirit upon My slaves and My slave women, and they shall prophesy.

The Bible does not contradict itself.

NO ONE can say that you are full of sweet wine, when you through the baptism of the Holy Spirit power; speak in tongues, interpret speaking in tongues and/or prophesize

Interpretation of tongues and prophesying is in fact in an understandable language in which you speak great things of GOD.

So what really happened!!!!

What one reads
On the day of Pentecost, the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit power and began speaking in tongues. (verse 4) Hearing these sounds, a great multitude gathered (verse 6) And they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, Behold, are not these who speak all Galileans? (verse 7) And how do we each hear in our own dialect in which we were born? (verse 8) ... we hear them speaking the great things of God in our own languages. (verse 11) And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying to one another, What does this mean? (verse 12) But others mocking said, These men are full of sweet wine. (verse 13)

And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying to one another, What does this mean? (verse 12)

What indeed does it mean (even today)?

Baptism with the Holy Spirit gifts of course!!!!

On the day of Pentecost, the Apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit gift of speaking in tongues.

On the day of Pentecost, the multitude hearing in their own dialect those speaking in tongues the great things of GOD, were baptized with the Holy Spirit gift of interpretation of tongues.

Act 2: (14) But Peter, standing up with the Eleven, lifted up his voice and said to them, Men, Jews, and all who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. (15) For these are not drunk as you suppose, for it is the third hour of the day. (16) But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel: (17) "And it shall be in the last days, says God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh. And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. (18) And in those days I will pour out My Spirit upon My slaves and My slave women, and they shall prophesy.

On the day of Pentecost, those within the multitude speaking great things of GOD in understood dialect ( language ) were baptized with the Holy Spirit gift of prophecying.

Baptism with the Holy Spirit speech gifts was thus; Speaking in tongues, and/or interpretation of tongues and/or prophesying!

But others mocking said, These men are full of sweet wine. (verse 13)

Of course there were also those that were NOT baptized with the Holy Spirit gifts at all!!

No comments: