Acts 2:5-13

b.

The result of the baptism. Acts 2:5-13.

Acts 2:5

Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.

Acts 2:6

And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speaking in his own language.

Acts 2:7

And they were all amazed and marveled, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galilaeans?

Acts 2:8

And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born?

Acts 2:9

Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judaea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia,

Acts 2:10

in Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

Acts 2:11

Cretans and Arabians, we hear them speaking in our tongues the mighty works of God.

Acts 2:12

And they were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

Acts 2:13

But others mocking said, They are filled with new wine.

Acts 2:5-13 We have already observed the result of the Holy Spirit baptism upon the apostles. We come now to note its result upon those who beheld this miraculous appearance.

We take note first of those present to witness this scene:
Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
As we have already commented, the day of Pentecost called many Jews from their native homes to Jerusalem to participate in this annual feast. That they were devout men indicates their deep interest in the things of Jehovah. A better soil could not be imagined for planting the seed of the kingdom. Luke next tells us what called the congregation together. The sound of the rushing of a mighty wind. It seemed to be located in a particular portion of the temple, This called a great multitude to this place to investigate. When they arrived imagine their surprise when they found no effects of a great wind, but what they did behold was a sight never before beheld by mortal eye, and they heard things which no man had ever heard.

47

Using a Bible dictionary or encyclopedia, look up a diagram of the temple and formulate in your mind the location of the temple area, apartments, and sanctuary.

48

What three words describe the results of the hearing of every man speaking in his own language?

49

Using a Bible dictionary or encyclopedia, locate upon a map the nations spoken of in Acts 2:9-11.

Will you imagine with me a Jew from the nation of Cappadocia running toward the temple? As he runs he must pause every so often ere he jostle a stranger. There is an ever increasing crowd gathering, hurrying to the same place. He hears as he dodges in and out among the crowd, a babel of voices, and it seems that no two languages or dialects are the same. He thinks: Ah, to be home among my own people and to hear once again my native tongue. Being near the temple when startled by this sound, he soon comes to the place of interest. There is a little knot of men gathered under the balcony of one of the temple apartments; he looks up through the balcony rail, and there, standing together, are several very ordinary looking men. But what is that above their heads? It looks like flames of fire, yea, tongues of fire. They are speaking, but what are they saying? Suddenly, a startled look comes across the face of the Cappadocian Jew, for he can understand every word these men are saying. They are speaking to him in his native dialect! How good it is to hear it again, and they are declaring the mighty works of God. He listens for a moment and then becomes curious and looks around him. There, written upon the faces of all, is utter astonishment. All seem to be held in a spell of perplexity. Soon the shock of the first impression is worn off, and he sees on every hand signs that all who are there assembled are hearing and seeing exactly what he is. How can this be? Are not these men upon the balcony Galileans? How can it be then that every man can hear them speaking in his own tongue wherein he was born? Why, there are here assembled: Parthians and Medes and Elamites and dwellers in Mesopotamia, in Judea and I had others from Cappadocia, there are those here from Pontus and Asia, Phrygia, Egypt and parts of Libya about Cyrene, sojourners from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, even Cretans and Arabians. All these are hearing what I am hearing in their own tongue. What can this mean?

Here we leave our imaginary Jew and add that all who were there gathered were amazed and perplexed, and the question of our Cappadocian Jew was the question of every heart. But we, upon reading this account, although we understand its action and import, are amazed and perplexed ourselves, for there were mockers present who dared to mock at this divine demonstration. They said with utter lack of reason:
They are filled with new wine.

50.

Did the apostles speak in fifteen languages or did the Holy Spirit perform a miracle of hearing?

51.

What reason would you assign for the words of those who said, They are filled with new wine?