Bible Study Series: Acts 2:1-13. We need to be filled with the Spirit. God offers him to people over the centuries, even to us today. Have you received him?
Friendly greetings and a warm welcome to this Bible study! I write to learn. Let’s learn together and apply these truths to our lives.
I also translate to learn. The translations are mine, unless otherwise noted. If you would like to see many others, please click on this link:
At the link to the original post, next, I write more commentary and dig a little deeper into the Greek. I also offer a section titled Observations for Discipleship at the end. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided in the commentary section for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Acts 2:1-13
1 And when the Feast of Pentecost had fully come, all of them were together in that same place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there was a sound like the rush of a powerful wind. And it filled the whole house where they were staying, 3 and dividing tongues as fire were seen to them and settled on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them inspiration to speak.
5 Devout Jews were staying in Jerusalem, men and women from every nation under heaven. 6 When this sound happened, the crowd came together and were amazed because each one heard them speaking in their own language. 7 They were beside themselves with amazement and marveled, saying, “Look! Aren’t all of them Galileans who are speaking? 8 So how do we each hear them in our own language, to which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites; and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the regions of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking with our own languages the great things of God!”
12 They were beside themselves with amazement and were greatly perplexed, talking to each other, saying, “What does this mean?” 13 Others mocked and were saying, “They are drunk on sweet wine!” (Acts 2:1-13)
Comments:
Many rightly believe this event was the birth of the church, which happened fifty days after Jesus was crucified and resurrected. Pentecost means “fifty.” It is the most important chapter in all of Acts. It launches everything else.
This is the Jerusalem / Judean Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4; the Samaritan Pentecost will happen in Acts 8:14-17. Paul’s Personal Pentecost will be in Acts 9:17; the Gentile Pentecost will happen in Acts 10:44-48; and Pentecost for John the Baptist’s followers will happen in Acts 19:1-7. The Pentecost that launched the others was here in Jerusalem / Judea.
The Feast of Pentecost is the reason Pentecostals have named themselves by their name. Please see this link to find out how to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost.
Festivals in Leviticus 23 from a NT Perspective
1:
“that one place” is surely the same place as the upper room (Acts 1:13), but the text does not say it, though it was in a house (v. 2). Or it may have been the temple precinct because in the next section the crowd of the populace will come together when they heard the rush of something akin to a mighty wind. But I think it was the upper room stated in 1:13, and the filled and empowered disciples went down stairs, when someone among them saw the crowd gather and heard their talkative amazement.
How do we know there were 120 in the house, when the text here does not say it explicitly? The 120 were in the house constantly and persistently devoted to prayer (Acts 1:13). So there is no reason to exclude them now. Luke does not always have to repeat himself. Plus, Peter quotes from the prophet Joel, who is clear about men and women receiving the outpouring of the Spirit and the gifts of divine communication and revelation (vv. 16-21).
Did 12 or 120 Speak in ‘Spirit-Inspired Languages’ (‘Tongues’) at Pentecost?
On the direction Luke is taking Acts, in contrast to Judaism and the Law:
Rather, by paralleling Jesus’ baptism with the experience of Jesus early followers at Pentecost, Luke is showing that the mission of the Christian church—as was also the ministry of Jesus—is dependent on the coming of the Holy Spirit. And by his stress on Pentecost as the day when the miracle took place, he is also suggesting (1) that the Spirit’s coming was in continuity with God’s purposes in giving the Law, and yet (2) that the Spirit’s coming signals the essential difference between Jewish faith and commitment to Jesus. For whereas Judaism is Torah-centered and Torah-directed, Christianity is Christ-centered and Spirit-directed—all of which sounds very much like Paul. (Longenecker, comment on v. 1)
2-3:
“house”: Acts is about salvation of entire households and meeting in those saved households (2:2, 46; 5:42; 8:3, but be careful of persecution in 8:3! 10:2; 11:14; 16:15, 31, 34; 20:20; 21:8).
Luke uses hesitant language: “like,” “as.” “Throughout the Old Testament fire phenomena are used to depict the presence of God (cf. Exod. 3:2; 19:18; 1 Kgs 18:38–39; Ezek. 1:27)” (Polhill, comment on v. 3). The real sound and the real tongues as fire (not “tongues as of fire”) were still representative of divine, heavenly reality, much like the dove that descended on Jesus at his baptism was a real dove representing heavenly reality (Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32). I believe the fire looked like tongues. What else did the disciples see? A physical tongue settling on them? Not likely. It was fiery tongues, appropriate, since they are about to receive the gift of Spirit-inspired language (archaically called “tongues”).
Both sexes were in the house, since “brothers” is not exclusive, but inclusive of women, like our word “mankind.” And presumably Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers were empowered (cf. Acts 1:14). The Spirit fills all people equally. It seems churlish and counterproductive and domineering to restrict women’s role in the church when the Spirit had just immersed-baptized them for service. Women should go forth in the power and fulness of the Spirit and “do the stuff.”
“wind”: it is a different word than pneuma, which can mean Spirit or wind, depending on the context. Here the noun is pnoē (pronounced pn-oh-ay). In v. 4, Luke will use pneuma. There is no confusion between the two, in Luke’s theology. The Spirit is a person.
For systematic theology:
The Spirit’s Deity and Divine Attributes
The Spirit in the Life of Christ
The Spirit in the Church and Believers
The Spirit settled “on” or “upon” them. The Greek preposition is epi (pronounced eh-pea), which has the basic meaning of “upon.” But he did not just settle on them. He filled them.
Baptized, Filled, and Full of the Spirit: What Does It All Mean?
“staying” could be translated as “sitting,” which is the first meaning to begin with.
4:
The commentary on this verse is long, since the verse is so important for Renewal Movements. It may get a little technical, but I hope I don’t stray too far from helping you grow in Christ.
The verb “filled”: Luke 1:15 (John); 1:41 (Elizabeth); 1:67 (Zechariah); Acts 2:4 (the 120 disciples); 4:8 (Peter); 4:31 (disciples); 9:17 (Paul); 13:9 (Paul). Here it is in the aorist verb tense, meaning a moment in the past—right then and there for them. But Luke will uses the adjective “full” or the verb “filled” in later verses, indicating that disciples can receive the Spirit and power throughout their lives.
The entire book of Acts is very charismatic, and the Spirit is behind it all. For example, in Acts 11:24 Barnabas is said to be full of the Holy Spirit and faith. It is inconceivable that he would not have his prayer language, as an associate of Saul / Paul, who stated the fact that he prays in the Spirit more than all the Corinthians (1 Cor. 14:18). To that point, Saul was said to receive the Spirit, but Luke does not mention anything about Spirit-inspired languages (Acts 9:17).
The verb baptizō (pronounced bahp-tee-zoh) means to “immerse” or “plunge” or “dip”: Matt. 3:11 // Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:26 (crowds); Acts 1:5 (on 120); Acts 11:16 (Peter repeating what John and Jesus said); 1 Cor. 12:13 (Spirit baptized Corinthian church into one body).
They signify the same spiritual reality. The main point is that Jesus is the Baptizer (Matt. 3:11; Mar 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:26). One could also say he is the “filler” or “he who fills” with the Spirit.
So what does baptism mean? John the Baptist’s water baptism was immersion. He could have been called “John the Dipper” or “John the Immerser.” The Spirit immersed spirit and soul, and even their bodies (Rom 8:11), just as water immersed John’s candidates. The body too, since the Spirit inspiring them to speak affected (but not forced) the physical tongue.
This is Peter’s first infilling. He will get two more, which are recorded (Acts 4:8, 31). And then the Spirit will empower him to receive a vision (Acts 10:9-16). Never put God in your small “theology box.” Instead, follow Scripture.
For more detail and theology of filling and baptizing in the Spirit, please click on
Baptized, Filled, and Full of the Spirit: What Does It All Mean?
Schnabel says that the word choice for filled is more intense here, indicating short outbursts of spiritual power / inspiration rather than a long-term endowment of the Spirit. This fact “explains why a person might be ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ on many occasions while at the same time remaining ‘full’ of the Spirit” (comment on v. 4). In other words, we can always be full of the Spirit, but we don’t have to have continual outbursts of Spirit-inspired speech. This seems balanced, though maybe too much is built on the two verbs and verb tense.
Peterson agrees, though, after studying the different Greek verbs and nouns for “fill”: “Someone who is already filled with or full of the Spirit can receive a further filling or enabling for a particular ministry (cf. Acts 4:31). So ‘our western logical concept that something which is full cannot be filled any further is misleading if applied to the Spirit. One filling is compatible with another’” (comment on v. 4, and he quotes commentator Marshall).
Five questions are inevitably raised. For them and the possible answers, please click on the What and Why of Spirit-Inspired Languages.
Questions and Answers about Spirit-Inspired Languages
The Purpose and Importance of Spiritual Languages
For now, here are only the questions:
First, is receiving the Holy Spirit a necessary ingredient for salvation?
Second, is a Spirit-inspired language a necessary condition for salvation?
Third, are you saying those who have been born again are not baptized and immersed in the Spirit and are therefore second-class Christians?
Fourth, is the Spirit-inspired language the necessary sign of the baptism-immersion in the Spirit?
Fifth, were the disciples in Acts 2:1-4 already filled with the Spirit before they were (re)filled in Acts 2:1-4, or was this their first time to be Spirit-immersed and Spirit-empowered?
Peter will proclaim later in this chapter that this outpouring is for them back then and for all who are far off into the future and spread around geographically—you and me (vv. 38-39). He will learn later that Cornelius, a Gentile (non-Jew), will receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit with a Spirit-inspired language (Acts 10:34-35).
In Acts, Luke links receiving prayer languages with being filled with the Spirit in three explicit paradigmatic or exemplary instances, and one clearly implied paradigmatic and exemplary instance.
Are ‘Tongues’ the Sign of Baptism with Spirit in Acts?
Here in Jerusalem, the 120 disciples at the birth of the church knew Jesus from the beginning or early on (2:1-4). The church was born and empowered, and the charismatic environment can now ripple throughout Acts, and this gift and the Spirit’s power are for everyone who are afar in the distance and subsequent generations (2:39).
Did 12 or 120 Speak in ‘Spirit-Inspired Languages’ (‘Tongues’) at Pentecost?
It is important to realize three biblical facts. First, that they had already converted to and trusted in the Messiah (Luke 9:1-2; Luke 10:22; John 20:22). They had already been saved. Second, they received their prayer language as a sign of this infilling of the Spirit. Third, therefore salvation and the infilling of the Spirit are two distinct divine acts.
Luke expects us to fill his omissions with the power of the Spirit because the entire sweep or context of his book is charismatic. It is similar to his omitting water baptism in key places. Often he does say that new converts got baptized: Acts 2:38, 41; 8:12-13, 35-38; 9:18; 10:48; 16:14-15, 31-33; 18:8; 19:5), Yet in other cases water baptism is not brought up for new converts: Acts 9:42; 11:21; 13:12, 48; 14:1; 17:12, 34). During Paul’s (and Barnabas’s) first missionary journey, not one recorded water baptism took place, but we can be sure they did because this was standard practice. This is why I have nicknamed him Luke the Omitter. (Or he could be called Luke the Condenser.)
The Septuagint (pronounced sep-TOO-ah-gent) is the third-to-second B.C. translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek. In the story about the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1-9), the word sugcheō appears (pronounced sug-kheh-oh) in 11:7, and it means a strong mental and verbal reaction. Here in v. 6, Luke uses the same word when the pilgrims to Jerusalem react. So there is a connection between the outpouring of the Spirit here in Acts and the curse of languages at the Tower of Babel story. In the book of Acts God is reversing the curse of judgment with Spirit-inspired languages. But this reversal is not sudden but is happening all the way through the last days, as God still pours out his Spirit and whoever wants to receive the gift of Spirit-inspired languages. Eventually, in the Messianic kingdom, That Age, the curse at Babel will have been fully reversed.
5-13:
Some have observed that Luke does not actually state that the 120 left the upper room, so they picture that somehow the Jerusalem crowds for Pentecost may not have heard them or only a few heard them, while the disciples were speaking in the upper room. But the imperfect tense of the verb “hearing” indicates that the 120 were speaking over a duration. Also, the Luke author omits small data points throughout Acts (which I will point out as we go), and he expects the readers to assume or fill in. Such is the cooperation between the writer and audience.
The geographical regions are where Jews lived in the Diaspora (Dissemination or Scattering).
After this quick introduction, let’s interpret the whole passage, not verse by verse, because the main point is the people speaking in foreign or unlearned languages.
This whole episode was a miracle of speaking, not of hearing (contrary to what some teachers and bloggers claim). That is, the 120 spoke Aramaic or Hebrew, and the pilgrims heard them in their own languages. In reply, however, the miracle was in the believers and those filled with the Spirit, not in the unbelievers and those who were not filled with the Spirit (Bock, p. 97).
Simply and clearly stated, Acts 2:1-4 says the 120 disciples spoke in different and unlearned languages to their own, and it says the listeners understood their own languages and marveled that the disciples could speak in them. Galileans had a distinct “northern” accent, different from a southern, Judean accent, where the holy capital (Jerusalem) was. In other words, the Galileans were thought to be rough around the edges, particularly businessmen and fishermen, while the Judeans claimed the thriving capital. Too many Gentiles up north. But here they are speaking in other languages in perfect local accents.
Next, 1 Corinthians 14 lays out the guidelines for the church assembled together speaking in Spirit-inspired languages, and basically it is this. Paul, who was not there at Pentecost, says in vv. 10-13 that there are many languages in the world, and each has its own value (today we know there are over 7000 spoken languages). But if one speaks in a Spirit-inspired language that no one understands with their minds, then the speaker will sound like a foreigner, and no edification will take place in the assembly. But note that Paul does not say the language that is not understood with the mind is gibberish. Just because someone speaks in a Spirit-inspired language that you personally do not understand does not allow you to draw the false conclusion that the speaker is babbling nonsense (contrary to the opinion of bloggers). He could be speaking in one of those 7000+ languages. God does not inspire gibberish.
What 1 Corinthians 14 Really Teaches
Did 12 or 120 Speak in ‘Spirit-Inspired Languages’ (‘Tongues’) at Pentecost?
In Acts 2:5-13, the speakers did not understand the Spirit-inspired languages with their minds, but the hearers understood those languages with their minds. Likewise, 1 Cor. 14:14-15 says one can pray in a Spirit-inspired language, and his spirit prays, but his mind receives no fruit from it because the mind does not understand the Spirit-inspired language. But the speaker’s spirit is edified. Nonetheless, Paul encourages the Corinthian believers to pray in Spirit-inspired languages through their human spirits, and to pray with their minds in known languages that their minds understand.
Acts 2 (so far) describes the birth of the church. The Spirit’s power propelled the church forward with rapid growth and outreach motivated out of love, for 3000 people were added to the 120 (v. 41). As an addition to this section, we noted that Paul clarified in his First Epistle to the Corinthians that he wanted everyone to speak in Spirit-inspired languages (14:5), implying in a private setting. And in public they can do the same, but to be sure someone can interpret those languages.
When Luke lists Rome in the long list of cities and regions, he may be indicating that these pilgrims went back to Rome and started the Jewish-Christian community (Schnabel, comment on vv. 9-10). It certainly has a long history. Proselytes are those who converted to Judaism; men were circumcised, while women went through a ritual bath and offered a sacrifice (Bock, p. 104 and Bruce, 1990, p. 58). There were more female proselytes than male, understandably. Whatever the case, they probably went back to Rome to begin the Messianic community there.
7 and 12:
“beside themselves”: the Greek verb existēmi (pronounced (ex-ee-stay-mee) can be translated literally as “they were standing beside themselves” Or “they were beside themselves.” Most translations go with “stunned” or “astonished” or “amazed.”
To conclude …
Acts 2:1-4 can happen to us, either exactly in the same way or in modified form, tailor made for us. The point: Spirit-immersion-baptism is for us too.
The gift of Spirit-inspired languages is available to all who want it. But no one has to have it imposed on them. And it is certainly not a requirement for salvation to get into heaven. One may not have to receive this gift, but one gets to have it—a privilege from God. It is wise to receive any gift from God—to take all that he offers us. But if people refuse it, they must not criticize and sneer at those who received it with child-like faith and joy. 1 Cor. 14:39 says not to forbid speaking in Spirit-inspired languages.
The Spirit leads people to Christ and causes new birth in them, but Spirit-baptism-immersion-empowerment leads people to minister and reach out (Luke 24:48-49; Acts 1:8). Spirit-inspired languages simply prepares the heart of the one praying and the ones receiving ministry. It is the perfect prayer, since it is the Spirit who prays.
The Spirit launches you out. Picture it this way.
Imagine that you are in a big international airport. You have two ways to get to your next flight. You can take the conveyer belt or walk next to it. You sensibly choose the conveyer belt, and you even walk on it while it is moving forward. The belt and motor driving it empowers, carries, and propels you forward. This is like Spirit baptism-immersion and Spirit-inspired language Not the same thing, though often connected. Others who chose to walk without the conveyer belt are moving forward, because they have been born again, but you enjoy faster progress because you have been baptized-immersed with power in the Spirit.
If you got your prayer language, use it! You will be propelled forward in your walk with God and service! If a sin or habit keeps holding on, then regularly using your Spirit-inspired language will make it wither away because your spirit is built up and your Spirit-inspired prayers work its way to your flesh and withers away besetting sins.
Grow App for Acts 2:1-13
1. All of us need to be empowered with the Spirit to carry out our mission. What about you? Did you receive this gift?
2.. Describe your experience with the Spirit’s empowerment.
RELATED
The Historical Reliability of the Book of Acts
Book of Acts and Paul’s Epistles: Match Made in Heaven?
SOURCES
For the bibliography, please click on this link and scroll down to the very bottom:
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 