F O O T H O L D
READING
66 THE CHURCH IS BORN
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PRAY Lord, fill me with the
Holy Spirit that I might understand your
word and then tell others
about you.
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READ Acts 2:1-21.
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THINK What were the
reactions of the people in the crowd to the
happenings of Pentecost?
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FOCUS Pentecost (1) was a
joyful Jewish festival that marked the end of
the barley harvest. The word
PENTECOST refers to the fiftieth day
after Passover. Jews from
many places (9-11) had travelled to
Jerusalem to take part in
the holiday celebrations. The
disciples, probably about
120 of them (1:15), were 'gathered
together in one place' (1).
This may have been the temple
precincts or the more
private upper room; we do not know. What we
do know is that a tremendous
event took place. The disciples
'were all filled with the
Holy Spirit' (4).
There were two outward signs.
The disciples heard a noise that
'sounded like a strong wind'
(2) and 'they saw what looked like
tongues of fire' (3). Notice
Luke's careful language as he tried
to write about an almost
undescribable experience.
Very soon a large crowd had
gathered (6). Try to imagine the
scene as they all talked
together in amazement.
So Peter, filled with the
Holy Spirit, began to speak to them.
He dismissed the charge of
drunkeness (15) and spoke with
authority about what had
happened. His audience was made up of
Jews who had travelled from
all over the empire to Jerusalem.
'All right,' says Peter, 'it
is all foretold in your own Bible .
. . ' Many remarkable things
have been foretold, but the best is
in verse 21 - for in that
one word 'whoever' are included all
peoples, Jews and Gentiles
alike. It also included you and me.
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PRAY Give thanks to God for
his gift of the Holy Spirit. Open your
life to his influence and
power.
