The crowd had gathered outside a house from which a sound of “violent rushing wind” had been heard. Then they heard the people that had been inside that house talking in various languages…even their own language. How could this be? Those people were from Galilee of all places…how would they know various languages? (Acts 2:5-8)
Among the Galileans there were fishermen, a tax collector, a Zealot, others from various occupations – men who had a synagogue education (as all Jewish males received). But these men did not have a background in foreign languages.
Among the crowd was amazement and astonishment! They had grown up in other countries and their native language was not Aramaic or Hebrew. (But they would have known Hebrew because of their Jewish education in a synagogue.)
Countries represented in that crowd were: Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt and Libya and specifically Cyrene, as well as visitors from Rome (both Jews and Gentile converts to Judaism), people from Crete and Arabia. A very large number of Jewish people from many areas of the world were in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. (Acts 2:9-11)
The sound of the wind had drawn the crowd and their various languages were heard in amazement. What was the message they heard?
(NASB) Acts 2:11 “…speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”
There were two basic reactions to this significant event:
1- Amazement, perplexity and puzzlement: “What does this mean?”
(Acts 2:12)
2- Mocking, making it a joke, derisive: “They are full of new wine.”
(Acts 2:13)
How do you react to “the mighty deeds of God”?
Are you amazed, perplexed, puzzled, and perhaps even astonished?
Are you cynical, mocking, derisive or “laugh it off as a joke”?
As you read God’s word, how do you respond to Him and His truth? For all of His words are true. The God of the Bible is right in all that He is and does and says.
(NASB) Psalm 119:142 “Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Your law is truth.”
~ Take it to heart ~
Are the words of God your delight [your amazement, your astonishment]? Do you turn to God and His word for counsel [and know that God’s word is true? Following Jesus is to do what God’s word says to do.
(NASB) Psalm 119:24 “Your testimonies also are my delight;
They are my counselors.”