NIC Bible Study: Acts Week Two

[Tanya~]

Acts 2:1-13

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs — we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?"

13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine."
NKJV

~~ Question numbers below correspond to verse numbers above ~~

1.
a. Who was present? (See also Acts 1:15)
b. When did these events take place?
c. Where were they? (Also see verse 2 and Acts 1:4)

2-4. Describe how the Holy Spirit came to them:
What did they hear?
What did they see?
What did each of them personally experience?

5.
a. Who witnessed these things, and from where had they come?

6. What was their initial reaction and why?

7. What was their next reaction and why?

8-11.
a. How many different languages did they hear the disciples speaking?
b. What were the disciples speaking about in these languages?

12-13. What else do we learn about the reaction of the crowd?

Now please read comments for this passage here.

[grptinHisHand]

1.
a. Who was present? (See also Acts 1:15)
The disciples, the appx 120 spoken of in the first chapter, who had gathered together at Jesus' instructions to wait for the promise
b. When did these events take place?
A few days after the Ascension
c. Where were they? (Also see verse 2 and Acts 1:4)
Jerusalem

2-4. Describe how the Holy Spirit came to them:
What did they hear?
The sound like a rushing mighty wind. This makes me think of the sound and force of hurricane winds we get here in coastal SC
What did they see?
"divided tongues, with the appearance of fire. See Matt 3:11 John the Baptist said the Lord would baptize them with the 'Holy Spirit and with FIRE'

What did each of them personally experience?
A filling with the Holy Spirit - I think a peace and a power unlike any they had ever experienced, and they spoke in other languages as the Spirit led them to, apparently so that others could understand the messages from God in each one's own tongue.

5.
a. Who witnessed these things, and from where had they come?
Jews, devout men; from every nation,
6. What was their initial reaction and why?
They experienced confusion because they could each understand the message in their own language.
7. What was their next reaction and why?
they were amazed and discussed among themselves how it could be possible for the disciples to speak in their languages, for they probably knew these were not scholars who would have been taught in foreign languages

8-11.
a. How many different languages did they hear the disciples speaking?
As least 12, as these are the number of various places named in these verses -- probably more as there may have been various dialects from each of the different places named.

b. What were the disciples speaking about in these languages?
God's wonderful works. This most likely included the story of Christ's life, death, resurrection, the miracles He had performed and the fact that

12-13. What else do we learn about the reaction of the crowd?
Some were amazed, questioning what it could mean. Others just thought the disciples to be drunk. None of these seemed to - at this point - realize what was happening. I believe they had not yet been made aware of the promises Jesus had made.

[RoadWarrior]

1. a. The disciples - about 120 were present.b. when the day of Pentecost had "fully" come
c. in a house in the city of Jerusalem.

2-4. They heard a sound, like a mighty rushing wind.
The saw what appeared to be flames, or "tongues" of fire
The experienced the filling of the Holy Spirit, and began to speak languages which they had not previously been able to speak.

5.
a. There were Jews in Jerusalem who had come from "every nation under heaven" - they were there for Pentecost, one of the holidays that required their presence in Jerusalem.

6. They heard the sound, and came to see what was going on. When the disciples answered the questioners, each person from out of town heard the story in their own language, rather than having to translate it from the language of the residents of Jerusalem (Hebrew? or Aramaic?) This was confusing to the questioners, that the residents knew even the remote languages.

7. When they fully realized it, they were amazed! They marveled at this phenomenon, and talked to each other about it.

8-11.
a. The visitors were from at least 13 different localities and languages.
b. They were hearing about the wonderful works of God.

12-13. The people were amazed and perplexed. They wanted to know what this meant - it was too remarkable to just say, "Isn't that interesting!" and go on with their day. Instead they were asking, "Whatever can this mean?"

I think we would be the same way, if we were at a special church function, and suddenly something like this happened. We would all come running because we would think that God might be trying to communicate something to us. The Jews, being both devout and analytical, would naturally want to look into the spiritual significance.

[Kingsdaughter]

1. It was the Day of Pentacost and one hundred and twenty of the disciples were there in one accord and in one place. They were in Jerusalem.

2-4. Suddenly there came a sound from heaven. It sounded like a rushing mighty wind and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ( I am in awe when I read this, how wonderful it is to know that we have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us) They saw divided tongues as of fire and one sat upon each of them. (Wow!) They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues. The Spirit gave them utterance.

I have a question about speaking in tongues. Many boardmembers here believe that if you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you, then you can speak in tongues and they use this scripture verse as a reference. But I don't believe that. I know that I was saved the night I surrendered my life to CHrist and I am certain that I have the Holy Spirit living inside of me and that I know I belong to Christ and that I am a child of God that happened ten years ago and I have never doubted that I was born again that day, but I have never spoken in tongues. What are your thoughts?

5. Jerusalem Jews witnessed this and they were devout men. They came from every nation under heaven.

6. When they heard the sound they were confused because they heard everyone speaking in his own language.

7. Their next reaction was that they were amazed and marveled because they knew that these men were all Galileans.

8-11. I hope I counted correctly, but I think there were 17 languages?
The disciples were speaking in these languages the wonderful works of God( Hallelujah!!!)

12-13. Some were amazed and perplexed, wondering what all this could mean. And others were mocking them thinking that they were all drunk.

PS I like that you are adding comments at the end Tanya, I enjoy reading those

[Tanya~]

Hi Trina,

I have a question about speaking in tongues. Many boardmembers here believe that if you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you, then you can speak in tongues and they use this scripture verse as a reference. But I don't believe that. I know that I was saved the night I surrendered my life to CHrist and I am certain that I have the Holy Spirit living inside of me and that I know I belong to Christ and that I am a child of God that happened ten years ago and I have never doubted that I was born again that day, but I have never spoken in tongues. What are your thoughts?

Thank you for asking this question Trina. At the moment, I'm feeling very sad about this! The reason is that the Holy Spirit is what unifies all believers -- what unites us in one body in Christ.

1 Cor 12:12-14
For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by [literally 'in'] one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free — and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
NKJV

And yet depending on who you ask, the Holy Spirit and His ministry in the body is one of the more controversial of all subjects. That is incredibly sad to me. The reality is that people will see things differently, and no amount of discussion or debate is going to change that. But you know that you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, and you belong to Him. The Holy Spirit is given by the promise of God and we can trust that He has given us His Spirit even if we don't have the manifestation of tongues.

We must not divide over what God has given to unite us!

[tango]

I have a question about speaking in tongues. Many boardmembers here believe that if you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you, then you can speak in tongues and they use this scripture verse as a reference. But I don't believe that. I know that I was saved the night I surrendered my life to CHrist and I am certain that I have the Holy Spirit living inside of me and that I know I belong to Christ and that I am a child of God that happened ten years ago and I have never doubted that I was born again that day, but I have never spoken in tongues. What are your thoughts?

My understanding is that tongues are a gift of the Spirit. A gift may be given to some and not to others. My quote from the Bible is two verses before Tanya's:

1Co 12:10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
1Co 12:11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

The Spirit gives gifts to us as He chooses. You aren't a better person because you have a particular gift, nor a lesser person because you don't. It seems that tongues is one of the lesser gifts, despite the importance some people place upon it:

1Co 14:39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.

[tango]

The disciples were gathered together (approximately 120 of them, not just the original 12), at the feast of Pentecost. Pentecost is a Greek term signifying the 50th of something, and was the name of the festival coming 7 weeks and one day (50 days in total) after Passover. The disciples were all with one accord in one place. They would have been in Jerusalem - all Jewish men were required to attend Jerusalem for the three major feasts - although the text does not offer anything more than "the house where they were sitting".

The text refers to "when the day of Pentecost had fully come" (emphasis mine). Barnes' notes mentions the period which had to pass before the arrival of the feast of Pentecost - since all Jewish men were required to go to Jerusalem for the feast it made sense for the Spirit to hold off until there were as many men as possible present to witness the events which followed.

The Spirit came to them as a rushing mighty wind which filled the whole house. Then there appeared divided tongues as of fire, one sitting upon each disciple. They were all filled with the Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues. This was the initial fulfillment of Jesus' promise of the Spirit that would come to them (Acts 1:4)

This rushing mighty wind with tongues of fire seems to be a common feature of God's presence (fire, if not specifically tongues of fire). Jumping back to Ezekiel (yet again) we see whirlwinds with clouds engulfed with fire (Eze 1:4). Here God's presence seems rather more subtle, although the characteristics are still there.

Dipping back into Barnes' commentary, he notes that the rushing mighty wind came from heaven, whereas a wind would normally blow horizontally. He also notes that it was the sound that filled the house - since the Spirit came "as a rushing mighty wind" there wasn't necessarily an actual wind, just the sound of a wind. He also notes that the "rushing mighty wind" is literally, “as of a violent blast borne along” - the Greek (φερομένης / pheromenēs) suggests rushing along like a tempest. So even in the absence of a physical wind there was certainly a sound like an almighty storm blowing through the house.

Many devout Jewish men, who had come from all around (every nation under heaven) witnessed the events. At first they were confused (the Greek, συγχέω / sugcheō, suggests perplexing, or throwing into disorder)
because they could all hear the disciples speaking in their own language. Then they were amazed, because the people speaking were from Galilee. These people who had come from all around - Parthians, Medes, Elamites, those from Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs - and yet they could still hear the disciples talking about the wonderful works of God in their own language.

The crowd were amazed, wondering what it could mean. It must have been quite something to see these simple men from Galilee speaking fluently in languages from all around them. The Greek translated "perplexed" (διηπόρουν / diēporoun) suggests hesitancy and anxiety - the people simply didn't know how to interpret what they were seeing. But others mocked, saying the disciples were full of wine.

This comment about new wine is clearly an attempt to simply explain away something that cannot be readily explained. Drinking too much does not teach someone new languages - if anything intoxication prevents people speaking coherently at all in any language, least of all a foreign language of which they would have no understanding. Even now it is a common ploy to discredit something by associating it with something undesirable, especially when the person bringing the discredit cannot find any more logical avenue to attack their target.

[RoadWarrior]

I have a question about speaking in tongues. Many boardmembers here believe that if you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you, then you can speak in tongues and they use this scripture verse as a reference. But I don't believe that. I know that I was saved the night I surrendered my life to CHrist and I am certain that I have the Holy Spirit living inside of me and that I know I belong to Christ and that I am a child of God that happened ten years ago and I have never doubted that I was born again that day, but I have never spoken in tongues. What are your thoughts?

PS I like that you are adding comments at the end Tanya, I enjoy reading those

Hi Trina,

I like the commentary blog also! Today I left my first comment on there, but I logged in as anonymous. I guess I should have signed the comment before I pressed submit. However you will probably recognize me from my writing style "voice"!

Now to your question. I have friends whose Christian practice includes praying in "tongues". Also, there have been times when I was in a church that the people wanted to get me praying in tongues, but it just never happened for me.

So I take the view that some have it and some don't and some pretend to have it. I don't judge them for having tongues, and I ask that they do not judge me for not having tongues. I think Paul speaks clearly to the subject in Corinthians, that not all speak in tongues.

I agree with you, that when we are born again, the Holy Spirit takes up residence within us and He never leaves. I have other evidences of His presence and power in my life, (other than speaking in tongues) and with that I am content.

[menJesus]

Here I am! Lurking around...

As for speaking in tongues, God gives us what He wants us to have, for His own reasons. As long as we are trying to live the best we can, we are in just the exact place God means us to be - after all, HE is the Giver of the gifts... we are each blessed in different ways, in order to enable us to do His work... like the fingers on the hand...

Alright, carry on... this is great!

[Kingsdaughter]

Thank you all for your responses to my question and we are one in the Spirit on this

Tanya- I agree and I too am sad that this topic of speaking in tongues divides some of us when it is the Holy Spirit who unites us all as believers.

Tango- That is my understanding of speaking in tongues, is that, it is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Those scripture verses that you posted is what I base my beliefs on, not only that but the Spirit confirms it in my heart.

RW-I didn't know that you can post your own comments on the blog( I really don't know anything about blogs) I'm going to have to go back and read your comments.I thought it was funny, your story of your friends church trying to get you to speak in tongues, that happened to me at my cousins church, I was a new believer and I felt like I was put on the spot, everyone, and I mean everyone at that church was speaking in tongues and I didn't.Yet I was totally at peace. Knowing in my heart and mind that the Lord was with me, in me and upon me

[Kingsdaughter]

Here I am! Lurking around...

As for speaking in tongues, God gives us what He wants us to have, for His own reasons. As long as we are trying to live the best we can, we are in just the exact place God means us to be - after all, HE is the Giver of the gifts... we are each blessed in different ways, in order to enable us to do His work... like the fingers on the hand...

Alright, carry on... this is great!

Thank you menJesus, I agree.

[Phroggie]

1.
a. Who was present? The apostles and the group of believers (disciples) that we met in Ch 1 v15
b. When did these events take place? On the day of Pentecost, that is the 50th day after Passover. (Thanks tango for introducing me to Barnes)
c. Where were they? Verse 2 says 'in the house where they were sitting' am assuming they are still in the upper room.

2-4. Describe how the Holy Spirit came to them:
What did they hear? A sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven filling the entire house where the group were gathered.

What did they see? They saw what appeared to be tongues of fire which separated and came to rest on each of them.

What did each of them personally experience? Each person was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them.

5.
a. Who witnessed these things, and from where had they come? A group of God-fearing Jews who, having come from every nation under the sun, were staying in Jerusalem at the time.

6. What was their initial reaction and why? They were confused because each one heard the words being spoken in his native language.

7. What was their next reaction and why? Their next reaction was one of utter amazement because they recognized the men speaking as being Galileans ('foreigners') and realized they were speaking in something other than their native language.

According to Barnes, the Galileans were regarded as ignorant, rude and uncivilized; unacquainted with other nations and languages. So, for them to be speaking in a language other than their own was truly remarkable.

8-11.
a. How many different languages did they hear the disciples speaking? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs

b. What were the disciples speaking about in these languages? They were declaring the wonders of God.

12-13. What else do we learn about the reaction of the crowd? Understandably amazed and perplexed, those hearing what was being said asked one another what all of this meant. However, some laughed it off saying 'They have had too much wine', implying that the apostles and disciples were drunk.



Now please read comments for this passage here.[/quote]

[Tanya~]

Today we have a lot of verses to cover, but it shouldn’t be too difficult because there won’t be more questions than usual. With a longer passage like this, it is especially helpful to use the Biblegateway.com link and open the passage in a separate window. Then you don’t have to scroll up and down to look for your answers while replying. Right-click on the Scripture reference, open it in a new window, then put the windows side by side.

Acts 2:14-24

14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in heaven above
And signs in the earth beneath:
Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
21 And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the LORD
Shall be saved.'

22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know — 23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

NKJV

~~ Question numbers below correspond to verse numbers above ~~
~~ Questions marked with an *asterisk are optional or for extra study ~~~

14.
a. Who is speaking, and to whom?
*b. Is Peter speaking on his own behalf? Explain your answer.

15.
a. What specific reaction of the crowd does Peter address?
b. What reason does he give them why it couldn’t be as they supposed?

16.
a. Which prophet does Peter quote?

17-21.
a. Read through the passage and find the parts of this prophecy fulfilled on Pentecost. (Compare Acts 2:4, 11)
b. When would some of the other parts of this prophecy be fulfilled? (verse 20)
c. What will always be true in the meantime? (verse 21)

22.
a. Using a dictionary, define the word “attest.”
b. In what way did God “attest” Jesus to the people?
*c. Why do you think Peter would say that his audience knew these things?

23.
a. What do you learn about God?
b. What does Peter say about Jesus’ death?

24. What happened after Jesus’ death, and why?

Because of the length of Peter’s sermon, we have to stop here and take up the remainder tomorrow. Meanwhile, please read comments for this passage here. Thank you for your continued participation.

[philz1982]

~~ Question numbers below correspond to verse numbers above ~~

1.
a. Who was present? (See also Acts 1:15)
The disciples and others numbering 120
b. When did these events take place?
Jerusalem
c. Where were they? (Also see verse 2 and Acts 1:4)
In the upper room.
2-4. Describe how the Holy Spirit came to them:
What did they hear?
A strong wind
What did they see?
Tounges of fire.
What did each of them personally experience?
They could speak all languages.
5.
a. Who witnessed these things, and from where had they come?
Jews
6. What was their initial reaction and why?
amazment they were hearing people who didnt' know their language in their language .
7. What was their next reaction and why?
perplexed there was no way they should be able to speak the Jews langauge.
8-11.
a. How many different languages did they hear the disciples speaking?
15 I believe
b. What were the disciples speaking about in these languages?
I don't see where it says but probably about the holy spirit.
12-13. What else do we learn about the reaction of the crowd?
Some of them were mocking as will be in the end times even in the face of a miracle from God people will turn away.

[philz1982]

I have a question about speaking in tongues. Many boardmembers here believe that if you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you, then you can speak in tongues and they use this scripture verse as a reference. But I don't believe that. I know that I was saved the night I surrendered my life to CHrist and I am certain that I have the Holy Spirit living inside of me and that I know I belong to Christ and that I am a child of God that happened ten years ago and I have never doubted that I was born again that day, but I have never spoken in tongues. What are your thoughts?

One of the things someone said to me puts it in perspective. I said I believe in Christ but I don't believe in Creation. THen I was told what does the bible say and if we believe in the bible and Christ who we can not see how can we disbelieve in tongues and other gifts of the spirit (or in my case creation) . Simply put maybe that is not a gift you are set to recieve there are 7 gifts all together I believe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_g...he_Holy_Spirit why not examine those and your life and see what ones you might have missed? Good luck and God bless.