The Church Begins – Acts 2

Part 2 in the Series – “The Beginning of an Unfinished Work”

The “Day of Pentecost” (Acts 2:1) was the pre-ordained day that God chose for the Spirit to descend upon these believers to begin the work of the church. What transpired that day was something unique and like nothing ever seen or recorded before. Luke first described a sound that was like a “mighty rushing wind” and then a sight that he describes as “tongues of fire” that came to rest upon the believers in the upper room. It was clearly something supernatural and orchestrated by God Himself. Luke wasn’t an eyewitness but describes the event (through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) as if he was there.

This “Coming of the Holy Spirit” in which He rested upon (filled) each person in the room that day, was marked by this external evidence of speaking in other tongues (other known languages – Acts 2:5-12) as the Spirit enabled them. This external supernatural occurrence was evidenced by an internal manifestation of the Holy Spirit that allowed these Galileans to speak and yet being understood by others in their own language.  

The timing of this event would fall sometime in May of 33 A.D. and the Roman Empire controlled Jerusalem and the entire region of what we refer to as the Holy Land, and most of the known Western regions along with the Near East. Also, by this time – large groups of Jews had migrated to other parts of the known world, much of it under the control of Rome. Some of them (labeled as God-fearing Jews) found themselves in Jerusalem to celebrate their required feasts where they would make sacrifice and bring offerings. These Jews must have been near the room where the disciples and others had gathered because Luke tells us that they heard the sound of the strong wind. At some point the apostles (and possibly other believers) began to speak. Perhaps they were preaching or prophesying (Acts 2:17-21). Luke doesn’t tell us exactly what they were speaking about but based on the balance of Acts 2, they were probably preaching about Jesus and the wonders of the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit was clearly at work. Those believers who were speaking were Galileans and yet these others (God fearing Jews) from other regions of the Roman Empire could understand in their own tongue which was nothing short of a miracle.

At a later point, Peter begins to preach a message to not just these “God fearing Jewish” pilgrims but to a host of others who found themselves in ear shot of Peter. His message was simple, Jesus (the one they crucified) was both Lord and Christ and although they participated (directly or indirectly) in his crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead. His resurrection from the dead was the greatest proof that Jesus is the Messiah and something that unbelieving mankind can only deny in ignorance. There is no proof to the contrary!

Peter’s closing argument was that they could continue to deny Jesus was Lord at their own peril, or they can recognize the overwhelming evidence that he presented, along with the irrefutable evidence that Jesus in fact rose from the dead. Those that heard Peter’s sermon were under conviction by the Holy Spirit and faced with the realization that they stood condemned before God! They now had a strong desire to be saved from that wrath and were willing to submit to God’s will. This resulted in over 3000 souls being added to the church and they continued meeting together in the temple courts of Jerusalem which was their right to do so. They moved about the community in which they lived, and other people (unbelievers) were able to witness their testimony of a changed or transformed life. This is the “Beginning of the Church” and it is only getting started!