4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 So they were astounded and marveling, saying, “Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we each hear them in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the district of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” 12 And they all continued in astonishment and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others, mocking, were saying, “They are full of new wine.” Acts 2: 4-13 LSB
Acts 2: 4-13
V. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit - Everyone in the room, the 120 who had believed in Christ, were being immersed in the Spirit, baptized, and as we discussed this was accompanied with noise like a rushing wind that filled the whole house. Then there is an AND they were all filled, one baptism received by who? Those who believed that Christ died for their sins and rose from the grave on the third day. These were those whom He had promised the gift of the Holy Spirit, and now they are not only baptized, indwelt by the Spirit, but also filled for service, given power to obedience in ministry as Christ's witnesses. Some churches make the mistake that it should look like this, that this filling continues in the same way, even mistaking these outward signs for that of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, regeneration, the washing and granting of repentance. Others mistakenly rely solely upon their intellect, their programs, and or churches that are business models. Some mistake their feelings and even call it the presence of God, "you can feel the Holy Spirit in this place", and will do things like pagans to summon Him, as if. Other churches err to the side of their great argument, their pizza parties, lights, fx, music, laughter, but the wind blows where it wishes. You hear it's sound, but do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
…25All this I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you. 27Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled; do not be afraid.… John 14: 25-27
4And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss. 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”… Acts 1: 4-6
James Montgomery Boice - People talk about the baptism of the Holy Spirit as if that is what Pentecost was about. Usually they mean that Pentecost “baptism” is a special experience that involves the gift of being able to speak in tongues. They would say that the ability to speak in tongues is the only sure evidence that a person has been baptized with the Spirit—or even, perhaps, is a Christian. The Bible does talk about a baptism of the Holy Spirit, of course, but not in those terms. The baptism of the Holy Spirit has to do with regeneration or being born again. It results in the regenerated person being identified with Jesus Christ, spiritually in the sight of God and publicly before other men and women. Significantly, that is what the sacrament of water baptism also signifies. It does not have anything to do with imparting some kind of special blessing. It is an identification of the baptized individual with Christ. It is done once, because a person is only saved once. To be baptized by the Holy Spirit is to be a Christian. John R. W. Stott wrote correctly, “Water-baptism is the initiatory Christian rite, because Spirit-baptism is the initiatory Christian experience.” To be filled with the Holy Spirit is different, and it is this that is being talked about here. The early believers did not become Christians at Pentecost. They already were believers. They believed in Jesus. They were meeting together. They were praying. They were studying the Bible. But now the Holy Spirit came upon them in a special way to empower them for their task. The word used to describe the experience is “filled.” (Ibid)
John Stott - Before Christ sent the church into the world, he sent the Spirit into the church. The same order must be observed today. (Borrow The message of Acts : the Spirit, the church & the world) - PA
Wiersbe adds that "The filling of the Spirit has to do with power for witness and service (Acts 1:8+). We are not exhorted (OR COMMANDED) to be baptized with the Spirit, for this is something God does once and for all when we trust His Son. But we are commanded to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18+), for we need His power constantly if we are to serve God effectively (ED: cf John 15:5!). At Pentecost, the Christians were filled with the Spirit AND experienced the baptism of the Spirit; but after that, they experienced many fillings (Acts 4:8, 31; 9:17; 13:9) but no more baptisms. (Bible Exposition Commentary )
Spirit and power are frequently associated = Luke 4:14+; Acts 1:8+; Acts 10:38; Ro 15:13; Ro 15:19, 1 Cor. 2:4; Eph. 3:16; 1 Th. 1:5; 2 Ti 1:7). The upshot is that the Holy Spirit imparts power for ministry. Does this describe your ministry? Is it "your" ministry or the Spirit of Jesus' ministry THROUGH you? The former is fueled by natural power, the latter by supernatural power. The former is fruitless, the latter is fruitful. The former gives you glory, the latter gives Jesus glory. Which describes your ministry? Remember that…
Bethlehem was God with us.
Calvary was God for us.
Pentecost is God in us. - Precept Austin
We see other fillings of the Spirit with John the Baptist and Peter, being enabled to minister in various ways, including speaking in languages they didn't know and healing, all to the glory of God and the furtherance of His gracious gospel.
…7They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed,…,
…10then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”… Acts 4: 7-12
…29And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness, 30as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” 31After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.… Acts 4: 29-31
…14He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. 16Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.… Luke 1: 14-16
…40where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!… Luke 1: 40-42
V. 4b And began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit was giving them utterance - These were languages as the text makes clear, since they were understandable to the Jews who had come from other lands. This is also the clearest example of what qualifies as tongues in the Scripture. Peter makes reference back to this in Acts 10 as they start to realize that the gospel is being given and receive by gentiles as well. It is a sign to the early church fathers for this broadened ministry, and to the Jews from other lands.
And began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance - Tongues is better translated languages, as what they spoke was clearly recognized as other (heteros = different - not the expected Hebrew or Aramaic) languages (Acts 2:6) by the unbelieving (for the moment) Jews. The ability to speak in foreign languages is here clearly associated with the Holy Spirit Who was giving (imperfect tense - again and again) them utterance. While some say that other tongues is a third sign of baptism with the Spirit, the other tongues is most closely associated with the fact that they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. (see the previous association of filling with the Spirit and speaking enabled by the Spirit). Although it may be semantics, another way to view wind, fire and tongues is to interpret the first two as signs of the Spirit's arrival (baptism) and the third as the effect of the Spirit's filling. However since it was foreign languages the speakers did not know it clearly was also a supernatural sign pointing to a supernatural source, the Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus.
A T Robertson on speak with other tongues - Other than their native tongues. Each one began to speak in a language that he had not acquired and yet it was a real language and understood by those from various lands familiar with them. It was not jargon, but intelligible language. Jesus had said that the gospel was to go to all the nations and here the various tongues of earth were spoken. One might conclude that this was the way in which the message was to be carried to the nations, but future developments disprove it. (Word Pictures in the New Testament - Acts 2) - PA
43All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard his message. 45All the circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.…
…46For they heard them speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter said, 47“Can anyone withhold the water to baptize these people? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have!” 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.… Acts 10: 43-48
Vs. 5-11 Each of them was hearing them speak in his own language - This was strange to them, for the gospel was clear, and the men preaching it were not only emboldened by the Spirit, but were also given a supernatural ability to preach in the languages of men from far away countries. The OT had mostly been available to them in Hebrew, and to hear the Emmaus Road in your native tongue, from the lips of unlearned men, was a bit shocking. For some, well, they probably thought it, Hebrew, was God's language, or things reserved only for those who knew Hebrew, like the Catholic priests in not allowing the Bible to be printed in the language of the people, but wanting it to remain in Latin. God's word was flowing out in every tongue there, and out of the mouths of men who went to synagogue, could read, but they were not Harvard graduates, most were like Oakhill fishermen, one was a tax collector, so he could read and count, but tax collectors were considered scoundrels. Luke came along, and historians say you can see the difference in his Greek, that it is more refined, but he was a doctor. Well, many respect certain schools, certain intellectual circles, titles and degrees, but guess what, none of those things will make anything you are saying true. It has to be true on it's own, before you say it.
Vs. 12-13 They are full of new wine - What a lazy response, but one can see why salvation is of the Lord. If they didn't understand any of the languages, as some suggest, well that would be judgment, but there were plenty there who could explain what was occurring. Men saw Jesus perform miracles and then attributed those works of the Spirit to Beelzebub. I think these are of the same sort. I was that way as an unbeliever, and I acted like I had seen no convincing evidence for God, or for the need of Christ, yet I was never really looking too hard for anything that would go against what I wanted to believe. I didn't want God, and so God would even have to grace me with the desire to want Him. You can see the great work of the Holy Spirit here in the story of Pentecost.
Longnecker makes an important observation that "The miraculous is not self-authenticating, nor does it inevitably and uniformly convince. There must also be the preparation of the heart and the proclamation of the message if miracles are to accomplish their full purpose." (Ibid)
Mark it down - Miracles do not convert! - PA
Warren Wiersbe on full of sweet wine - It is interesting that the mockers should accuse the believers of being drunk, for wine is associated with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18). Paul relates the two in contrast, for when a man is filled with strong drink, he loses control of himself and ends up being ashamed; but when a person is filled with the Spirit, he has self-control and glorifies God. Strong drink can bring a temporary exhilaration, but the Spirit gives a deep satisfaction and a lasting joy. (Bible Exposition Commentary ). - PA
I will include some links below from a cessationist view I defended in discussion with my Pentecostal friend. This goes further into the issue of tongues that we hear about today and other gifts. Anchored in 1 Cor. 14:
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