by Timothy W. Burnett
Whether we are new in the word, or experienced teachers of the word, it is there to heal our hearts and help us to better understand the spiritual things of life. God's word speaks gently to our hearts with His love and grace through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have been looking at the examples in Acts of believers who received the gift of the Holy Ghost in the context of speaking in tongues. Why did God give the disciples a vision of burning cloven tongues? It could be that God thought it was very important for them to start speaking in tongues.
Jesus Christ told them about speaking in tongues earlier (Mark 16:17). Just before his ascension, he told them that the Holy Ghost would come upon them after receiving power (Acts 1:8). After the disciples were filled with the spirit, God gave them a vision of cloven tongues. Three different records have different apostles ministering the Holy Ghost to others. In every account, the result was that they "received the Holy Ghost" (see Acts 8:17, 10:43 & 47, 11:15 and 19:2 & 6). God might be trying to tell us something.
After the disciples stopped speaking in tongues for the first time, everybody else int he temple expressed marvel and amazement over what they just heard. This was largely because they heard "them speak in their own languages the wonderful works of God" (Acts 2:5-11). Verse 12 says they were all amazed, and with doubt asked each other what it meant. They understood what they heard, but didn't understand why it happened.
Before I continue, it is important to understand something. The fact that others understood them was a miraculous phenomenon that was not guaranteed to happen again. We learn from 1Corinthians chapter 14 that speaking in tongues is meant for the spiritual edification of the one speaking and not for others. God had a very special reason for this initial miracle. The news of what happened spread like wildfire. God sure knew how to get things started!
Everybody else in the temple were amazed and doubt. Others mocked and accused them of being drunk (Acts 2:13). Even after hearing the wonderful works of God in their own individual languages, some of them still mocked the disciples.
Next, Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles and said, "You men of Juea, and all that live at Jerusalem, be this known to you, and hearken to my words, for they are not drunk considering it is only the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel." (Acts 2:14-16). Peter was about to explain to the others the significance and meaning of what they saw and heard.
Next week we will look at Peter's bold response.
Home