Chapter two takes us to the day of Pentecost. Typically, we read over such words as "Pentecost" but the Lord has placed the need to briefly explain this on my heart. These festivals, customs, and holidays are a part of our own beginnings as Christians and I believe they are worth understanding somewhat.
In brief, the year of festivals began with Passover. Passover is during the first month of the Jewish calendar year. Their year begins with remembering and honoring Israel’s release from Egypt by the Lord. Passover celebrated God sparing the children of Israel by having the families each sacrifice a lamb and then brushing the lamb's blood on their doorways so death would pass over them. When death found doorways not brushed with sacrificed lamb’s blood, the firstborn of the children of Egypt died, along with the firstborn of all livestock. Other than the homes of the Israelites, every home had a death in it.
Passover is followed by The Feast of Unleavened Bread. This celebrated their last preparation before leaving Egypt. They had to make bread for the journey hastily and were told to not add yeast (or leaven) so it would be ready faster. This was because their departure would come suddenly.
It is important to note what is written in Exodus 12:40-42 NLT
“The people of Israel had lived in Egypt for 430 years. In fact, it was on the last day of the 430th year that all the Lord’s forces left the land. On this night the Lord kept His promise to bring His people out of the land of Egypt. So this night belongs to Him, and it must be commemorated every year by all the Israelites, from generation to generation.”
Following The Feast of Unleavened Bread is Pentecost. Pentecost is during the third month of the Jewish calendar year. It is a one day festival to give thanks to God for provision. It comes in the middle of the wheat harvest and the end of the barley harvest. Wheat crops were of great importance and celebrating during the wheat harvest was a great sacrifice. The wheat harvest was so important that only one day could be spared for this festival.
The celebration was done by harvesting a small field and preparing two special and very large loaves. After these loaves were baked they were held high and waved to the sky, giving thanks to God who watched over them. The treasury of the Temple was also opened so that the people could bring free will offerings.
While all this was happening, they focused their thoughts on the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. Pentecost was also called the Festival of Weeks. It was to be held seven weeks or 50 days following the Festival of Unleavened bread, putting it in the third month as mentioned earlier. As with all Jewish festivals, there is great significance to the timing and order of the celebrations. The 50 days is approximately the same length of time it took the Jews to get to Mount Sinai after escaping from Egypt. So the people left Egypt after 430 years and traveled 50 days to Mount Sinai where God gave Moses the Law (or as we think of it, "the 10 Commandments").
With that background, we can see the time of Pentecost was a time of celebration. It is easy to picture people filled with gratitude in the middle of the great wheat harvest. This celebration was to thank God for all He has done and for His continued watching over His people. They were focused on all that God had done to the point of Moses receiving the Law.
In verse 2 we are told that all the believers were gathered together in a house when a mighty roaring windstorm filled the house. Then, what looked like flames of fire appeared and settled on each of them. Everyone present was then filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave them the ability to speak in other languages.
We are told during all of this that there were devout Jews from every nation living there in Jerusalem. They too heard the noise and flocked to see what was happening. When they arrived, they were bewildered hearing the believers speaking in each of their own languages.
The Jews knew the believers were all from Galilee and were amazed they were speaking in so many languages that they normally couldn’t speak. See Acts 1:9 for a list of all the countries and locations from which languages were being spoken. It is truly amazing.
The believers were not just speaking about anything, they were speaking in all the different languages about the wonderful things God had done. Scripture does not tell us what “wonderful things God has done” but in my mind, since it was Pentecost, I imagine they were speaking of the wonderful things of God that they typically praised Him for during the festival. We might picture the believers praising God in the various languages for all He had done from leaving Egypt to arriving at Mount Sinai and His continued watching over them.
Some of the Jewish people who were not believers began to mock those speaking in other languages saying they were drunk.
A point to consider is that when Luke wrote about the twelve, he seems to call them apostles. However, in chapter one verse 15 it is written, “During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them.” I point this out because when Luke again mentions the group gathered in one place in chapter two verse 1, he calls them believers leading us to understand that he is talking about the 120.
Now, we might have a clear picture of what is seen there. Lots of people celebrating Pentecost and giving thanks to God when 120 believers come on the scene speaking in many other languages. Some of the Jewish non-believers show up and belittle them by saying they are just drunk. We can see a fair size crowd gathered and we can also see the potential for some type of conflict.
In the midst of that, Peter stepped out with the eleven other Apostles and “shouted” to the crowd. His words are quite powerful; “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel."
Nothing is really known about the prophet Joel. From what is written, it is guessed he lived in Judah around 538-331 B.C. Joel calls the people to express deep sorrowful expression of their wrong doing along with repenting of their wicked ways. It also tells of God’s promise of restoration for them.
The prophet Joel showed up in Israel during a time of the most terrible plague of locusts in the nation's history. Joel came and prophesied to the land of Judah before the plague came. He warned the people of Judah that the devastation was going to sweep across the land very soon. He called for a season of fasting, mourning, and repentance. He warned them of God's judgment in the imagery of the impending invasion of locusts. He called the people of Judah and Jerusalem to weep over the sins, and to fast and repent because the day of the Lord is approaching. Soon the plague came and devastated the whole land and its effects were clearly seen and felt. The locusts came like a storm, they darkened the skies and every green thing was left barren. There was no hope of escape and they left utter decimation in their path. Joel seized upon the imagery of the locusts as a type of the greater judgement that would come on "the Day of the Lord" in the last days: Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as destruction from the Almighty . . . The LORD gives voice before His army, for His camp is very great; for strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; who can endure it? Joel 1:15, 2:11. Joel also gave a message of hope and prophesied of great blessings that would follow and the glories of the Messiah's kingdom.
From bible-history.com
Back in Acts, Peter speaks to the crowd about things told of in the book of Joel. He talks about how in those times, God will pour His Spirit on all, sons and daughters will prophesy, young men will see visions and old men will dream dreams. He spoke of God pouring out His spirit on men and women and even His servants. They will also prophesy. He will cause wonder in the heavens and signs such as blood and fire and clouds of smoke on the earth. The sun will become dark and the moon will turn blood red before the great and glorious day of the Lord arrives. He reminded them of all the things Joel said leading them through all the terrible things that were to come and helping them to see the desperate situation they were in. He then finished with this in verse 21; “But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
Peter saw opportunity in the crowd gathered there and used it to speak of salvation in Christ. He continued talking to them about how God did miracles, wonders and signs, through Jesus, in public for all to see. He spoke of how God knew these things would happen and His plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. He spoke of how the Jews, with the help of the lawless Gentiles, nailed Jesus to the cross, killing him. He told them how God raised Jesus from the dead and brought Him back to life and that even death could not hold Him. Even death could not thwart God’s plan. He went on to quote King David who spoke of Jesus always being with him and that death could not and would not keep Him in the grave.
Peter told the crowd to think about what he said and to be sure David was not talking about himself but of Christ. God promised David that one of his descendants would be the Messiah.
Peter spoke to the crowd saying, (vs 32, 33) “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this (remember being a witness to all of that was one requirement for becoming an Apostle). Now He is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as He had promised, gave Him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.” Peter again quoted David's words by telling them that David had not ascended into heaven but spoke of the Father saying to David’s Lord (Jesus) that He would sit at the Father’s right hand until He humbled all Jesus' enemies.
Peter then told the crowd that he wanted to let everyone in Israel know that Jesus, whom they crucified, was from God and is both Lord and Messiah. Were are told Peter’s words “pierced” their hearts, meaning his words stuck them, pricked them violently or stunned them. The crowd spoke to Peter and the other Apostles saying, (vs 37) “Brothers what should we do?”
Peter answered them telling them they must repent of their sins and turn to God. They needed to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to be forgiven of their sins. By doing so, they will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise was to them, their children, and to the Gentiles. The Lord God has called them all to Himself.
Peter preached for a long time after that, “strongly urging” them to “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!" It is written that about 3,000 believed what Peter had said and were baptized and added to the believers that day.
Following that, all the believers were devoted to learning from the Apostles. They joined in fellowship and prayer and shared meals together, including the Lord’s Supper.
They all were deeply awed by this and witnessed the Apostles performing many miraculous signs and wonders. The believers all met together in one place and shared all they had. They even sold their property and possessions so they could share the money with those who were in need.
This reminded me of the abandoning of self displayed by the Apostles and others who followed Jesus. They walked away from comfortable homes and businesses and lived trusting God to provide. They owned nothing and treasured nothing except the Lord. Might we think that when a person fully commits to Jesus and His work, he can completely walk away from his/her life to do the work Jesus left in their hands. With such a decision, there is no worry of conflicts of interest. It is a picture of total and complete dedication to one purpose. There is no issue of serving two masters. In this example, they truly treated Jesus as Lord.
They worshipped at Temple together every day. They met in homes for the Lord’s Supper and shared their meals, “with great joy and generosity - all the while praising God and enjoying the good will of all the people.” Clearly, they were totally devoted and committed to living a life serving the Lord. Clearly, they were totally committed to one another.
God saw all they were doing and blessed them. They were right with Him and were a group God could send others to knowing they would be in good hands. “And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”