Book of Acts session 3. Acts 2:1-13. See also Catechism #731-41.
- Introduction
A. Luke’ s gospel shows Jesus beginning his ministry at his baptism in the Jordan River. Lk. 3: 21-22. 1. Acts 2. Shows the Holy Spirit coming upon the 120 to give birth to the church. 2. Jesus’ pattern of ministry is the same for his church. II. Acts 2:1-4. A. Time of Pentecost is fulfilled. 1. God’s plan is accomplished. See Lk. 9:51. 2. 50 days after Passover = feast of Pentecost- time to give thanks for the covenant and law given at Mt. Sinai. Ex. 19. 3. Now a new law-the Holy Spirit- see Romans 8:2. This fulfills Jer. 31:31-34. 2Cor. 3:2-6. B. Noise, wind, tongues as of fire 1. Wind = Holy Spirit. 2. Noise= Ex. 19. 3. Fire-cleansing, Lk. 3:16. 4. Tongues = languages of the nations see Acts 1:8; Lk. 24:49. III. Acts 2:5-10, 11-13. A. Acts 1:8- witnesses. See Isaiah 49. Vocation of Israel is to witness to the nations the mighty acts of God. 1. V.11 tongues- see Gn. 11:1-11. Babel represented human striving to seek power, wealth, security without God. 2. At Pentecost, God heals and cleanses the human heart with the Holy Spirit and overcomes human division by bringing the heart under the Lordship of Jesus. B. Acts 2:12-13 1. Wine in OT is symbol of joy, abundance of blessing that the Messiah brings. See Joel 4:18; Amos 9: 13-14. Rom. 5:5. John. 2:10. 2. Tongues at Pentecost is like prophecy: declaring the heart and the mind of God for his people. 3. There is also a personal use of tongues to build up oneself. 1Cor. 14:1-5. Questions:
- More love, more power awaits us. How do you enter into that?
- Why do you think God began the church the way he did?
- What role does tongues, prophecy, and other gifts of the Spirit have as their purpose for the church?
