Tuesday 18 April 2023
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. (vs 1-2, 4)
Background
Pentecost is a significant time in the life of the Church when the Holy Spirit came down to earth and enabled the disciples to speak in tongues. For me this passage is extremely special because there are so many aspects: the coming down of the Holy Spirit, the different languages, and the audience's reaction. When reading it you really feel like you are amongst the crowd.
Overall I think the passage tells us that God wants God's word to be accessible and to reach everyone. I get this feeling from the mention of there being “Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs” in the crowd, who all suddenly hear and understand the word of God in their own language.
This is further supported later on when Peter explained the power of the Holy Spirit being available to both men and women of any age. This passage truly depicts the caring and equality-seeking nature of God.
To Ponder:
- Is everyone born with the Holy Spirit or do we have to choose to receive it?
- How has the Holy Spirit made a difference in your life?
- Does an absence of feeling the Holy Spirit mean it has gone?
Prayer
Caring and equality-seeking God, you gave us the Holy Spirit to do your will here on earth. Please teach us how to use its gifts today so we can go out and help all those who have been marginalised by ourselves and others.