You, your kids and even those not even closely related to you

In this post we will be looking at a certain event in the book of Acts and attentively note how that Peter reprimands those who amazed, astonished and perplexed mocked those who spoke in tongues once they were filled with the Spirit of Jesus.

The Story

Acts is the story God's Grace following the ascension of Jesus. It is the story of the first congregations of those-called-out-from-amongst (the ekklēsia), of those who came to know and receive Christ shortly after His ascension. It is the story of missionaries and courageous travels and of answering those who grew up in pagan society culture. It is the story of bringing the Gospel, even amidst what may have been regarded as totalitarian autocracy by such super-power as Rome ...

It is the story told by the Evangelist Luke, who by virtue of his longstanding association with the Apostles, witnessed the initial steps taken by those who were the first to appropriate what (or rather, Who) they have received. It is the story of Love and Love applied and furthered ...

What we know

We look at Acts chapter 2 where the former impulsive, and at the same time renouncing, Apostle Peter stood up amongst the other apostles and spoke boldly of the Holy Spirit and of God's perfect plan.

Peter's response comes in reaction to the amazement of bystanders who marveled at the sound of ordinary Galileans speaking in the understandable voice of their own languages, all hearing it at the very same time at the very moment the apostles spoke. Remarkable!

Peter addresses certain people. Let's see ...

All of them (I will translate them for you in brackets), Parthians (those of the pledge), and Medes (those of the middle-ground), and Elamites (those of the distant land), and the dwellers in Mesopotamia (those between two places), and in Judaea (those who are praised and themselves praise), and Cappadocia (those of the place with esteemed possessions), in Pontus (those of the sea), and Asia (those of the orient), Phrygia (those of the dry barren place), and Pamphylia (those of every tribe and origin), in Egypt (those of the double distress), and in the parts of Libya (those of the place of weeping and affliction) about Cyrene (those of the place of supremacy), and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes (newcomers), Cretes (those of flesh) and Arabians (those of the desert place), we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

On top of this speaking in tongues those people who heard and received the Gospel, were miraculously healed, were freed of devils, baptised and provided for with each and every good and perfect Gift that comes from the Father ...

What we should know

Coming to Acts chapter 2, I guess what we should really know and take special note of, is what the Apostle Peter said pertaining to the speaking in tongues once the Holy Spirit came to indwell the apostles. So, let's look at it (I will expound in brackets):

Act 2:14-39 KJV: But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice (this is the man who denied Jesus ... three times!), and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem (people of the area, under the law and those sojourners, who think they are observing the traditions of the Jews) , be this known unto you, and hearken to my words (listen carefully):

For these are not drunken, as ye suppose (it is not what you think or suppose), seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 

But this is that which was spoken (it was prophesied well in advance) by the prophet Joel (YHVH is God, Elohim); (and now Peter goes on to quote the prophet Joel)

And it shall come to pass in the last days (eschatos: the latter days, the final days - these are the days of Jesus. He is the First and the Last), saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit (the Holy Spirit ... and it was done, whether you have agreed and received or not) upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy (not just a selected few), and your young men shall see visions (not just a selected few), and your old men shall dream dreams (not just a selected few):

And on my servants and on my handmaidens (in the original Hebrew, Joel talks of the bondman and bondwoman, thus those who bind themselves to heart of God, Jesus) I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord (the day of Jesus's victory. Done!) come:

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call (the Hebrew word means to encounter, to identify with, to meet with, to bewray yourself) on the name of the Lord (YHVH) shall be saved.

Peter ends the quote and continues ...

Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved (the Greek word here is apodeiknumi - to fully exhibit, to demonstrate, to prove, to set forth) of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Whom God hath raised up (the crucial event for life and to abide within us), having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. (An absolute, total victory!)

Peter goes on to quote some examples again ... David, the beloved - an example of us ...

For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. (never leaving us, nor forsaking us, just as He promised)

Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. (nothing hidden, no distance, no delay)

What is the reality of it

Peter continues.

Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.

Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;

He seeing this before (as a prophet) spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (eye-witnesses of more than 500)

Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this (let's not miss this important step or deny that it ever took place), which ye now see and hear.

For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD (YHVH) said unto my Lord (This is Jesus! And remember, whosoever confesses Jesus Christ as lord ...), Sit thou on my right hand,

Until I make thy foes thy footstool. (It is finished!)

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

What follows, is an amazing reaction that we should really take note of. It is unheard of in today's terms, because of the self-righteousness of those stuck in religion ...

The battle is won! the inheritance is there to be received. It is done!

Just look at this ...

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

What is it to us?

They felt moved by the Spirit. And Peter's answers is just as moving ... 

Then Peter said unto them, Repent (make sure you understand what repent really means by checking out this post), and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (Baptism here is not the washing away of sins as it was under the old covenant, but rather baptism here is a confirmation that we have died with Christ and were raised with Christ - the finished work of Christ. For some reason the modern 'church' finds this very difficult to understand), and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Simple: lambano)

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. (Wherever, whosoever!)