Acts 2:1–13 - A Different Kind of Harvest
You are both the crop and the harvester!
SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... After Jesus ascended into heaven, the eleven remaining disciples met together and to replace Judas, who had betrayed Jesus. After nominating two men who 'had been with them the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among them,' they cast lots, which fell to Matthias.
Acts 2:1–13 (ESV)
2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they [the twelve disciples] were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Belgic Confession
Article 11: The Deity of the Holy Spirit
We believe and confess also
that the Holy Spirit proceeds eternally
from the Father and the Son—
neither made,
nor created,
nor begotten,
but only proceeding
from the two of them.
In regard to order,
he is the third person of the Trinity—
of one and the same essence,
and majesty,
and glory,
with the Father and the Son.
He is true and eternal God,
as the Holy Scriptures teach us.
Summary
The disciples didn’t have to wait long after Jesus’ ascension for the promised Holy Spirit, because ten days later, at the Feast of Firstfruits (also known as the Jewish Pentecost festival), the Word God spoke to the prophet Joel was fulfilled, in which He had promised to pour out His Spirit on all mankind.
Ten days after Jesus ascended back into Heaven, we are told the disciples were all in one place, and there, the Holy Spirit was poured out on these believers, just as Jesus had promised, and it was no silent pouring out either. The sound of wind filled the place where these disciples had gathered, tongues of fire appeared and rested upon them, and the disciples, because of the Holy Spirit, began to speak in tongues.
Luke then tells us about all the people that were in Jerusalem at that time because of the Pentecost feast - Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. As you can imagine, people were rightly curious about this loud sound that had just taken place, and they gather around to inquire about it. When they do, they hear the disciples, these Galileans, proclaiming the “mighty works of God” in their own languages!
Everyone, Luke tells us, was amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?' As we’ll see tomorrow, Peter’s going to tell them exactly what this means in his sermon at Pentecost, but before he does, some of the people aren’t having any of it. Sadly, some turn and mock the disciples, saying: They are filled with new wine.
Dig Deeper
This time of year, it’s the harvest season! As you drive by fields, even late into the night, you see farmers out on their combines and trucks bringing in the harvest the Lord crowned this year with, hard at work. Perhaps you’re listening in the cab of one of those right now!
Harvest time is a lot of hard work, but also exciting as we see what the Lord has blessed us with, and get to praise and thank Him for His blessings to us. At Pentecost, we see a different kind of harvest - a harvest of souls! Pentecost was the celebration of the first fruits of the harvest, and here, the Holy Spirit brings three thousand people from spiritual death to spiritual life!
That harvest continues today as the Holy Spirit continues bringing people spiritually to life, regenerating their hearts, and for those of us who believe in Jesus, we are a part of that harvest too! We, likewise, have that One and the same Holy Spirit that was poured out on Jesus and upon these believers at Pentecost and believers throughout the ages! Even though we are a part of the spiritual harvest that is taking place until the end of time, we are now laborers in the fields white with harvest.
While we cannot spiritually bring people back to life - that is the Holy Spirit’s work - God still works in and through us to proclaim the mighty works of God, the Good News of the Gospel, planting or watering the seed.
May the Lord ever help us and strengthen us to labor faithfully amidst the harvest field of the world wherever He has called us!
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who pours out His Spirit upon His people;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will be a strong laborer for the harvest;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
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