Presentation on Acts 2 with Lots of Background

Acts 2 Presentation

1. Pentecost: Acts 2:1-41 4/21/24

2. Icebreaker/Activity When does your family get together with all of the extended relatives?

3. Prelude: Timeline Jesus’ Resurrection Jesus’ Ascension Pentecost 40 Days 10 Days What did Pentecost mean to the Jewish people?

4. Prelude: Ancient Languages What do these pairs have in common? -Spanish, Portuguese -Hindi, Gujarati -Cantonese, Mandarin

5. Acts 2: Pentecost Arrives When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  2  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  3  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  4  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues [ a ]  as the Spirit enabled them. 5  Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.  6  When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.  7  Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?  8  Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?  9  Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, [ b ]   10  Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome  11  (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”  12  Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13  Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

6. Acts 2: Prophesy from the Old Testament 14  Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.  15  These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!  16  No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17  “‘In the last days, God says,      I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy,      your young men will see visions,      your old men will dream dreams. 18  Even on my servants, both men and women,      I will pour out my Spirit in those days,      and they will prophesy. 19  I will show wonders in the heavens above      and signs on the earth below,      blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20  The sun will be turned to darkness      and the moon to blood      before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21  And everyone who calls      on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ [ c ]

7. Acts 2: Start of the Early Church 22  “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.  23  This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, [ d ]  put him to death by nailing him to the cross.  24  But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.  25  David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me.      Because he is at my right hand,      I will not be shaken. 26  Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;      my body also will rest in hope, 27  because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,      you will not let your holy one see decay. 28  You have made known to me the paths of life;      you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ [ e ] 29  “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.  30  But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne.  31  Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.  32  God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.  33  Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.  34  For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord:      “Sit at my right hand 35  until I make your enemies      a footstool for your feet.”’ [ f ] 36  “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37  When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38  Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  39  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40  With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”  41  Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

8. Recap Acts 2:1-13 Pentecost Arrives Acts 2:14-21 Peter Preaches about Old Testament Acts 2: 22-41 Peter Testifies about Jesus

9. Afterlude : Church Growth after Pentecost

10. Views on Miracles Today: Denominations Catholic Church (30AD-Present) Protestant Church (1517-Present) Mainline Protestant Methodists Lutherans Episcopal Presbyterian Protestant Reformation Evangelical Protestants (~1800-Present) Great Awakening Southern Baptists Nondenominational Seventh Day Adventist Latter-day Saints (Mormons) Jehovah’s Witnesses Pentecostal (charismatic)

11. Views on Miracles and Spiritual Gifts Catholic Church Official recognition by Miracle Commission (also grants sainthood) Cautious acceptance of modern-day spiritual gifts Mainline Protestant View Limited to Scripture Evangelical View Limited to Scripture Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches Modern-day miracles and gifts exist today Speaking in tongues

12. Speaking in Tongues: 1 Corinthians 14 1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.  2  For anyone who speaks in a tongue [ a ]  does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.  3  But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.  4  Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.  5  I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, [ b ]  but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, [ c ]  unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. 6  Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?  7  Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?  8  Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?  9  So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.  10  Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.  11  If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.  12  So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. 13  For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.  14  For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.  15  So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.  16  Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, [ d ]  say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?  17  You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified. 18  I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.  19  But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

13. Speaking in Tongues: 1 Corinthians 14 20  Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.  21  In the Law it is written: “With other tongues      and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people,      but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” [ e ] 26  What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.  27  If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.  28  If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. 29  Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.  30  And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.  31  For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.  32  The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.  33  For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

14. Pentecost vs. Speaking in Tongues Pentecost Fully understood by bystanders Revealed to those who did not yet believe in Jesus Useful tool for evangelism Speaking in Tongues Not understandable by bystanders (needs interpretation) No hallmarks of language such as syntax or grammar; often rhythmic repetition of sounds Only manifested in those who have accepted Christ and received the Holy Spirit Were the people at Pentecost speaking in tongues or was this a separate phenomenon?

15. Recap The Jewish people gathered together at Pentecost The Holy Spirit came and let believers understand one another Peter preached about Jesus as the Messiah and revealed Him to be fulfilled prophesy The church grew from there onwards and spread How can the Holy Spirit use you today?