Read the passage several times through, slowly and prayerfully. It might help to use your imagination to picture the scene. At the end of the text you will find helpful background information in our ‘Setting the Scene’ section.

As you read, look out for shockers and blockers.

Shockers – a phrase, word, image or something from the text that resonates, stands out or connects with you.

Blockers – something from the text that raises questions for you.

Acts 1.1–5, 2.1–13

Theophilus, I first wrote to you about all that Jesus did and taught from the very first until he was taken up to heaven. But before he was taken up, he gave orders to the apostles he had chosen with the help of the Holy Spirit. For forty days after Jesus had suffered and died, he proved in many ways that he had been raised from death. He appeared to his apostles and spoke to them about God’s kingdom. While he was still with them, he said: Don’t leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do. John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…

On the day of Pentecost all the Lord’s followers were together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from heaven like the sound of a mighty wind! It filled the house where they were meeting. Then they saw what looked like fiery tongues moving in all directions, and a tongue came and settled on each person there. The Holy Spirit took control of everyone, and they began speaking whatever languages the Spirit let them speak.

Many religious Jews from every country in the world were living in Jerusalem. And when they heard this noise, a crowd gathered. But they were surprised, because they were hearing everything in their own languages. They were excited and amazed, and said: Don’t all these who are speaking come from Galilee? Then why do we hear them speaking our very own languages? Some of us are from Parthia, Media, and Elam. Others are from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, parts of Libya near Cyrene, Rome, Crete, and Arabia. Some of us were born Jews, and others of us have chosen to be Jews. Yet we all hear them using our own languages to tell the wonderful things God has done. Everyone was excited and confused. Some of them even kept asking each other, “What does all this mean?” Others made fun of the Lord’s followers and said, “They are drunk.”

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Setting the Scene

The book of Acts, written by Luke (following his Gospel), covers a 30-year period from the day of Pentecost to Paul’s eventual imprisonment in Rome. Under the power of the Spirit the new-born church bursts out of Judea to become a worldwide movement.
Pentecost commemorates Moses receiving the 10 commandments at Mt Sinai. It is the Greek name for the ‘Feast of Weeks’ when the wheat harvest was celebrated by a one-day festival during which special sacrifices were offered (see Leviticus 23.15–21).
The phenomena of ‘fiery tongues’ fulfils the prophecy of John the Baptist who said that Jesus would baptize them with fire. Transformed from fearful people hiding in the Upper Room, the apostles and disciples (approximately 120 people) become the new church, full of life and power.
They burst out in praise using the languages from the areas referred to in verses 9-11 (other than their own Greek or Aramaic). As they move out to the streets, their activity attracts attention from the crowds who were amazed and bewildered. This gave Peter the perfect opportunity to explain to the crowds what was happening (Acts 2 .14ff)

Spirit lyfe

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Work with us

Privacy

Legal