Hello everyone.
It has been a while since I have written anything. I have since finished my study of the book of John and have now started on a study of the book of Acts. I am currently in Acts 2, where, as you know, the Holy Spirit comes and fills the apostles and they begin to speak in other languages as the Holy Spirit enables them. This is where I would like to start today.
At the time in which the apostles are filled up with God's Holy Spirit, there are God-fearing Jews from all over the place, in Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost. (Acts 2:5) They are amazed as the apostles begin speaking in different languages because everyone can hear the message in their own language. Luke records that many in the audience were "amazed and perplexed," recognizing that this was a pretty awesome miracle that they were witnessing. Others, ever critical, heard the noise and simply attributed it to drunkenness.
That is when Peter stands up and begins to speak. He defends himself and his partners in the Gospel, saying that they were not drunk, and then uses a prophecy from Joel to explain what was really happening. God was pouring out his Spirit. Here is a Hughes' paraphrase of what Peter is saying, "People, what you are witnessing is not drunkenness, it is the Holy Spirit. Joel prophesied that God would pour out His spirit on people and this what is happening right now." So Peter uses Joel's prophecy about the Holy Spirit in this sermon that opens up the doors to God's church, and it's pretty awesome. Let's take a look at a couple of things.
First, God is pouring out his Spirit on all people. The idea that the Holy Spirit was now available to all people is really important. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was given only to certain people of God's choosing to serve specific purposes, usually leaders (ex. Moses, Joshua, David) or prophets (ex. Elijah, Ezekiel). Peter is using Joel's prophecy to say that now the Holy Spirit is now available to all people. He mentions sons and daughters. (Everyone is one of those, either a son or a daughter.) In verse 18, it says that the Spirit would be poured out on God's servants, both men and women. Just before that he mentions both young and old. This was going to be different than it ever had been. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God Almighty was now going to be available to all.
Second, I personally love the part about how the young men would see visions and the old men would dream dreams. I like it because with the Holy Spirit in us, the dreams of youth are not relegated to the young. Older people get to be dreamers too. At an age when most people have sort of settled in and accepted the harsh realities of life, those who have had the Holy Spirit poured out on them are vibrant and full of dreams.
So then, we are fortunate to live in a time in which we have such a great power available to us all, man, woman, young and old.
Tom
