Luke and Theophilus are back for the second volume of writing, often called, simply, "Acts." Have you ever thought about that? But the full title is really, "The Acts of the Apostles," and this second volume written by Luke is about many of the miracles, healings, and other things the disciples did in the name of Jesus and in the power of Jesus.
But it begins with Jesus eating with his disciples, teaching his disciples, and, after 40 days, promising them that he would send them the Holy Spirit, so that they could say the things he wanted them to say and do the acts he wanted them to do.
During that ten-day waiting period, one of the tasks that the disciples face is choosing a replacement for Judas (the gory details of his demise are also included). They have two candidates and pray and cast lots to discover the right choice. What do you think of this means of electing an apostle?
Then, In Acts chapter 2, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit comes down and fills the disciples. And I'll be honest, as a pastor, I am extremely familiar with this story. I read it and hear it every year. But it never fails to strike me as strange, very strange, exceedingly strange. Sort of in the way the story of Lazarus is exceedingly strange. There are the tongues of flame and the many languages and the accusations of drunkenness.
The other thing is, no matter how many times I read this story, I never fail to find something new here. One year it was the realization that the disciples are gathered on the day of Pentecost, which is a Jewish harvest festival, and that on that day there was a harvest of souls (3,000 people) who heard the message of the gospel and became the first congregation. Another year I heard the story of the disciples speaking many languages and realized that the emphasis was not on the disciples speech but on what the people heard "we hear the in our own native languages." Probably everyone there would be able to understand the message if the disciples had spoken the language of the Roman empire, which everyone had to learn. But no, all of the people heard in their own native languages. It is as if Jesus' incarnation has expanded even farther, into every culture and nation.
So Peter preaches his word of judgment and grace, and the people repent.
The close of Acts chapter 2 sounds like an ideal community: sharing food, praying together, sharing all things in common. In a way, it's a incredible and unbelievable as the tongues of fire and the mighty wind. Perhaps more unbelievable.
The real turning point, the single point that got people's attention and eventually led to 3000 new members, was "each one heard their own language being spoken", together with Peter's response. When they heard their own language, and then asked "What does this mean?", Peter answered by saying "Your sons and daughters will be profits".
ReplyDeleteWhy was hearing that message, in their own language, powerful enough to entice 3000 people to join a new church? I take away two main points.
1) People want to approach a church that is familiar to them. In their own language. In their own culture.
2) People are motivated by a message a hope and strength for their children.
I think even today, a church that speaks and acts on a message of hope for children, in a way that is culturally familiar to the people, will have no problem attracting new members to its doors.