Pentacost Acts 2:1-7

 Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

Pentecost was a Jewish feast held fifty days after Passover; it was a time of celebration for the first-fruits of the harvest.

At Passover, the first sheaf to be reaped from the barley harvest was presented to God; but at Pentecost, the firstfruits of the wheat harvest were given to God. Therefore, Pentecost is called the day of firstfruits (Numbers 28:26) Also, Jewish tradition taught that Pentecost commemorates the day when the Law was given to Israel; the feast was sometimes called by the Jews shimchath torah, or "joy of the law"

So on Pentecost, Israel received the Law, and the Church received the Spirit of Grace in fullness

All in unity together seeking God.

Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

The word for Spirit is also "wind", a mighty rushing wind filling all the upper room. Is this the fan of Jesus separating the wheat from the chaff? Or is this a new life breathed into born again believers? Perhaps both and more.

Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

The baptism of fire as in Mat 3:11...he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

The idea behind the picture of fire is usually purification, as fire is used by a refiner to make pure gold, or as it can burn away that which is temporary, to leave that which is lasting. This is an excellent illustration of the principle that the filling of the Holy Spirit is not just for power, but for purity.

Under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit rests upon God's people as individuals - the tongues of fire sat upon each of them.

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

How many were filled with the Holy Ghost and spake with other tongues? One hundred twenty were in one accord and were speaking in recognizable languages as the spirit gave them utterance.

tongues - the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct

utterances - to speak forth, speak out, say

Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Acts 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

A crowd quickly gathered, being attracted by this sound (either the rushing mighty wind or the speaking in other tongues); when they came they heard the Christians speak in their own foreign languages; apparently the Christians could be heard from the windows of the upper room, or they went out onto some kind of balcony or into the temple courts.

What better way to show the presence of Gods Spirit in the hearts of the people, then to speak edifying words of God in each language. This was a reversal of what happened at the tower of Babel. There all were confounded and confused speaking in languages no one understood.

Acts 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

Galileans were not known to be educated men or good speakers.

Susie's Testimony and letter

 A few weeks before his passing I visited my oldest brother  in the hospital.  In my hand I had an unopened letter for my brother from Susy.  He did not know Susy but I did . She came to me in an Internet Christian chat room at two in the morning.  I was aware of her  rebellion and bad behavior. I and many others had talked to her to come to God through Jesus for a new life. God was reaching her heart and she asked me to help her,  That night at two AM she gave her life to Jesus. This is her testimony, and then we will talk about her letter to my brother. My name is Mr B

I pray God shines in your life in 2006 as he most definitely shines in mine.
That's where my screen name came from susy shines. God has been so good to me, I fooled around a long time before I trusted the lord. I was an atheist 25 yrs married to a Christian all them years, raised 7 children in a Christian home and I never knew the Lord....fooled a lot of people but i didn't fool the Lord ....

The last few years have been total hell. I was a computer whore. I had cyber sex with any bisexual man that needed me talk dirty to him; also enjoyed being with cross dressers. My husband knew that I cyber with men ....you see I thought it was a game. My husband asked me to quit doing it so that meant now I had to hide it, which started all the lies. I cant believe I'm telling you all this but i want you to see how God has worked in my life.

December 25, 2004 is the day I started getting sick. By February I had pneumonia 3 times. The doctor found out my heart was growing with copd, sugar diabetes I was really sick. June I had my first heart attack. By then I was out of cyber sex. I started going into Christian chat rooms I told them all what I thought about being a Christian; I would never be one. I gotta booted all the time. After awhile, they booted me as soon as I came in, I didn't even have to talk. Everyday savedthrufaith would tell me something about jesus. Everyday I said I'll think about it; he said ok. He sent me every verse in the bible, I bet. Then Sunday Oct 23, 2005, this guy I was talking to in chat got suspended, so he IM'd me. He said if you want to talk in a chat room, I'll make a room. So he did and the stuff he was telling me broke my heart.

The next day was Monday, I cried all day. When my husband came home, I was still crying. He said God was working on me. October 25, 2005 2:03 am, Mr B led me to the lord.

My life now is soooo different, been saved now 9 weeks 6 days. I have read almost the whole Bible. I'm a prayer warrior, my prayer list is longer then my buddy list. That's how you pray without ceasing, get a big list it will take all day to pray. God has answered a lot of my prayers. I use to be afraid to pray but God took his hand and put words in Jeremiah's mouth and he has to me too. I pray they are not my words, I'm nothing, but with God nothing is impossible.

I even have thoughts now that I believe come from God. Oh, I forgot to tell you that last week I went for my ekg to measure my heart. The doctor said it looks like my heart stopped growing 2 months ago. He said meds are working. I been saved 9 weeks. How many months is that ???? You figure it out...I already did ...PRAISE GOD!

Well this was and is my life God loves you and so do I.  susy

For several years Susy grew in the Lord sharing Bible verses with pictures and she was an encourager. God would often use her to encourage others. When she heard about my oldest brother she sent me a letter to be given unopened to him.  I am sure it was God speaking encouragement to him.  Susy died in 2022.  I trust that they are now with Christ Jesus in heaven,  She did nothing to receive mercy and grace. Jesus has paid the price we repent and believe.