Fire on the Day of Pentecost!
June 8, 2025
Acts 2:1-13
“Tongues of fire.”
INTRO: We are beginning a new series titled “Summer Heat!” We’ll be looking at times in the Bible when things got “Fired Up!”
As we begin this series, I thought, “What better place to begin than the birth of the New Testament Church.”
I did some reading from the Jews for Jesus website which made the case that the “church” was already founded. They said that the Church as we know it was a continuation of the gatherings of the Jewish people.
This is true in that God’s people were to get together for certain festivals.
The only Christians were Jewish Christians for about 20 years. But only the Jews who accepted Jesus as the Messiah and chose to follow Him were saved.
- Where’s the fire?
Acts 2:1-13 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
5 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven.
6 And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language.
7 They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?
8 “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?
9 “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”
12 And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
13 But others were mocking and saying, “They are full of sweet wine.”
- The fire is preceded by a loud sound.
- A sound LIKE a violent, rushing wind.
- There is no wind! But there is a loud sound.
- The fire falls on the Apostles.
- Apparently, it comes down like a sheet, but separates apart, and touches down on each of the Apostles.
- The fire only lasts a moment, but it’s there long enough to be VERY dramatic!
- SOMETHING amazing has happened!
- The Apostles are FILLED with the Holy Spirit.
- This is different than what we see in the Old Testament, where the Spirit “came upon” people.
1 Samuel 19:20–24 Then Saul sent messengers to take David, but when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing and presiding over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul; and they also prophesied.
21 When it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. So Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied.
22 Then he himself went to Ramah and came as far as the large well that is in Secu; and he asked and said, “Where are Samuel and David?” And someone said, “Behold, they are at Naioth in Ramah.”
23 He proceeded there to Naioth in Ramah; and the Spirit of God came upon him also, so that he went along prophesying continually until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
- The Holy Spirit enters into them.
- They are “indwelled” by the Holy Spirit.
- We then see the Holy Spirit empowering the Apostles.
- The first miraculous act that the Holy Spirit enables them to do is to speak in languages they have never learned.
- When the Holy Spirit allows a miracle to be done, it is at His choosing.
- The 12 don’t just say “I think I’ll speak in a language that I’ve never learned!”
- The Holy Spirit causes them to do so.
- This draws a crowd!
- People are BEWILDERED, AMAZED, and they MARVEL!
- These people are blown away by the incredible sound.
- They are amazed by the fact that they hear these men who are obviously from Galilee, speaking their languages.
- Parthians and Medes and Elamites all speak Persian
- Residents of Mesopotamia spoke was most likely Syriac.
- People from Judea spoke Aramaic.
- People from Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia would have spoken, isn’t known for sure.
- People from Phrygia and Pamphylia most likely spoke Greek.
- Egyptians spoke Demotic.
- We don’t know for sure what language the folks from Libya and Cyrene spoke.
- Those from Rome would have spoken Latin.
- Those from Crete most likely spoke Greek, but certainly they had their own dialect.
- Arabs would have spoken Arabic.
- These people are hearing the Apostles speaking their language, but apparently with a Galilean accent.
- The Apostles are “speaking the mighty deeds of God!”
- Of course, there are skeptics!
- Apparently, they are locals who are not understanding these other languages.
- They may just also not want to believe the truth.
- People who don’t want the truth will believe almost anything else.
- What about the sermon?
Acts 2:14–36 But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words.
15 “For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;
16 but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says, ‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND; AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS; EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN, I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT And they shall prophesy.
19 ‘AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW, BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE. 20 ‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME. 21 ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’
22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—
23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.
24 “But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.
25 “For David says of Him,
‘I SAW THE LORD ALWAYS IN MY PRESENCE; FOR HE IS AT MY RIGHT HAND, SO THAT I WILL NOT BE SHAKEN. 26 ‘THEREFORE MY HEART WAS GLAD AND MY TONGUE EXULTED; MOREOVER MY FLESH ALSO WILL LIVE IN HOPE;
27 BECAUSE YOU WILL NOT ABANDON MY SOUL TO HADES, NOR ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.
28 ‘YOU HAVE MADE KNOWN TO ME THE WAYS OF LIFE; YOU WILL MAKE ME FULL OF GLADNESS WITH YOUR PRESENCE.’
29 “Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
30 “And so, because he was a prophet and knew that GOD HAD SWORN TO HIM WITH AN OATH TO SEAT one OF HIS DESCENDANTS ON HIS THRONE,
31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY.
32 “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.
33 “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.
34 “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, “SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND,
35 UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET.” ’
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
- WHAT A POWERFUL MESSAGE!
- “We’re not drunk, we are fullilling Prophecy!
- The day of Judgement IS coming!
- You CAN be saved!
- The One who will save you is Jesus!
- Attested by miracles, wonders and signs.
- Many of you are witnesses!
- The rest of you have heard about what He did and what was done to Him.
- You used other to “do your dirty work,” but YOU nailed Him to a cross!
- God planned and allowed for this to happen.
- God Raised Him up again!
- Death is defeated!
- Death could not contain Him!
- Jesus put an end to the agony of death!
- David Prophesied about Him.
he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY. “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.
- What was the result of the sermon?
Acts 2:37–41 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
- Peter doesn’t even get to offer an invitation! He get’s interrupted!
- Brethren, what must we do?
- There are commands!
- Repent!
- Turn around and go the right way!
- Be Baptized in the name of Jesus Christ!
- Do these things for the forgiveness of your sins!
- The Promise: “You shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit!
- Those who believed what Peter told them, and acted on it, were saved.
- About 3000 people come to Jesus!
- What were the results of the result?
Acts 2:42-47 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
- Those 3000 new believers make pretty drastic changes in how they are living.
- They have truly Repented (turned to go the right way) and are now living for Jesus!
- Devoting themselves to the Apostles’ teaching.
- They are listening to and following what the Apostles are teaching.
- They are together in fellowship.
- They are devoted to eating together.
- This may include the Lord’s supper.
- They are devoting themselves to prayer.
- Their belief in and their following of Jesus, leads to a feeling of awe.
- When people are truly following Jesus, it is AWESOME!
- There are also miracles happening through the Apostles.
- God is doing it… the Apostles are the conduit by which the miracles come.
- Those who have are sharing with those who don’t have.
- Some are locals, some are visitors.
- Money set aside for the trip may be running out for many.
- Some of them are even selling their property to help each other.
- They are making a practice of being together.
- In the temple.
- At each other’s homes for meals.
- They are glad and they are sincere!
- They are praising God!
- People are noticing!
- After seeing their example, more people are coming to the Lord!
Conclusion: What can we learn from this fabulous day and the days after?
- God is in total control of His world.
- Loud noises ALWAYS have a cause… So did this one… GOD made it happen!
- Things that resemble fire don’t just fall from the sky and touch people… But it does when God says it will!
- God’s Holy Spirit guides and controls the deeds of men, not the other way around.
- The Holy Spirit uses the Apostles to show His power to the people who are present!
- It’s not up to them to decide what and how to do.
There will always be mockers.
- This was true then, it’s true now!
- There are those who would rather believe really silly things rather than accept that there is a Creator that they need to give their attention!
- “Devout men” will listen to the Word of God.
- They come prepared to follow.
- They accept the Word of God and they follow it.
- They follow ALL of it, not just the parts they like.
- No “buffet Christians.”
- Christians share with each other!
- We also share others, but we share with our brothers and sisters first.
- We are a family and need to look after one another!
- How can we not?
- Those first Christians followed Jesus with all they had! WHAT ABOUT US?
