Acts 2:1-13: a reflection

1Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. 4They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. 5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. 6When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. 7They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? 8How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabians—we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!” 12They were all amazed and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”

On the day of Pentecost, God pours out his Spirit on the gathered disciples in a way none could mistake. A sound like a rushing wind fills the house; tongues like fire rest on each of them; and they are all filled with the Holy Spirit, and begin to speak in other languages, declaring the wonderful works of God to the crowd gathered from every nation. The Spirit whom Christ had promised was given, poured out on his people, filling them, empowering them, coming to dwell in them. What Christ had promised, the gift of the Spirit, was now fulfilled; God poured out his Spirit on his people, and they were filled with his presence and power.

Notice what happened at Pentecost: God poured out his Spirit on his people, filling and empowering them. This was the fulfillment of Christ's promise; the Spirit was given, coming to fill and dwell in the disciples, empowering them to declare the works of God. God did not leave his people to serve him in their own strength; he gave them his own Spirit, poured out upon them, filling them with his presence and power. The gift of the Spirit was God himself coming to dwell in his people, to fill and empower them for what he called them to do. At Pentecost, the promised Spirit was poured out, and the people were filled with God's own presence. The gift was God's Spirit, given to his people.

That is worth resting in, for God has given his Spirit to his people, to fill and empower and dwell in them. We can try to serve God in our own strength, forgetting the gift he has given; but at Pentecost God poured out his Spirit on his people, and that same Spirit is given to those who are Christ's, to fill, empower, and dwell in them. We are not left to serve God on our own; he has given his Spirit. Do not try to live the Christian life in your own strength, forgetting the Spirit God has given; God has poured out his Spirit on his people, to fill and empower you. Rest in and rely on the gift of the Holy Spirit, poured out by God on his people to fill, empower, and dwell in them, as at Pentecost the Spirit filled the disciples; for God has not left us to serve him in our own strength but has given us his own Spirit, and we can live by the Spirit he has poured out rather than by our own resources.

Lord, on the day of Pentecost, you pour out your Spirit on the gathered disciples in a way none could mistake. A sound like a rushing wind fills the house; tongues like fire rest on each of them; and they are all filled with the Holy Spirit, and begin to speak in other languages, declaring the wonderful works of God to the crowd gathered from every nation. The Spirit whom Christ had promised was given, poured out on your people, filling them, empowering them, coming to dwell in them. Show me what happened at Pentecost: you poured out your Spirit on your people, filling and empowering them. This was the fulfillment of Christ's promise; the Spirit was given, coming to fill and dwell in the disciples, empowering them to declare your works. You did not leave your people to serve you in their own strength; you gave them your own Spirit, poured out upon them, filling them with your presence and power. The gift of the Spirit was you yourself coming to dwell in your people. Take that to my heart, for you have given your Spirit to your people, to fill and empower and dwell in them. I can try to serve you in my own strength, forgetting the gift you have given; but at Pentecost you poured out your Spirit on your people, and that same Spirit is given to those who are Christ's. I am not left to serve you on my own; you have given your Spirit. Keep me from trying to live the Christian life in my own strength, forgetting the Spirit you have given; you have poured out your Spirit on your people, Lord, to fill and empower me. Help me rest in and rely on the gift of the Holy Spirit, poured out by you to fill, empower, and dwell in me.