*Putting away all differences, all desire for the supremacy, they came close together in Christian fellowship.
*These days of preparation were days of deep heart searching.
*During the patriarchal age the influence of the Holy Spirit had often been revealed in a marked manner, but never in its fullness.
--"And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting." Acts 2:1,2.
The Infinite One revealed Himself in power to His church.
*These days of preparation were days of deep heart searching.
*During the patriarchal age the influence of the Holy Spirit had often been revealed in a marked manner, but never in its fullness.
--"And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting." Acts 2:1,2.
The Infinite One revealed Himself in power to His church.
The sword of the Spirit,
newly edged with power
and bathed in the lightnings of heaven,
cut its way through unbelief.
Thousands were converted in a day.
Christ had said to His disciples; "for If I go not away, the
*"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Acts 2:3,4. The Holy Spirit, assuming the form of tongues of fire, rested upon those assembled. This was an emblem of the gift then bestowed on the disciples, which enabled them to speak with fluency languages with which they had heretofore been unacquainted.
"There were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." Acts 2:5.
This diversity of languages would have been a great hindrance to the proclamation of the gospel; God therefore in a miraculous manner supplied the deficiency of the apostles. The Holy Spirit did for them that which 40 they could not have accomplished for themselves in a lifetime. They could now proclaim the truths of the gospel abroad, speaking with accuracy the languages of those for whom they were laboring. This miraculous gift was a strong evidence to the world that their commission bore the signet of Heaven.
--Peter showed that this demonstration was in direct fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel... "Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem," he said, "be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: for these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy." Acts 2:14-18.
*Some of those who listened to the apostles had taken an active part in the condemnation and death of Christ. Their voices had mingled with the rabble in calling for His crucifixion. Now they heard the disciples declaring that it was the Son of God who had been crucified.
*"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Acts 2:38,39.
Under the influence of this heavenly illumination the scriptures that Christ had explained to the disciples.... The veil that had prevented them from seeing to the end of that which had been abolished, was now removed, and they comprehended with perfect clearness the object of Christ's mission and the nature of His kingdom.
Pentecost brought them the heavenly illumination.
The Spirit animated them and spoke through them.
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