A Journey with ACTS 2:5-13

Greetings Readers,

Here is the next Segment of my Journey with Acts. It is interesting to think about the things that come to mind when I read these verses. On the surface it may seem like the word of God is just a book, but these words have true meaning and a true impact. I hope you enjoy this segment, I really got more out of it that I anticipated. As always please feel free to share your thoughts on this post.

Blessings in Christ,

-----

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?  Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” - Acts 2:5-13 NLT

Again we are bombarded with tons of names that really make it hard to figure out what this passage is really trying to get across to the reader. Sometimes it can be rather inconvenient to have to decipher passages like this, there is always something that tends to get lost in the content. Here, I believe there are two things that are usually overlooked in this passage.

First of all, take a moment and block out everything but the first few lines, keys words here are ‘God-fearing Jews from every nation’ and ‘everyone heard their own language being spoken.’ Sounds like something spectacular doesn’t it, all those languages at once being spoken would usually cause mass chaos, but it didn’t every person heard their own language and I imagine is was pretty clear. Think about that, and add in all the names we just blocked out. When you do that there are at least 15 different cities or towns listed and that doesn’t even include the ones Luke left out.  It is simply amazing see that all these different people could hear the same voice speaking and hear it clearly.

Secondly, there are the words ‘we hear them declaring the wonders of God...Amazed and perplexed they was each other what does this mean?’ That is something for the reader to take to heart. The Pentecost was something so amazing that people were left practically speechless; in the midst of speaking. Is that even possible and when has that ever happened? How can you be both speechless and speaking at the same time?

Yes, I realize there were those that were looking on and then there were those that were doing these things, but the spirit of God had come down on everyone there that followed the ways of Jesus. However, from my perspective, in reading these verses everyone was 'amazed and perplexed' at what was going on, everyone.The truth is that you can’t be really speechless and speak at the same time, it's literally impossible. Well, God does the impossible, doesn’t he?

Think about this when something comes along that may seem impossible to you, Trust that God can take that impossible task and give you the tools you will need to accomplish it.

Written 6/29/16

Revised 7/25/16

Blessings in Christ and Thanks again for visiting us at "The Gathering Room."

"Times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord." 45.3.20

M.J. Elliott