Coming of the Holy Spirit
The
Passage: Acts 2:1-13
Structure:
A. 2:1-4, Began to speak in different tongues
B. 2:5-6, People are astonished
A’. 2:7-11, People listen to different tongues
B’. 2:12-13,
People are astonished
Historical
and geographical context:
Note that 120
were not at the Temple during the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit
came on the disciples in the house. The [large group of] people gathered by the
house and engaged in a dialog with the disciples (2:2,6). Even though disciples
spend much time at the Temple (ch. 3-4, 6-7, 21) – the Spirit’s presence
designate the “Temple-like” or the New Temple gathering.
People
gathered for the feast of Pentecost. More on Pentecost – read Lev. 23:15-22 and
Num. 28:28-31. Three main things: delivering of the Covenant at Sinai, invite
your neighbor (Ruth – both the Book [in connection with the feast] and the
story [she comes to Judea during Pentecostal period]); common [sacramental]
meal.
Theology:
Pentecost is
a reversal of the curse of the Tower of Babel. Gen. 11 tells us the story of
separation of people according to their distinct “lips”. People who worship
differently do not get along – even within our church-body we have fractions:
confessionals, CoWo, pro-bishop, fully Congregationalists. The outpouring of
the Spirit will unite people with a variety of backgrounds: Jews-Gentiles,
men-women, slaves-free (Gal. 3:28).
Picking up
on different languages – representatives of different territories – Good News
was preached to “all the world”, cp. Mark 16:15-16. On one hand, the sharing of
the Good News in Jerusalem was an act of reaching out to the whole world, on
the other the disciples had to be ready to follow up going out of Jerusalem to
Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth (1:8) – as Jesus commanded them
and showed in the non-verbal signs (Jn. 21:11). The disciples did not go out
even after the [first] martyrdom of Steven (Acts 7).
Rushing wind.
God exhibited His power during the covenant at Sinia (Ex. 19) and the covenant
of the Kingdoms (1 King 19). Therefore, we can see His involvement in the life
of the whole creation (not only humans) – cp. Mk. 16:15; 2 Cor. 5:19.
Other
themes:
Tongues of
fire – tongues of language, cp. James 3. The tongues/languages can be used for
the fire that worms up, cooks, or provides esthetical comfort. Or it can burn
down, destroy, and kill.
The fire
that rested on the heads of the Apostles turned them – visually – into the living
sacrifices, cp. Lev. 1:1-9; Rom 12:1-2. We don’t burn people but are presenting
ourselves as the ones fully consumed by the Fire of God and bringing His
presence to the world.
The effect
of the Spiritual intervention might look like being drunk (v. 13) – cp. Eph.
5:18. The outside people do not understand what the person is saying, not only
because he/she says unclearly, but for the difference of the “influence”. As a
result, we need to remember that the Divine Service first of all is a family
gathering of the faithful children with God the Father for the sake of our
“Brother” Jesus Christ, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
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