This Week’s Ongoing Biblical Study Series for 04/14/22 with Rev. Paul J. Bern: Acts Chapter 1, part 2

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost, and 2,000 Years Later that Enlightenment Still Remains

(Part Two: Acts chapter 2, verses 13–21)

Last week as we left off at verse 12 of Acts chapter 2, the Holy Spirit of the risen Savior, and Lord of all, had arrived on the Day of Pentecost in a most dramatic fashion. This most Holy Spirit made itself known by appearing as tongues of fire that rested just above the top of the heads of everyone in the room, which was about 120 men, plus their wives and children. So I would estimate there was about 300 eyewitnesses to that most sacred Day, give or take. Within just a few minutes of this, this Spirit had made the apostles aware of the crowd that was gathering outside, intensely curious about what what was happening. So they went outside to address them, and presumably to calm them down. It is at this point where we will take up where we left off last week, beginning at verse 13:

Scripture Verses for This Week’s Lesson

“Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’ Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd. ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen very carefully to the words that I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” (Acts 2, verses 13–21)

Peter Proclaims the Coming of the Holy Spirit; Gives All the Credit to the Prophet Joel