May 20, 2025 • 28 mins
Experience the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit as the apostles go from uncertain followers to bold witnesses of Christ’s message in a single, miraculous moment.
In this episode of The Jesus Podcast, Peter and the apostles experience the powerful arrival of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, transforming their fear into boldness as they witness a miraculous event that changes their lives forever. As the tongues of fire rest upon them, they are empowered to speak in multiple languages, sharing the message of Jesus Christ with people from all nations gathered in Jerusalem.
Today's Bible verse is Acts 1:8, from the King James Version.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes
on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends
of the earth. Acts one eight. Heavenly Father, thank you
for the promise of your power through the Holy Spirit.
(00:21):
You have called us to be your witnesses to the
ends of the earth, and we are humbled by this
great commission. Fill us with the Holy Spirit, empowering us
to boldly proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ. Grant us
courage to share your love with those around us, and
wisdom to live as examples of your grace. Help us
(00:43):
to be faithful in our witness, trusting that you are
with us every step of the way. May our lives
shine brightly, drawing others to the hope and salvation found
in you alone. In Jesus's name, we pray.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Thank you for praying with me to day. You're listening
to the Jesus Podcast dramatic stories inspired by the Bible.
Remain here for another story from our mini series on
the birth of the Church. Has this podcast inspired you,
We would love it if you'd left a rating and
review and shared with a friend. Peter sat with Matthias
(01:26):
on the roof of the house, overlooking the busy streets
of Jerusalem. It was the morning of Pentecost, and there
was no lack of noise to show for it. Jews
from all directions had traversed into the city of David
to celebrate the holy day. Fifty days after Passover, they
(01:46):
would commemorate the giving of the Law to Moses on
Mount Sinai, as well as mark the start of the
summer harvest. To the Jews, Pentecost was a day of
remembering God's unification of his people under his commandments.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Ah Watching people gather for Chivat never gets old. Gotta
love our people's willingness to travel to Jerusalem for the vestibules.
You know, a few years back, when we were here
with Jesus. You know, a few years back, when we
were here with Jesus, we got good teaching by some
of the Pharisees.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Matthias unwittingly stopped listening to Peter's story. He could only
imagine Peter and the other apostles had hundreds of personal
stories about their adventures with Jesus. He laid his head
in his hand and stared at the sea of the
Pilgrims with glassy eyes. Peter took notice of the disengaged Matthias.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Well, Matthias, it's been almost a week since you were
named an apostle.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
How's it feel? The young man averted his eyes from Peter's.
He'd been wondering the same thing himself. In some ways,
Matthias felt radically changed with no warning. He had gone
from a mere bystander to one of the renowned Twelve.
But in many regards he felt no different than he
(03:13):
had a week ago. In his mind, all he ever
was or would be, was the same old Matthias. Was
he supposed to feel different? And if so, how.
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Speaker 5 (04:25):
Today, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come. John the
Baptist foretold that he would come with fire. Yet despite
all these reminders and warnings, nothing could quite prepare the
Apostles for what would happen on Pentecost. Welcome to the
Jesus Podcast. I'm Zachwifpray dot com here to guide you
(04:47):
through another epic story about the birth of the church.
If you've been enjoying this podcast and have been listening
all throughout the year and haven't yet left a review
or followed or shared with a friend, we would love
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(05:09):
Today's story is inspired by Acts two one through eleven,
and it's one of the most dramatic and foundational passages
in the New Testament. It describes the day of Pentecost,
an event that marks the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
on the early Church. This was no ordinary day. It
was a divine intersection of history and prophecy, a moment
that changed the course of Christianity forever. As we dive
(05:32):
into this story, let's open our hearts to the profound
implications of Pentecost for our faith, yes, but also for
where we lie in the grand story of Christ's Church.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
But Dias you there, buddy.
Speaker 6 (05:48):
Huh oh, yeah, I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
What was the question? How does it feel?
Speaker 1 (05:55):
I guess it's hard to say.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Let me fig you in on a little secret, okay.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Matthias perked up. He could use any tricks of the
trade he could get his hands on.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Three years ago, Jesus called me to follow him. Saying
yes was the best decision of my life. But speaking candidly,
it's also been one of the most difficult. I was
always hard on myself, especially when I did things wrong
and don't tell the others. I said this, ha ha,
(06:28):
But I did a lot wrong. But then I realized
Jesus didn't call me because he needed my help. He
called me because he wanted my heart. Jest, give him
your heart and he'll supply the rest.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Matthias had heard tales about Peter's faith and failures, such
as how he had walked on water only to sink
seconds later, or accurately identified Jesus as the Messiah, only
to be rebuked by Jee moments later. If Peter could
find strength in the Lord's calling despite his weaknesses, maybe
(07:07):
there was hope for him too.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
Please don't take this the wrong way, but you're not
anything like I would have expected. I had heard stories
about the rock and how headstrong you were, but taking
the time to sit here with me, I can't thank
you enough for talking with me about my worries. I
just want to honor the Lord Jesus.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Peter chuckled. There was no denying that the rumors were true.
He had spent far too long putting his foot in
his mouth and cutting off the ears of temple guards.
The two apostles continued to watch the city. The Jews
were like ants, marching along carved out corridors between houses
(07:48):
and shops, separate individuals, all seemingly working together as a society.
Behind them, the hatch to the roof opened up, Philip
clambered through and dusted the straw from his tunic. Philip
was glad to see Peter caring for the newly appointed apostle.
Speaker 7 (08:09):
I'm sorry to intrude, but we're gathering downstairs for prayer.
Would you too care to join us? If not, I'm.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Sure I can make up some excuse for you.
Speaker 7 (08:20):
James and John are arguing over something anyways, so I
don't think anyone would notice your absence even if I
didn't say anything.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
No, No, you're not intruding at all. We'll make our
way down with you. Matthias was just giving me a
pep dog.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Peter winked at Matthias. For three years, Peter had the
luxury of being directly discipled by Jesus. Now was his
chance to do the same for another Peter. Matthias and
Philip carefully made their way down into the house, where
they were greeted by the rest of the apostles.
Speaker 6 (08:56):
Ah, Peter, perfect timing.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Please tell my brother James here that it wasn't my
fault when we lost that massive catch back when we're teenagers.
I didn't say it was your fault. All I was
saying was that you would the one who let go
of the net too early. If you want to interpret that,
I mean it was your fault. Maybe it's just a
guilty conscience.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Peter rolled his eyes at James and John. With all
of the ambiguity these days, he found solace in knowing
some things never changed.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
I don't know anything about the catch, but I do
know that Philipp here said we had some praying to do.
Maybe you can ask the Lord whose fault it was, eh.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
The Sons of Thunder lived up to the nickname Jesus
had given them. Their passionate spirits consumed every area of
their lives, including arguments about their long lost days of fishing.
But now they had shrunk back, like embarrassed children being
reprimanded by a parent. They sidled along the room's back
(10:00):
wall to make room for Peter and Matthias. Everyone found
their seats and steadied their minds in preparation for prayer.
The sound of hundreds of footsteps and creaking carts poured
in through the window. Peter found himself increasingly distracted. He
pressed his eyes shut tight, causing flashes of light to
(10:23):
dance around inside of his eyelids. On the roof Peter
had found the warmth of the sun to be refreshing,
but now he found himself catching a chill. He opened
his eyes to see the curtain across the window blowing
inward with a heavy breeze. Peter shifted himself in his seat,
but before he could steady himself, a torrent blasted through
(10:48):
the window and kicked the door to the house wide open.
With it came a piercing howl as violent as a hurricane.
The apostles clasped their hands to their ringing ears and
jumped to their feet, sending their chairs tumbling backward. The
wind began to rush even harder and sent shivers down
(11:10):
their spines. Cups and plates rattled from their shelves, falling
to the floor and splintering crashes. The coarse dust scuffed
against their cheeks. The apostles protected their eyes from the
rogue desert storm. Fear wrapped its fingers around their hearts,
squeezing ever so tighter. Peter's protective instinct caused him to
(11:34):
look around for Matthias. Through the haze of debris, he
could make out puddles of light like flames flickering in
the night, and as quickly as it had started, the
wind ceased and all was still. Peter called out to
the others, Ah, is everyone okay?
Speaker 3 (11:55):
I think so? But what was that? And what is that?
Speaker 1 (12:01):
As the dust settled, the rest of the apostles could
see what Matthew was pointing to. That the center of
the room was a collection of fires shaped like tongues.
They expanded and detracted slowly, as though they were breathing. Then,
one smooth motion, the tongue separated and glided around the room,
(12:27):
finding a new dwelling place atop each of their heads.
Peter watched as his rose above him. As soon as
it reached him, it melted away the icy chills. He
felt like a warm bath of water was being poured.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
Out over him.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Though the tongue sat above their heads, the warmth they
experienced emanated in their hearts. The spirit of God had
made a new home in these followers of Jesus. The
disciples quaked in fear, unable to find the wherewithal to move.
There was no doubt in their minds that this was
(13:08):
precisely what Jesus had told.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Them to wait for.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Each man stood stricken with awe. They had received the
promised gift of the Father. With the sensation of the
Spirit stirring in their hearts, they finally understood what Jesus
meant when he said it would be better that he gone,
Even if he wasn't standing there with him. He felt
(13:35):
closer to them than they had ever felt before.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
This must be it the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus said,
I definitely can think of any other explanation for what
just happened.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
I wonder if the whole city was hit by the wings.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
Eleven of the apostles hurried out of the front door
to examine their surroundings. Matthiah sat alone on the ground
in the corner of the room, arms formly wrapped around
his knees. He couldn't understand how the others had so
quickly moved on after the spectacle they just witnessed him.
Never before had Matthias seen such a wonderful and terrifying
(14:16):
display of God's power. A few short hours ago, Mattias
felt like he was ill equipped to be an apostle,
but in the aftermath of the ethereal whirlwind, he felt
ready to take on the world. Mattias knew this new
found confidence was anything but his own doing. Remembering the
(14:38):
other Apostles, he shook the dust from his hair and
promptly followed the others outside. Mattias stepped out into the
open air, the light nearly blinding him with its white rays.
His eyes adjusted and caught sight of the others. They
were standing just outside the door in a circle. They
(14:59):
were enthusiastically recounting all that had just happened. Matthias joined
the group. As they talked, he noticed a throng of
Jews approaching. It seemed that theirs was the only house
that had endured the harsh winds, but evidently the sound
had caught the curiosity of the surrounding neighborhood, leading them
(15:21):
to investigate. Upon hearing the disciples, their faces seemed startled,
if not shocked, that the Disciples were talking. Matthias couldn't
figure out what was so off putting about a group
of Jews talking with one another on Pentecost. They were
only twelve of the thousands of men now parading around
(15:42):
the city. He could only assume the most logical conclusion
was that they were going to accuse the Apostles of
starting the commotion. God fearing Jews from all different backgrounds
and nations joined to inspect the scene. They wore garments
from a war array of cultures, and from the looks
(16:02):
they wore on their faces. They were disturbed by these
men from Galilee and Judea. At first, they simply listened,
mouths slightly agape. An elderly man with a braided beard
stepped forward. He lifted his bony hands to the apostles.
Is everyone all right?
Speaker 6 (16:23):
In all my years, I've never seen a rogue storm
sweep through like that.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
I don't understand it.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Another jew pressed through the mass of the people.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
That was no storm, That was something otherwily.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
More and more people accumulated around the house. For all
their speculations, the crowd only became more fearful at what
sort of power could cause such a disturbance. The apostles
did their best to quiet the crowds, but shouts rang
out from all around them. Peter did his best to
(17:00):
ignore the noise as he thought of a plan, but
his mind was overcome with the swirling voices. He felt
like he could hear everything and nothing all at the
same time. He shut his eyes tight and pressed his
palms to his ears as his ears drummed with the
dull hum of the crowd. Peter could only hear one voice.
(17:26):
Now it was a familiar one, quiet but perfectly clear.
Speak to the people. My spirits would give you the words.
Peter opened his eyes. From the looks of the other
apostles faces, he was the only one who had heard
their Rabbi. Peter stepped back from the crowds and raised
(17:48):
his voice above the noise.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Men of Israel, if you would please calm down, we'll
explain this to everyone.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
The crowd continued to murmur and press forward, prepared to
speak again, this time with the full force of his lungs.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Brothers, he still, you are right to say that what
you have seen is not of this world. But do
not be afraid. The spirit of God has moved in
this place.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
The crowd fell silent at the command. The waves of
shoving still to slow sways of awe as men from
all nations realized that they could hear the fishermen from
Galilee call out in their own tongues.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
J He di speak Egyptian. I assure you that was Parthian.
Now I believe you are both mistaken. That was a
perfect Greek.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
The crowd was in shock. Everyone had understood Peter in
their own tongue, but none could agree with what language
he had spoken in the crowd was caught in amusement,
both at Peter's words and his command of all their languages.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
So what does this mean?
Speaker 8 (19:09):
What wonder of God has befallen us here on this day?
Speaker 1 (19:14):
A scoff could be heard to the side of the crowd.
A harsh voice spat at the disciples with disdain.
Speaker 8 (19:21):
Wonder of God, it seems like you all started your
celebration a little early today. You're nothing more than a
group of drunkards making up fairy tales. I've traveled up
and down these lands, and I can tell you with
absolute certainty that no Galilean would ever be educated enough
to speak in more than two languages, let alone a dozen.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
A few of the surrounding bystanders grunted in agreement. Feeling
the sting of disrespect, James made a move to lunge
at the man who had insulted them. He didn't care
that someone would mark him, but to face a radical
work of God by calling it a drunken stupor was
more than the fiery Disciple could handle. But before he
(20:09):
could make his move, He was quickly pulled back by
John and Andrew. Philip and Nathaniel stepped in front of him,
allowing him a moment to come to his senses.
Speaker 8 (20:20):
See they can't even control themselves.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
Matthia stood behind the other eleven apostles. His eyes darted
from left to right. He knew that the others were
likely much more used to these types of interactions, but
as for himself, every second felt like hours as his
insides knotted together with fear. Almost instinctively, he looked to
(20:47):
Peter for any inkling.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Of what they should do next.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
He watched as Peter stood tall, his chest was puffed
out and his head tilted slightly forward. He stared fixedly
at the crowd as he calculated their next move. Peter
tried to think what Jesus would have done in a
situation like this, argue flee, perform a miracle? How was
(21:14):
he supposed to know what to do? He looked over
at Matthias, who was staring back at him, clearly looking
for answers. Peter thought back to what he had said
to the new apostle on the rooftop that morning.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
He called me because he wanted my heart. Just give
him your heart, and Lucie Bley the rest.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Jesus wanted Peter's heart, just like he wanted the hearts
of the men who stood before them. Now they weren't
his enemies. They were lost sheep in desperate need of
a shepherd. Jesus had Peter's heart, and in return, he
had supplied Peter with everything he needed, the spirit of
(22:02):
the Living God. Peter knew exactly what he needed to do.
It was time for him to feed Jesus sheep.
Speaker 5 (22:15):
When the day of Pentecost had fully come, the disciples
were gathered together in one place. The scene is set
for an extraordinary event, the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost,
traditionally a Jewish feast celebrating the first fruits of the
wheat harvest and the giving of the Law, now becomes
the day of first fruits for the Holy Spirit. It's
as though God is saying, just as the wheat harvest
(22:37):
was a sign of abundance to come, so too, the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit is a sign of the
new Covenant and the harvest of people souls that are
going to be coming to God. It was Jesus who
said the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few,
while the Spirit is coming to empower the laborers for
the grand harvest. It's this beautiful thing that the Holy
(22:59):
Spirit's coming on the day of Pentecost. This celebration that's
celebrating the harvest is now the one that's ushering in
the coming of the Holy Spirit, who is going to
help with the grand harvest of these souls. Imagine in
the scene a sound of rushing mighty wind filling an
entire house and dividing tongues of fire appearing on each disciple.
(23:20):
The supernatural occurrence wasn't just for show, and it's not
just a fairy tale either. It signified a profound shift
from the old Covenant to the new. While the Law
was given on Mount Sinai, now the Spirit of Grace
is given to every believer, symbolized by fire, a cleansing,
purifying presence. The disciples were all in one place, in
(23:41):
one accord, united in their anticipation of the promise Jesus
had given them. Their unity was not just about physical proximity,
but this shared spiritual experience. You know, that's a part
of what the Holy Spirit does to us. The Holy
Spirit unifies people if you've ever been blessed enough to
go on a mission strip overseas, or you've traveled to
(24:03):
a different country and visited churches, you'll know that there's
this shared camaraderie, even though the cultures may differ. If
you're a believer in Bangladesh, you have far more in
common with a believer in the United States or in
the Philippines than you do with the stranger next door
that doesn't believe in the Lord. You see, the Holy
Spirit binds us together, and it's important to note that
(24:23):
these disciples waiting and praying together create an environment ripe
for the Holy Spirit's arrival. You see, unity proceeds amazing
acts of the Spirit. Unity prepares us to receive God's
gifts and work effectively for his mission. When the Holy
Spirit filled the disciples, they began to speak in other
tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. This was not
(24:45):
a random babbling, but a miraculous ability to speak in
languages previously unknown to them. When we think about the
gifts of tongues today, it can kind of be a
divisive topic to talk about. Oftentimes, when we imagine the
gift of tongues, we imagine traveling evangel preachers people babbling
in a language that seems foreign and odd. But our
first encounter with the gift of tongues is actually in
(25:08):
being able to speak in different languages to proclaim the
Gospel of Jesus. The gift of tongues and any sort
of utterance is always meant to further the Gospel of Jesus.
Paul the Apostle even said that the gift of tongues
without any sort of interpretation is actually fruitless. Paul even
said that he would much rather we prophesy, because even
(25:30):
then we can edify one another in there. This brings
us back to the theme of unity. You see, the
Holy Spirit had come to unify these people of different
languages to hear the one singular gospel. The diversity of
languages spoken was significant. It represented these many nations gathered
in Jerusalem for Pentecost, Yes, but it also represented the
(25:50):
unifying of all these different nations under God. Do you
remember the promise of Abraham way back when in Genesis
God said that every single nation would be blessed by
Abraham's seed. Well, abraham seed came. The seed was Jesus Christ.
The Gospel of Jesus is meant to bless every single nation,
not just one specific people group, but many people of
(26:13):
many different tongues. Each listener heard the wonders of God
in their own language, breaking down the barriers of communication
and illustrating the unifying power of the Holy Spirit. You see,
the reaction to the crowd was one of amazement and perplexity,
and not everyone really received it well. People were dismissing
the disciples as drunkenness. And what I love about Peter's
(26:35):
response is that he doesn't reply, no, we're not drunk.
We would never get drunk. We're holy men of God.
He replies with, no, we're not drunk, it's only noon.
I find that kind of funny. This dichotomy also represents
something very deep within us. The Holy Spirit's work can
challenge our preconceptions and push us out of our comfort zones,
(26:58):
calling us to see beyond the surface level. See what
people perceive to be odd behavior and drunkenness was actually
the Holy Spirit working powerfully. What other people might see
is foolish might actually be God's profound work. Think about
Joshua marching around a wall seven times and then shouting
at a wall. It doesn't really seem like the behavior
(27:19):
of a conquering nation. However, what seemed like foolishness to
the city of Jericho was actually profound power with the
people of God. Acts two one through eleven is more
than a historical account. It is a living testament to
the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. The day a
Pentecost reveals that God's Spirit unites us, equips us, and
(27:40):
empowers us for his purposes. It reminds us that the
Spirit is not bound by our expectations or our limitations,
but rather moves in ways that bring glory to God
in advances Kingdom. As we reflect on this passage, let's
seek to be of one accord, waiting on God's timing
and open to the unexpected ways his Spirit might move
in our lives. Let us embrace the unity that the
(28:00):
Spirit brings, and let us also be agents of transformative
power in a world that desperately needs the touch of God.
The world doesn't need more g normies walking around trying
to be as average as possible, needs people empowered by
the Holy Spirit, willing to be absurd at times and
press in to the purposes of God. May we, like
the early Disciples be filled with the Holy Spirit, ready
(28:21):
to declare the wonders of God to every nation, every tribe,
and every tongue.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes
on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends
of the earth. Acts one eight. Heavenly Father, thank you
for the promise of your power through the Holy Spirit.
(00:21):
You have called us to be your witnesses to the
ends of the earth, and we are humbled by this
great commission. Fill us with the Holy Spirit, empowering us
to boldly proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ. Grant us
courage to share your love with those around us, and
wisdom to live as examples of your grace. Help us
(00:43):
to be faithful in our witness, trusting that you are
with us every step of the way. May our lives
shine brightly, drawing others to the hope and salvation found
in you alone. In Jesus's name, we pray.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Thank you for praying with me to day. You're listening
to the Jesus Podcast dramatic stories inspired by the Bible.
Remain here for another story from our mini series on
the birth of the Church. Has this podcast inspired you,
We would love it if you'd left a rating and
review and shared with a friend. Peter sat with Matthias
(01:26):
on the roof of the house, overlooking the busy streets
of Jerusalem. It was the morning of Pentecost, and there
was no lack of noise to show for it. Jews
from all directions had traversed into the city of David
to celebrate the holy day. Fifty days after Passover, they
(01:46):
would commemorate the giving of the Law to Moses on
Mount Sinai, as well as mark the start of the
summer harvest. To the Jews, Pentecost was a day of
remembering God's unification of his people under his commandments.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
Ah Watching people gather for Chivat never gets old. Gotta
love our people's willingness to travel to Jerusalem for the vestibules.
You know, a few years back, when we were here
with Jesus. You know, a few years back, when we
were here with Jesus, we got good teaching by some
of the Pharisees.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Matthias unwittingly stopped listening to Peter's story. He could only
imagine Peter and the other apostles had hundreds of personal
stories about their adventures with Jesus. He laid his head
in his hand and stared at the sea of the
Pilgrims with glassy eyes. Peter took notice of the disengaged Matthias.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
Well, Matthias, it's been almost a week since you were
named an apostle.
Speaker 1 (02:50):
How's it feel? The young man averted his eyes from Peter's.
He'd been wondering the same thing himself. In some ways,
Matthias felt radically changed with no warning. He had gone
from a mere bystander to one of the renowned Twelve.
But in many regards he felt no different than he
(03:13):
had a week ago. In his mind, all he ever
was or would be, was the same old Matthias. Was
he supposed to feel different? And if so, how.
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Speaker 5 (04:25):
Today, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come. John the
Baptist foretold that he would come with fire. Yet despite
all these reminders and warnings, nothing could quite prepare the
Apostles for what would happen on Pentecost. Welcome to the
Jesus Podcast. I'm Zachwifpray dot com here to guide you
(04:47):
through another epic story about the birth of the church.
If you've been enjoying this podcast and have been listening
all throughout the year and haven't yet left a review
or followed or shared with a friend, we would love
it a few days and so those small steps might
seem insignificant to you, but to us in the podcasting space,
they actually mean quite a bit. We really appreciate it.
(05:09):
Today's story is inspired by Acts two one through eleven,
and it's one of the most dramatic and foundational passages
in the New Testament. It describes the day of Pentecost,
an event that marks the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
on the early Church. This was no ordinary day. It
was a divine intersection of history and prophecy, a moment
that changed the course of Christianity forever. As we dive
(05:32):
into this story, let's open our hearts to the profound
implications of Pentecost for our faith, yes, but also for
where we lie in the grand story of Christ's Church.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
But Dias you there, buddy.
Speaker 6 (05:48):
Huh oh, yeah, I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
What was the question? How does it feel?
Speaker 1 (05:55):
I guess it's hard to say.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Let me fig you in on a little secret, okay.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Matthias perked up. He could use any tricks of the
trade he could get his hands on.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Three years ago, Jesus called me to follow him. Saying
yes was the best decision of my life. But speaking candidly,
it's also been one of the most difficult. I was
always hard on myself, especially when I did things wrong
and don't tell the others. I said this, ha ha,
(06:28):
But I did a lot wrong. But then I realized
Jesus didn't call me because he needed my help. He
called me because he wanted my heart. Jest, give him
your heart and he'll supply the rest.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Matthias had heard tales about Peter's faith and failures, such
as how he had walked on water only to sink
seconds later, or accurately identified Jesus as the Messiah, only
to be rebuked by Jee moments later. If Peter could
find strength in the Lord's calling despite his weaknesses, maybe
(07:07):
there was hope for him too.
Speaker 6 (07:08):
Please don't take this the wrong way, but you're not
anything like I would have expected. I had heard stories
about the rock and how headstrong you were, but taking
the time to sit here with me, I can't thank
you enough for talking with me about my worries. I
just want to honor the Lord Jesus.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Peter chuckled. There was no denying that the rumors were true.
He had spent far too long putting his foot in
his mouth and cutting off the ears of temple guards.
The two apostles continued to watch the city. The Jews
were like ants, marching along carved out corridors between houses
(07:48):
and shops, separate individuals, all seemingly working together as a society.
Behind them, the hatch to the roof opened up, Philip
clambered through and dusted the straw from his tunic. Philip
was glad to see Peter caring for the newly appointed apostle.
Speaker 7 (08:09):
I'm sorry to intrude, but we're gathering downstairs for prayer.
Would you too care to join us? If not, I'm.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Sure I can make up some excuse for you.
Speaker 7 (08:20):
James and John are arguing over something anyways, so I
don't think anyone would notice your absence even if I
didn't say anything.
Speaker 3 (08:29):
No, No, you're not intruding at all. We'll make our
way down with you. Matthias was just giving me a
pep dog.
Speaker 1 (08:36):
Peter winked at Matthias. For three years, Peter had the
luxury of being directly discipled by Jesus. Now was his
chance to do the same for another Peter. Matthias and
Philip carefully made their way down into the house, where
they were greeted by the rest of the apostles.
Speaker 6 (08:56):
Ah, Peter, perfect timing.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
Please tell my brother James here that it wasn't my
fault when we lost that massive catch back when we're teenagers.
I didn't say it was your fault. All I was
saying was that you would the one who let go
of the net too early. If you want to interpret that,
I mean it was your fault. Maybe it's just a
guilty conscience.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
Peter rolled his eyes at James and John. With all
of the ambiguity these days, he found solace in knowing
some things never changed.
Speaker 3 (09:27):
I don't know anything about the catch, but I do
know that Philipp here said we had some praying to do.
Maybe you can ask the Lord whose fault it was, eh.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
The Sons of Thunder lived up to the nickname Jesus
had given them. Their passionate spirits consumed every area of
their lives, including arguments about their long lost days of fishing.
But now they had shrunk back, like embarrassed children being
reprimanded by a parent. They sidled along the room's back
(10:00):
wall to make room for Peter and Matthias. Everyone found
their seats and steadied their minds in preparation for prayer.
The sound of hundreds of footsteps and creaking carts poured
in through the window. Peter found himself increasingly distracted. He
pressed his eyes shut tight, causing flashes of light to
(10:23):
dance around inside of his eyelids. On the roof Peter
had found the warmth of the sun to be refreshing,
but now he found himself catching a chill. He opened
his eyes to see the curtain across the window blowing
inward with a heavy breeze. Peter shifted himself in his seat,
but before he could steady himself, a torrent blasted through
(10:48):
the window and kicked the door to the house wide open.
With it came a piercing howl as violent as a hurricane.
The apostles clasped their hands to their ringing ears and
jumped to their feet, sending their chairs tumbling backward. The
wind began to rush even harder and sent shivers down
(11:10):
their spines. Cups and plates rattled from their shelves, falling
to the floor and splintering crashes. The coarse dust scuffed
against their cheeks. The apostles protected their eyes from the
rogue desert storm. Fear wrapped its fingers around their hearts,
squeezing ever so tighter. Peter's protective instinct caused him to
(11:34):
look around for Matthias. Through the haze of debris, he
could make out puddles of light like flames flickering in
the night, and as quickly as it had started, the
wind ceased and all was still. Peter called out to
the others, Ah, is everyone okay?
Speaker 3 (11:55):
I think so? But what was that? And what is that?
Speaker 1 (12:01):
As the dust settled, the rest of the apostles could
see what Matthew was pointing to. That the center of
the room was a collection of fires shaped like tongues.
They expanded and detracted slowly, as though they were breathing. Then,
one smooth motion, the tongue separated and glided around the room,
(12:27):
finding a new dwelling place atop each of their heads.
Peter watched as his rose above him. As soon as
it reached him, it melted away the icy chills. He
felt like a warm bath of water was being poured.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
Out over him.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Though the tongue sat above their heads, the warmth they
experienced emanated in their hearts. The spirit of God had
made a new home in these followers of Jesus. The
disciples quaked in fear, unable to find the wherewithal to move.
There was no doubt in their minds that this was
(13:08):
precisely what Jesus had told.
Speaker 3 (13:11):
Them to wait for.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Each man stood stricken with awe. They had received the
promised gift of the Father. With the sensation of the
Spirit stirring in their hearts, they finally understood what Jesus
meant when he said it would be better that he gone,
Even if he wasn't standing there with him. He felt
(13:35):
closer to them than they had ever felt before.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
This must be it the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus said,
I definitely can think of any other explanation for what
just happened.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
I wonder if the whole city was hit by the wings.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
Eleven of the apostles hurried out of the front door
to examine their surroundings. Matthiah sat alone on the ground
in the corner of the room, arms formly wrapped around
his knees. He couldn't understand how the others had so
quickly moved on after the spectacle they just witnessed him.
Never before had Matthias seen such a wonderful and terrifying
(14:16):
display of God's power. A few short hours ago, Mattias
felt like he was ill equipped to be an apostle,
but in the aftermath of the ethereal whirlwind, he felt
ready to take on the world. Mattias knew this new
found confidence was anything but his own doing. Remembering the
(14:38):
other Apostles, he shook the dust from his hair and
promptly followed the others outside. Mattias stepped out into the
open air, the light nearly blinding him with its white rays.
His eyes adjusted and caught sight of the others. They
were standing just outside the door in a circle. They
(14:59):
were enthusiastically recounting all that had just happened. Matthias joined
the group. As they talked, he noticed a throng of
Jews approaching. It seemed that theirs was the only house
that had endured the harsh winds, but evidently the sound
had caught the curiosity of the surrounding neighborhood, leading them
(15:21):
to investigate. Upon hearing the disciples, their faces seemed startled,
if not shocked, that the Disciples were talking. Matthias couldn't
figure out what was so off putting about a group
of Jews talking with one another on Pentecost. They were
only twelve of the thousands of men now parading around
(15:42):
the city. He could only assume the most logical conclusion
was that they were going to accuse the Apostles of
starting the commotion. God fearing Jews from all different backgrounds
and nations joined to inspect the scene. They wore garments
from a war array of cultures, and from the looks
(16:02):
they wore on their faces. They were disturbed by these
men from Galilee and Judea. At first, they simply listened,
mouths slightly agape. An elderly man with a braided beard
stepped forward. He lifted his bony hands to the apostles.
Is everyone all right?
Speaker 6 (16:23):
In all my years, I've never seen a rogue storm
sweep through like that.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
I don't understand it.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
Another jew pressed through the mass of the people.
Speaker 3 (16:33):
That was no storm, That was something otherwily.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
More and more people accumulated around the house. For all
their speculations, the crowd only became more fearful at what
sort of power could cause such a disturbance. The apostles
did their best to quiet the crowds, but shouts rang
out from all around them. Peter did his best to
(17:00):
ignore the noise as he thought of a plan, but
his mind was overcome with the swirling voices. He felt
like he could hear everything and nothing all at the
same time. He shut his eyes tight and pressed his
palms to his ears as his ears drummed with the
dull hum of the crowd. Peter could only hear one voice.
(17:26):
Now it was a familiar one, quiet but perfectly clear.
Speak to the people. My spirits would give you the words.
Peter opened his eyes. From the looks of the other
apostles faces, he was the only one who had heard
their Rabbi. Peter stepped back from the crowds and raised
(17:48):
his voice above the noise.
Speaker 3 (17:50):
Men of Israel, if you would please calm down, we'll
explain this to everyone.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
The crowd continued to murmur and press forward, prepared to
speak again, this time with the full force of his lungs.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
Brothers, he still, you are right to say that what
you have seen is not of this world. But do
not be afraid. The spirit of God has moved in
this place.
Speaker 1 (18:18):
The crowd fell silent at the command. The waves of
shoving still to slow sways of awe as men from
all nations realized that they could hear the fishermen from
Galilee call out in their own tongues.
Speaker 3 (18:36):
J He di speak Egyptian. I assure you that was Parthian.
Now I believe you are both mistaken. That was a
perfect Greek.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
The crowd was in shock. Everyone had understood Peter in
their own tongue, but none could agree with what language
he had spoken in the crowd was caught in amusement,
both at Peter's words and his command of all their languages.
Speaker 3 (19:07):
So what does this mean?
Speaker 8 (19:09):
What wonder of God has befallen us here on this day?
Speaker 1 (19:14):
A scoff could be heard to the side of the crowd.
A harsh voice spat at the disciples with disdain.
Speaker 8 (19:21):
Wonder of God, it seems like you all started your
celebration a little early today. You're nothing more than a
group of drunkards making up fairy tales. I've traveled up
and down these lands, and I can tell you with
absolute certainty that no Galilean would ever be educated enough
to speak in more than two languages, let alone a dozen.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
A few of the surrounding bystanders grunted in agreement. Feeling
the sting of disrespect, James made a move to lunge
at the man who had insulted them. He didn't care
that someone would mark him, but to face a radical
work of God by calling it a drunken stupor was
more than the fiery Disciple could handle. But before he
(20:09):
could make his move, He was quickly pulled back by
John and Andrew. Philip and Nathaniel stepped in front of him,
allowing him a moment to come to his senses.
Speaker 8 (20:20):
See they can't even control themselves.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
Matthia stood behind the other eleven apostles. His eyes darted
from left to right. He knew that the others were
likely much more used to these types of interactions, but
as for himself, every second felt like hours as his
insides knotted together with fear. Almost instinctively, he looked to
(20:47):
Peter for any inkling.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Of what they should do next.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
He watched as Peter stood tall, his chest was puffed
out and his head tilted slightly forward. He stared fixedly
at the crowd as he calculated their next move. Peter
tried to think what Jesus would have done in a
situation like this, argue flee, perform a miracle? How was
(21:14):
he supposed to know what to do? He looked over
at Matthias, who was staring back at him, clearly looking
for answers. Peter thought back to what he had said
to the new apostle on the rooftop that morning.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
He called me because he wanted my heart. Just give
him your heart, and Lucie Bley the rest.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
Jesus wanted Peter's heart, just like he wanted the hearts
of the men who stood before them. Now they weren't
his enemies. They were lost sheep in desperate need of
a shepherd. Jesus had Peter's heart, and in return, he
had supplied Peter with everything he needed, the spirit of
(22:02):
the Living God. Peter knew exactly what he needed to do.
It was time for him to feed Jesus sheep.
Speaker 5 (22:15):
When the day of Pentecost had fully come, the disciples
were gathered together in one place. The scene is set
for an extraordinary event, the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost,
traditionally a Jewish feast celebrating the first fruits of the
wheat harvest and the giving of the Law, now becomes
the day of first fruits for the Holy Spirit. It's
as though God is saying, just as the wheat harvest
(22:37):
was a sign of abundance to come, so too, the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit is a sign of the
new Covenant and the harvest of people souls that are
going to be coming to God. It was Jesus who
said the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few,
while the Spirit is coming to empower the laborers for
the grand harvest. It's this beautiful thing that the Holy
(22:59):
Spirit's coming on the day of Pentecost. This celebration that's
celebrating the harvest is now the one that's ushering in
the coming of the Holy Spirit, who is going to
help with the grand harvest of these souls. Imagine in
the scene a sound of rushing mighty wind filling an
entire house and dividing tongues of fire appearing on each disciple.
(23:20):
The supernatural occurrence wasn't just for show, and it's not
just a fairy tale either. It signified a profound shift
from the old Covenant to the new. While the Law
was given on Mount Sinai, now the Spirit of Grace
is given to every believer, symbolized by fire, a cleansing,
purifying presence. The disciples were all in one place, in
(23:41):
one accord, united in their anticipation of the promise Jesus
had given them. Their unity was not just about physical proximity,
but this shared spiritual experience. You know, that's a part
of what the Holy Spirit does to us. The Holy
Spirit unifies people if you've ever been blessed enough to
go on a mission strip overseas, or you've traveled to
(24:03):
a different country and visited churches, you'll know that there's
this shared camaraderie, even though the cultures may differ. If
you're a believer in Bangladesh, you have far more in
common with a believer in the United States or in
the Philippines than you do with the stranger next door
that doesn't believe in the Lord. You see, the Holy
Spirit binds us together, and it's important to note that
(24:23):
these disciples waiting and praying together create an environment ripe
for the Holy Spirit's arrival. You see, unity proceeds amazing
acts of the Spirit. Unity prepares us to receive God's
gifts and work effectively for his mission. When the Holy
Spirit filled the disciples, they began to speak in other
tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. This was not
(24:45):
a random babbling, but a miraculous ability to speak in
languages previously unknown to them. When we think about the
gifts of tongues today, it can kind of be a
divisive topic to talk about. Oftentimes, when we imagine the
gift of tongues, we imagine traveling evangel preachers people babbling
in a language that seems foreign and odd. But our
first encounter with the gift of tongues is actually in
(25:08):
being able to speak in different languages to proclaim the
Gospel of Jesus. The gift of tongues and any sort
of utterance is always meant to further the Gospel of Jesus.
Paul the Apostle even said that the gift of tongues
without any sort of interpretation is actually fruitless. Paul even
said that he would much rather we prophesy, because even
(25:30):
then we can edify one another in there. This brings
us back to the theme of unity. You see, the
Holy Spirit had come to unify these people of different
languages to hear the one singular gospel. The diversity of
languages spoken was significant. It represented these many nations gathered
in Jerusalem for Pentecost, Yes, but it also represented the
(25:50):
unifying of all these different nations under God. Do you
remember the promise of Abraham way back when in Genesis
God said that every single nation would be blessed by
Abraham's seed. Well, abraham seed came. The seed was Jesus Christ.
The Gospel of Jesus is meant to bless every single nation,
not just one specific people group, but many people of
(26:13):
many different tongues. Each listener heard the wonders of God
in their own language, breaking down the barriers of communication
and illustrating the unifying power of the Holy Spirit. You see,
the reaction to the crowd was one of amazement and perplexity,
and not everyone really received it well. People were dismissing
the disciples as drunkenness. And what I love about Peter's
(26:35):
response is that he doesn't reply, no, we're not drunk.
We would never get drunk. We're holy men of God.
He replies with, no, we're not drunk, it's only noon.
I find that kind of funny. This dichotomy also represents
something very deep within us. The Holy Spirit's work can
challenge our preconceptions and push us out of our comfort zones,
(26:58):
calling us to see beyond the surface level. See what
people perceive to be odd behavior and drunkenness was actually
the Holy Spirit working powerfully. What other people might see
is foolish might actually be God's profound work. Think about
Joshua marching around a wall seven times and then shouting
at a wall. It doesn't really seem like the behavior
(27:19):
of a conquering nation. However, what seemed like foolishness to
the city of Jericho was actually profound power with the
people of God. Acts two one through eleven is more
than a historical account. It is a living testament to
the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. The day a
Pentecost reveals that God's Spirit unites us, equips us, and
(27:40):
empowers us for his purposes. It reminds us that the
Spirit is not bound by our expectations or our limitations,
but rather moves in ways that bring glory to God
in advances Kingdom. As we reflect on this passage, let's
seek to be of one accord, waiting on God's timing
and open to the unexpected ways his Spirit might move
in our lives. Let us embrace the unity that the
(28:00):
Spirit brings, and let us also be agents of transformative
power in a world that desperately needs the touch of God.
The world doesn't need more g normies walking around trying
to be as average as possible, needs people empowered by
the Holy Spirit, willing to be absurd at times and
press in to the purposes of God. May we, like
the early Disciples be filled with the Holy Spirit, ready
(28:21):
to declare the wonders of God to every nation, every tribe,
and every tongue.
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