The Book of Acts – Chapter 2
Acts 2:1-4
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
They were continuing: CONTINUE, CONTINUANCE Means: “to be strong towards” (pros, “towards,” used intensively, and kartereo, “to be strong”), “to endure in, or persevere in, to be continually steadfast with a person or thing,” is used of “continuing” in prayer with others, ; in the apostles’ teaching, Acts 2:42>; in the Temple, <2:46>
They never missed an hour of prayer; they resolved to persevere herein till the Holy Ghost came, according to the promise, to pray, and not to faint. It is said ,(after Jesus ascended into heaven). They were praising and blessing God and they continued in prayer and supplication.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.Suddenly means unexpectedly
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (KJV)
We see that the promise of the Father was given after Jesus replaced Judas, filling the office which he established and that the promise was given unto those which were obedient unto his command to wait in Jerusalem.
The day of Pentecost marks the point in time which God established a new relationship between himself and his people. This relationship of the Spirit to the members of the body of Christ became much more intimate and personal at Pentecost, in fulfillment of the promise given to us by Jesus in: John 14:16-18
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
The Word declares that when the Holy Ghost was fully come it is saying that he the Holy Ghost came in a manner that left nothing to want.(literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.: to make full, to fill up, that is, to fill to the full, to make complete in every particular, to render perfect
Now there were three signs which accompanied his coming; Wind, Fire, and Other tongues. Each of these have a significance which we will look at.
Wind: SPIRIT; BREATH
The Bible often speaks of God’s “Spirit,” the third person of the Trinity. This is the use of the word in its first biblical occurrence: “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” . and specifically speak of the “holy or free Spirit.”
Further is associated with God’s Spirit as in:John 3:8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (NAS)So just as the wind is a mystery so is it for those born of the Spirit
Also in:
Ezek 37:1-14
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit(7307) of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, Carried me out in the spirit is the same word as Breathe
2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.This death has possessed the land and people for a long time. Not only this but it has been wide spread and openly shown.
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath(7307) to enter into you, and ye shall live:
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath(7307) in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath (7307) in them.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind (7307), prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind (7307), Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds (7307), O breath (7307), and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath (7307) came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
14 And shall put my spirit(7307) in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD. (KJV)
We see here that the wind, breath, life, and Spirit are all related. Most importantly we see that God through the Spirit brings life unto those who will receive Jesus Christ as their Savior.
John 3:1-6
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (KJV)
The Holy Ghost is the reason for this rebirth and without him it would be impossible. For just as the breath of God or the wind blew over the dead dry bones in the valley and brought life so shall the Holy Ghost bring life to those who are dead in sin.
Rom 8:11 “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (KJV)
1720 emphusao-
to blow or breathe upon. This word used only once by the Septuagint translators in Gen 2:7 where God breathed on Adam and he became a living soul. Just as the original creation was completed by an act of God, so to the new creation was completed by an act from the Head of the new creation. (compare John 20:22)
Gen 2:7
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (KJV)
John 20:22
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: (KJV)
Fire: is a symbol of divine presenceSome examples of this can be found in: The burning bush
Exod 3:2
2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. (KJV)
The pillar of fire
Exod 13:21-22
And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.
Consuming fire on Mt. Sinai
Exod 24:17
17 And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
Fire over the wilderness Tabernacle ExodusExod 40:38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
It is also interesting to note that in these occurrences God was communicating with his people
