Acts 2:1 – On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.  7 They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! 9 Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!”  (NLT)

In the Christian year, yesterday was Pentecost.  Pentecost is a day that many call the birthday of the church.  Pentecost is the day when the Holy Spirit first came down upon the disciples, and changed their lives, and the world, forever.  

Some people read passages of Scripture like the one for today and are filled with questions.  Is this what the gift of tongues is all about?  Were they speaking in other languages, or did the people just hear them in their language?  What was really going on?  When I read the Bible, I have many questions, as well.  However, what I try to do is take what I can from the reading and apply to life here and now.  How can we apply this passage to our daily lives?  

I think one of the best ways is to simply look at the big picture.  The disciples were all together.  That’s great, but then they went out and did what the Spirit led them to do.  Gathering as a church community is great, important, vital to our survival – but so is going out and doing what the Spirit leads us to do!  It is interesting to note that the nations listed in this passage were the known nations of that day.  In other words, the people of the church were making God’s presence known to all of the world.  We, too, are called to make God’s presence known to all of the world.  Let’s start today by making God’s presence known in our own little corner of the world! 

Posted by Ramón Torres