Acts 2:5-13 – Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappocia, Pontus and Asia,10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
“Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.” There were God fearing Jews from all areas of the dispersion (areas the Jews had fled to avoid persecution). Of course there were also Jews that lived in Jerusalem and they also were there, devout and otherwise. They were there for the second of the three festivals that required Jewish men to visit Jerusalem for at least a week (Exodus 23:14, 17, 34:23, Deuteronomy 16:16).
“When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.” The sound that was like a rushing wind and then the sound of all the disciples speaking out as the Holy Spirit lead them. They disciples were speaking in the different languages and dialects of those gathered in Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit speaking through these one hundred twenty disciples (men and women Acts 1:12-14) made quit a commotion in The City and this crowd of Jews, more than three thousand, came to see what was happening. He rang the dinner bell that they would feed on the Bread of Life.
“Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappocia, Pontus and Asia,10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” A list of those present is given. They were all hearing the Holy Spirit baptized disciples speaking in their languages, all speaking in one of the various languages. The Jews who had gathered were hearing them declare the “wonders of God” in their own language (tongue). What they were hearing the disciples do was declaring the “wonders of God.” Wouldn’t you like to have heard what it was that they were saying? It seems likely that what was being said were the scriptures that God had already given them, especially the prophecies concerning Jesus.
“Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” In our day words like amazing are used so frequently that they can lose the impact of their meaning. Putting these two words together what is being related is that what happened is that what they were hearing totally disrupted what their thoughts were, what their comfort zones were, and what they understood from their life experiences. We might say that it took them way beyond their comfort zones. Remember that the Lord had not spoken to them through a prophet for five hundred years till John the Baptist and Jesus showed up. These Jews were not accustomed to seeing God move in powerful ways. These Jews were in awe, they were “blown away.”
“Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” As in our day, there are always mockers who resist the things of God. Pharaoh had a hard heart and resisted when God did great signs for him to believe. For some people, there are never enough signs and there is no sign is big enough. They have been blinded by what they will not release from their lives (2 Corinthians 4:4).
Family, people have not really changed. We have more technology now, but we are still born with the same sin nature. Even us who are born-again generally don’t want to be pushed out of our comfort zone. And today, just as then, there are scoffers for whom no proof will do. That is because they don’t want to see, they don’t want to have their lives changed and be removed from their comfort zone. It is horrible to read of the mockers then, and it is horrible to see them now. People who think themselves wise and only reveal their foolishness (1 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Corinthians 1:25). Let us be open to see, hear and obey the mighty moving of the Holy Spirit. This supernatural event of God happened to further enable them to spread the Word to all people. This event openly displayed that God would break down all barriers that attempt to bar the spreading of the Gospel. God desires to gift us so that we can reveal the greatness and glory of God to unbelievers as they hear the endless depth of the Gospel. Let us praise God and welcome all that He has for us. As always, and in all things, let us praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.