The Promise Poured Out

The Glory of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-21

Acts chapter 2 brings us to one of the great turning points in the history of redemption. The risen Christ has ascended into heaven. The apostles gather together in Jerusalem according to His command. The promise of the Father rests upon their hearts. Then, in a demonstration of God’s sovereign power on a grand scale, the Holy Spirit is poured out upon the church.

Pentecost marks the inauguration of the New Covenant age. The reign of the ascended Christ is publicly revealed through the outpouring of the Spirit upon His people. What God promised through the prophets now arrives in fullness, signs and wonders following suit. 

Luke writes, “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.” Pentecost was one of Israel’s appointed feast days. Jews from many nations had come to Jerusalem for worship. The timing carries deep significance. Christ, our Passover Lamb, had already been crucified and raised from the dead. Now the blessings purchased through His redeeming work are being poured out upon His church through the Holy Spirit, the Comforter promised by Christ who would abide with the church forever. 

The disciples gathered together with unity and expectation, fully convinced that the promise of God would meet them in the upper room. 

Then heaven spoke.

Luke tells us that a sound like a mighty rushing wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. Throughout Scripture, wind is associated with the life-giving power of the Spirit of God. In Ezekiel 37, the breath of God entered dry bones and brought life. In John 3, Christ spoke of the Spirit moving with sovereign freedom like the wind itself. The church at Pentecost is filled with the breath of heaven. This imagery clearly points to the power and presence of God the Holy Spirit. Christ spoke of the Spirit as moving like the wind in John 3:8:

 “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Verse 3 declares that divided tongues “as of fire” rested upon each one of them. Fire throughout the Scriptures often signifies the holy presence of God. Moses encountered the Lord in the burning bush. Israel journeyed under the light of the pillar of fire. Mount Sinai burned with divine glory before the people of Israel.

Now the presence of God rests upon His people through the Holy Spirit.

This glorious moment fulfills the promises spoken through the prophets. Jeremiah proclaimed that God would write His law upon the hearts of His people. Ezekiel declared that the Lord would give His people a new heart and place His Spirit within them. Pentecost reveals the arrival of these covenant promises through Jesus Christ.

Luke then tells us that the disciples began speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. The crowd gathered in Jerusalem heard the mighty works of God proclaimed in recognizable languages from across the known world.

The miracle at Pentecost points directly to the worldwide scope of Christ’s kingdom. The gospel reaches the nations. Men and women from many lands hear the truth of God proclaimed in their own language. Christ gathers a redeemed people for Himself from every tribe and tongue.

Luke carefully records the nations represented in Jerusalem that day. Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, visitors from Rome, and many others stood amazed as they heard the mighty works of God proclaimed before them.

The message of the church centers upon the greatness of God revealed in Christ Jesus. The apostles proclaimed the saving acts of God with clarity and boldness. Notice that the disciples did not become overly-concerned with the miracle of language. Rather, they simply utilized what God provided to clearly and boldly proclaim the truth of the Gospel. 

The crowd responded with wonder and amazement. Some asked, “What does this mean?” Others mocked the disciples and accused them of drunkenness. The preaching of God’s truth always brings a response from the human heart.

Then Peter stood before the multitude.

The transformation in Peter is striking. During the trial of Christ, fear overwhelmed him in the presence of a servant girl. Now he lifts his voice publicly in Jerusalem and proclaims the truth of God before the crowds. The risen Christ had restored him. The Holy Spirit had strengthened him. To this day, the Holy Spirit empowers God’s people to effectively and boldly preach the good news of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 

Peter immediately directs the people to Scripture. It is important to remember that biblical Christianity does pay merely pay lip service to the Scripture. Rather, it is fully guided by what “thus saith the word of the Lord.” Peter, careful to utilize God’s Word to explain God’s actions, explains that the events unfolding before them fulfill the prophecy of Joel.

“And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.”

The last days began through the saving work of Jesus Christ. His death, resurrection, ascension, and heavenly reign ushered in the age of fulfillment. The Spirit is now poured out upon the covenant people of God. Sons and daughters. Young and old. Servants and rulers. The blessings of salvation belong to all who trust in Christ.

Joel’s prophecy also points toward the coming Day of the Lord and the final triumph of God’s kingdom. Peter declares that the great redemptive era promised by the prophets has arrived through Jesus Christ.

The passage reaches its glorious climax in verse 21:

“And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

What a magnificent promise of grace.

The gospel call extends freely to sinners. Salvation belongs to those who, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in faith. Forgiveness is found solely in Christ. Mercy flows from His finished work upon the cross. Eternal life is secured through His resurrection from the dead. Salvation, from start to finish, is the work of Almighty God in Christ as effectively applied by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. God loves a People. Christ saves a People. The Holy Spirit draws, empowers, and comforts God’s people. 

Pentecost reminds the church that the power of God accomplishes the work of God. The Holy Spirit still brings life to spiritually dead sinners. He still convicts hearts through the preaching of the Word. He still exalts Christ before the nations.

The gospel continues to go forth with power and hope:

“Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

There is mercy in Christ for guilty sinners.

There is peace in Christ for troubled hearts.

There is everlasting life in Christ for all who believe.

The risen King still saves.

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Jason Boothe serves as Pastor of Redeemer Church of Piketon, Ohio. He proclaims the Free and Sovereign Grace of God in the salvation of sinners each week. For more information concerning Redeemer Church or the Gospel, please visit http://www.RedeemerPiketon.org .