Footsteps #14

Being “filled with the Spirit” continued; The gift of speaking different languages (Acts.2) was necessary to break down language barriers and launch the gospel into the Roman world with speed and power. It was a unique moment in the history of salvation. The next occurrence of such an event was in Acts.10 (Saul was now sojourning in Arabia). This was a pivotal turning point for Christian witness. There are 13 years between Acts.2 and Acts.10 – the gentile Pentecost. The conversion of non-Jews was the most controversial issue in the apostolic church. These Gentiles, (Cornelius and his household,) heard the gospel, they accepted Jesus, were baptised and the Holy Spirit fell upon them. They spoke in languages praising God. (Acts.10:44-48). Saul was to become the Apostle to the gentiles and this event was to prepare “the Brethren” for his return. Notice how the event was reported in Jerusalem. “The Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning…God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ…” Acts.11:15-19. Notice the past tense – it does not say as He does, but as He did. 

“2 On the day of Pentecost^a]”>[a] 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,^b]”>[b] 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  (Acts.2 NLT)

“Then Peter asked, ⁴⁷ “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” ⁴⁸ So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.” (Acts.10:44-48 NLT)

⁴⁴ Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. ⁴⁵ The Jewish believers^[a] who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speaking in other tongues^[b] and praising God.

If there were 13yrs between Acts.2 & 10 there was another 10yrs to Acts.19:1-7 when Paul came upon 12 disciples of John the Baptist who had not yet heard about Jesus. They were baptised, ordained for service and equipped with the gift of languages. The same term is used as in Acts.2 – ‘glossa’ i.e. languages and the term ‘prophesied’ means public proclamation. They proclaimed the Messiah of God! 

I will deal with 1Cor14 when I come to the time of its writing 3 years later. Saul would soon return from his seclusion. The time had come for an entirely new phase of work to be entered upon by the church. The door that had been closed against the Gentiles was soon to be thrown open. They were to be regarded as equals without the necessity of observing Jewish rites. Acts.10 was AD44, Acts.19 was AD54. When Paul returned from his first missionary journey, we have the pivotal Council of Jerusalem in Acts.15 AD.51.