Pentecost - Part 4 And they were all amazed and marvelled

 

Because all those that had gathered, hearing the disciples speaking in tongues, were devout Jews, Peter most likely preached to them in Hebrew. (Acts 21:40, Acts 22:2). While the Jews that had gathered heard the disciples speak in the languages of the countries they dwelt in “the wonderful works of God,” it was Peter that preached the gospel to them.

By having Jews from around the world present when God poured His Spirit out, there was confirmation that it was God speaking through the disciples.

"Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" - Acts 2:6-8 KJV

If these witnesses had not been present, the miraculous outpouring of God’s Spirit would have been dismissed as a group of drunks full of new wine.

"And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 

“Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine." - Acts 2:12-13 KJV

"But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:

“For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:" - Acts 2:14-18 KJV

From this point on, speaking in tongues is the sign that a person has been filled with the Holy Ghost.

To be continued…