Scripture: Acts 2:1-12

The Day of Pentecost Interrupted.

Vicki Eastman is reading the mornings scripture that is in bold. Mark Piton is interrupting.

When the day of Pentecost had come,

This was not the first Pentecost. This was the Jewish “Pentecost” called Shavout or the harvest Festival of Weeks.

they

The Apostles that is. They had just voted in Matthias as an Apostle to replace Judas who was not with them. The number 12 had been restored!

were all together in one place. 

After all they were in Jerusalem and it was Pentecost! The other faithful had made a pilgrimage and were celebrating the Festival of Weeks and the day – Fifty days after the Passover – that Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. Fifty – Pente – days after the Exodus started.

And suddenly from heaven there came a sound

How do we know it came from heaven? Well, the events of the day will show that, but it was sudden, non-natural, and it is reminiscent of the pillar of smoke that led the Hebrews out of Egypt, the still small voice, the whirlwind, the spirit moving on the face of the deep. And the word “ruah” can be translated as wind or breath or spirit. So, yes the verse could say “a sound like the rush of a violent breath or spirit”. Instead, it is usually translated …

…came a  sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 

It touched everyone. But also notice how Luke, the writer of this, is not saying THAT is what it was. The sound was LIKE this. It was not THIS. It was LIKE it. He is getting ready to do the same thing with the next symbol of the day.

Divided tongues, as of fire,

AS of fire. NOT fire. Tongues AS if fire, like fire, like a rushing wind, as if it was – BUT it was not these things. Like them, but not them.

I think they got it.

Sorry

Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them,

Fire from heaven. How do we know this? It was sudden, non-natural and reminiscent the burning bush that did not consume the bush, of the pillar of fire that led the Hebrews out of Egypt at night, and the tongues of fire that destroy the rotten roots of those who reject God that Isaiah speaks about.

and a tongue rested on each of them. 

Again they touched everyone. And this is getting ready for a bit of a pun, at least in English.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit

The Holy Breath the Holy Wind

and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 

…they spoke in other tongues ..  get it? … tongues of fire tongues of language…

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound

Not the sound of from all these pilgrim in Jerusalem but the sound that was LIKE a mighty wind or breath and the 12 speaking while lit up with tongues of Holy fire

 the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 

Scholars have debated whether this is a miracle of the Apostles speaking in another language or if God did a miracle on the non-believers so they could hear in their own language. I can see where it makes a difference, but I am not sure it matters all that much.

Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 

Galileans were not well regarded for intelligence.

And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 

This has been answered. Sounds and fire from heaven. The how doesn’t rely on humans.

Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 

 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 

Always the question. Peter is getting ready to answer it.

But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” 

Because there are always those who will dismiss what they do not understand or want to believe.

[Wait like a 5 count just staring at me.]

Would you like me to read it again without interruption? To let them get a sense of the flow or the story?

…That might be good…

I am reading this time from The Message paraphrase.

 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force – no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them. 

There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world.  When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? 

How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues? 

Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene; both Jews and proselytes; Even Cretans and Arabs! “They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!” Their heads were spinning; they couldn’t make head or tail of any of it.

They talked back and forth, confused: “What’s going on here?” 

Others joked, “They’re drunk on cheap wine.” 

That’s when Peter stood up …

Sermon: Flame and Wind 

to down load: 180520_0857 

Prayer

Lord. We have volcanoes on our minds 10 more people murdered at a school on our hearts. We know there are wars around the world and other natural disasters, and we know there is illness, grief, and pain closer to home with us now. We want someting better in all these situations. We may pray for you to fix them, but we know we will have a part to flfill. We need help to meet our responsibilities. Help us.

Come Holy Spirit. Come.

Come as a wind of change when we ignore injustice so that we can have peace. Come and knock down the wall of ignorance, hatred, prejudice. Blow away the stench of racism, arrogance, pride, and pretension. Clear the choking smoke of lies, diversion, and division. Burn away the chaff of greed, the pedestal of power, and the idols of false gods that love injustice. Set fire and burn away the dross of “nice” and set fire to our hearts with passion for liberty and justice for all. We need help to set aside niceness and a desire for our own peace  to become your prophets demanding justice, proclaiming what is right and wrong, Holy and profane,. Blow on the fires of our passion until we will accept only peace for all who would have it. In the light of that fire may we see your will on earth as it is in heaven.

Amen.