Jesus, in Luke 24: 49, told his disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until they are endued with power; this, they obeyed, and after Christ's ascension, about one hundred and twenty disciples went to an upper room in Jerusalem to tarry (Acts 1: 12-15). As recorded in Acts 2: 1-2, on the day Shavu'ot (anannual Jewish festival also known as Pentecost)the disciples were still in that upper room patiently waiting for POWER to come. Three things to note about them:
1. There was physical convergence 2. There was a convergence of hearts 3. They were sitting (it wasn't one of those days they were praying as in Acts 1: 14) Then suddenly, as we were told in Acts 2: 2-6, a cascade of events began that made this particular Shavu'ot a peculiar one: 1. There came a sound from heaven (as of a rushing mighty wind) and filled the room where the disciples were. 2. There appeared cloven tongues (like as of fire) and rested on each one of them. 3. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost. 4. They began to speak with other tongues (as the Spirit gave them utterance). 5. They were making noise. The sudden outburst of these about one hundred and twenty Holy Ghost filled, power endued noise-makers that were in that upper room attracted the attention of the devout Jews who had come to Jerusalem from different nations under heaven to celebrate shavu'ot, and seven responses followed: 1. The multitude CAME TOGETHER (Acts 2: 6)- There was a coming together of people for a common purpose. 2. They were CONFUSED (Acts 2: 6)- The Holy Spirit made nonsense of their intellect. They could neither reason intelligently nor act sensibly. They did not know what to say or how to act. 3. They were AMAZED (Acts 2: 7)- They were filled with intense admiration and awe... They were shocked; It was the least expected thing when they were coming for Shavu'ot. The whole thing took them by surprise. 4. They MARVELLED (Acts 2: 7)- They were dumb-founded; this experience was altogether new! It was extraordinary and outstandingly good; it had an effective impact, yet unusual. 5. They were PERPLEXED (Acts 2: 12)- This whole experience was puzzling, causing some to doubt. They baffled at this intricate and complicated outburst... the event was very difficult to understand, deal with or explain. 6. Some MOCKED (Acts 2: 13): Some responsed scornfully; they mimicked the disciples in a way that is intended to make them appear silly and ridiculous; they wanted to humiliate and frustrate them. Before I talk about the seventh response of the multitude, let me quickly say: I. The first four responses were absolutely human. II. At the fifth response, the devil had started preaching to the multitude. He gave them an interpretation for how they were feeling... he told them "this can't be true!", so they began to doubt. III. At the sixth response, the devil was fully on the scene, he was all out to humiliate and frustrate the disciples. I think at this point, Peter must have told the other Apostles "The devil has started moving, we must not keep quiet!" Then, Acts 2: 14 tells us, Peter stood up with the eleven, and spoke, and this was his opening remark: "Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words" Note what he said: I. Let this be known to you II. Heed my words Listen beloved, never be apologetic about the truth, be bold and firm in it! Finally, by the time Peter finished his speech (under the unction of the Holy Ghost), the multitude gave their seventh reaponse- 7. Bible says in Acts 2: 37, "THEY WERE CUT TO HEART"- They were pricked in their hearts, why? Because the word of God came to them... For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12) What exactly did Peter tell them that cut them to heart?- After his opening remarks, Peter said, (paraphrasing): "Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also know. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. This Jesus has God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he has shed forth this, which you now see and hear. Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2: 23, 32-33, 36). Hearing this, all they could say was, "What shall we do?" and Peter's response was: "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" And with many other words he testified and exhorted, saying, "Save yourselves from this untoward (stubborn and unfortunate) generation" (Acts 2:38-40). He had told them in in Acts 2: 21, "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved" If you happen to be reading this, and you are yet to give your life to Christ, I urge you to save yourself from this untoward generation, by saying this short prayer. Finally, perhaps you are reading this- you're born again, but not yet baptized in the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking in tongues, or you are like the Ephesian disciples, who have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost ( Acts 19: 2)... Just as Apostle Peter said in Acts 2: 9, I want you to know that the promise of the Holy Ghost is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. See what happened in John 7: 37-39: "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, IF ANY MAN THIRST, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified)" Now Jesus has been glorified, so, all you need is a thirst, and Christ will fill it. Jesus said in Luke 11: 9-13: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks, it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? I want to tell you that God is more willing to baptize you with His Holy Spirit than you are willing to receive, So now, lay your hands on your belly and ask Jesus to baptize you with the Holy Ghost. Be bold and speak in faith. As tongues rise from deep within your belly... S-P-E-A-K!