Acts 2:1-13

"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: 'Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; resident of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts of Judaism): Cretans and Arabs - we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!' Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, 'What does this mean?'

Some, however, made fun of them and said, 'They have had too much wine."

Wish I were there

God is amazing in how His power was manifested in the violent wind, fire, and His Holy Spirit. My heart would have been pounding if I were to experience such a sight. This event was to fulfill the words of John the Baptist about the Holy Spirit's baptizing with fire (Luke 3:16) and of the prophet Joel's words about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-29.)

On that day in Jerusalem there were many visitors from around the world speaking different languages. God works all kinds of miracles to spread the gospel, using many languages as he calls all kinds of people to become his followers.

My commentary said, very likely, some of the Jews who responded to Peter's message returned to their homelands with God's Good News of salvation. God prepared the way for the spread of the gospel. As we read Acts, we will see how the way was often prepared for Paul and other messengers by people who became believers at Pentecost.