Sermons From Acts - The Outpouring Of The Spirit (2:1-21)

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                          "THE BOOK OF ACTS"

                 The Outpouring Of The Spirit (2:1-21)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our previous lesson, we saw how Jesus's disciples waited for the
   promise of the Spirit...
   a. They assembled together - Ac 1:12-14
   b. They prayed together - Ac 1:14
   c. They prepared by selecting Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot 
      - Ac 1:15-26

2. In Acts 2, we read of significant events that occurred on one day...
   a. The outpouring of the Spirit
   b. The first gospel sermon
   c. The beginning of the Lord's church

[In this lesson, let's direct our focus on the first:  the outpouring of
the Spirit.  Beginning with...]

I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE OUTPOURING

   A. THE DAY...
      1. It was the day of Pentecost - Ac 2:1
      2. Called the Feast of Weeks in the OT, celebrating the wheat
         harvest - Exo 34:22
      3. Pentecost means "fifty", observed fifty days after the
         Passover - Lev 23:15-16
      4. Thus observed on a Sunday, the first day of the week
      5. Jesus had ascended to heaven just ten days before - cf. Ac
         1:3,9-11

   B. THE EVENT...
      1. "they were all with one accord in one place" - Ac 2:1
         a. The entire company of 120 disciples, or just the apostles?
         b. The pronoun "they" points back to the nearest antecedent
            noun ("apostles") - cf. Ac 1:26
         c. "They" were sitting in one house (120 people in one house?)
            - cf. Ac 2:2
         d. Those who spoke were Galileans, suggesting the apostles 
            - cf. Ac 2:6
         e. For the apostle  were from Galilee, while the 120 disciples
            were from all over Palestine
      2. The sudden arrival of audible and visual signs - Ac 2:2-3
         a. A sound as of a mighty rushing wind, filling the house
            where they were sitting
         b. Divided tongues, as of fire, sitting upon each of them
      3. Enabling the apostles to speak in foreign languages - Ac
         2:4-11
         a. They were filled with the Holy Spirit
         b. They began to speak with other tongues (i.e., foreign
            languages)
         c. Drawing the attention of devout Jews from other nations
            assembled for Pentecost
         d. Everyone heard them speak in their own language - cf. Ac
            2:6,11

      C. THE REACTION...
         1. Those who understood were amazed and marveled, though
            perplexed - Ac 2:7-8,12
         2. Those who did not understand the languages simply mocked 
            - Ac 2:13
         3. Peter explained that it was too early for them to be drunk
            - Ac 2:14-15

[The circumstances of the Spirit's outpouring were indeed amazing.  What
was significant about it...?]

II. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE OUTPOURING

   A. PROCLAIMED BY JOHN THE BAPTIST...
      1. One was coming who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire
         - Mt 3:11
      2. Separating wheat from chaff, gathering the one and burning the
         other - Mt 3:12

   B. FORETOLD BY JESUS...
      1. Jesus told His apostles this would happen - Ac 1:4-5
      2. It would empower them to be His witnesses - Ac 1:8

   C. EXPLAINED BY PETER...
      1. The events were prophesied by Joel - Ac 2:16; cf. Joel 2:28-32
      2. Who foretold of the Spirit's outpouring - Ac 2:17-18
      3. In a time of judgment (70 A.D.?), but also a time of salvation
         - Ac 2:19-21; cf. Mt 3:11-12
      4. What they saw and heard was also evidence of Jesus' resurrection and
         exaltation to the right hand of God as Lord and Christ! - cf. Ac
         2:32-36

   D. MENTIONED BY PAUL...
      1. The Spirit had been poured out abundantly through Jesus Christ
         - Tit 3:5-7
         a. Saving people through the washing of regeneration and
            renewing of the Spirit - cf. Jn 3:5
         b. Leading to justification by grace and becoming heirs of
            eternal life - cf. 1Co 6:11
      2. By the Spirit we have been baptized and drunk freely - 1Co
         12:13
         a. Baptized into one body (i.e., the church) - cf. Col 1:18
         b. Made to drink of the Spirit - cf. Jn 7:37-39

CONCLUSION

1. With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost...
   a. The promises of Joel, John the Baptist, and Jesus were being
      fulfilled
   b. It proved that Jesus rose from the dead and was exalted to the
      right hand of God!
   c. As foretold by Joel and John, a time of judgment and salvation
      was at hand!

2. With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost...
   a. Some benefits were temporary, serving to reveal and confirm the
      Word
   b. Other benefits are age-lasting, offering salvation and
      sanctification to all who obey

We learn more of the work of the Holy Spirit as we make our way through
the Acts of the Apostles.  For now, remember what Peter said to those who
had witnessed the events on that day:

   Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be 
   baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins;
   and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the 
   promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar
   off, as many as the Lord our God will call." ~ Ac 2:38-39

Three thousand Jews responded favorably by being baptized on that day (Ac
2:41).  Have you responded in the same way...?
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