Christ's ascension to heaven was the signal that His followers were to receive the promised blessing.For this they were to wait before they entered upon their work.When Christ passed within the heavenly gates, He was enthroned amidst the adoration of the angels.As soon as this ceremony was completed, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in rich currents, and Christ was indeed glorified, even 39with the glory which He had with the Father from all eternity.The Pentecostal outpouring was Heaven's communication that the Redeemer's inauguration was accomplished.According to His promise He had sent the Holy Spirit from heaven to His followers as a token that He had, as priest and king, received all authority in heaven and on earth, and was the Anointed One over His people.
"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." The Holy Spirit, assuming the form of tongues of fire, rested upon those assembled.
This was an emblem of the gift then bestowed on the disciples, which enabled them to speak with fluency languages with which they had heretofore been unacquainted.The appearance of fire signified the fervent zeal with which the apostles would labor and the power that would attend their work.
"There were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." During the dispersion the Jews had been scattered to almost every part of the inhabited world, and in their exile they had learned to speak various languages.Many of these Jews were on this occasion in Jerusalem, attending the religious festivals then in progress.Every known tongue was represented by those assembled.This diversity of languages would have been a great hindrance to the proclamation of the gospel; God therefore in a miraculous manner supplied the deficiency of the apostles.The Holy Spirit did for them that which 40they could not have accomplished for themselves in a lifetime.They could now proclaim the truths of the gospel abroad, speaking with accuracy the languages of those for whom they were laboring.This miraculous gift was a strong evidence to the world that their commission bore the signet of Heaven.From this time forth the language of the disciples was pure, ******, and accurate, whether they spoke in their native tongue or in a foreign language.
"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 marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? and how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?"The priests and rulers were greatly enraged at this wonderful manifestation, but they dared not give way to their malice, for fear of exposing themselves to the violence of the people.They had put the Nazarene to death; but here were His servants, unlettered men of Galilee, telling in all the languages then spoken, the story of His life and ministry.The priests, determined to account for the miraculous power of the disciples in some natural way, declared that they were drunken from partaking largely of the new wine prepared for the feast.Some of the most ignorant of the people present seized upon this suggestion as the truth, but the more intelligent knew it to be false; and those who understood the different languages testified to the accuracy with which these languages were used by the disciples.
In answer to the accusation of the priests Peter showed that this demonstration was in direct fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel, wherein he foretold that such power would come upon men to fit them for a special work.
"Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem," he said, "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 Iwill pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy."With clearness and power Peter bore witness of the death and resurrection of Christ: "Ye men of Israel, hear these words: 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 ye yourselves also know: Him...ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it."Peter did not refer to the teachings of Christ to prove his position, because he knew that the prejudice of his hearers was so great that his words on this subject would be of no effect.Instead, he spoke to them of David, who was regarded by the Jews as one of the patriarchs of their nation."David speaketh concerning Him," he declared: "I foresaw the 42Lord always before My face, for He is on My right hand, that I should not be moved: therefore did My heart rejoice, and My tongue was glad; moreover also My flesh shall rest in hope: because Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption....
"Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day." "He...spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption.This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses."The scene is one full of interest.Behold the people coming from all directions to hear the disciples witness to the truth as it is in Jesus.
