Check out all the previous Acts readings here.

Acts Reading Plan | Week 1 | Day 5

Prayer

Jesus said, “I’m the bread of life.” Ask Him to feed your soul today as you read His word and spend time with Him.

Bible Reading: Acts 2:1-3

Read these verses three times slowly.

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 their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents 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 to 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.”

Reflection & Questions

It is an amazing day. The Spirit comes powerfully upon the followers of Jesus. A violent wind fills the room, fire rests on their heads. It is an astonishing picture of the Holy Spirit unleashed.

What is it that the Holy Spirit enables them to do? Levitate? Fling tongues of fire? 🙂 Nope! Their mission was to be witnesses, and so He gives them the ability to do just that: witness. In fact, they don’t just speak boldly about Jesus – they are given the ability to speak in other languages. And that ability is part of the strategic plan that God is carrying out.

The Holy Spirit deliberately comes on the day of Pentecost – when people from many nations had gathered in Jerusalem to praise God in thanks for the harvest. You would have heard many languages as you walked through the city. And as the Spirit comes upon Jesus’ followers, He enables them to speak in native tongues of those countries. And so the gospel would begin to spread across countries as people returned home. God had a strategic plan!

The disciples are empowered to speak! But what do they say? We’ll find that out in our next reading.

Prayer

Our mission is the same as the disciples: to be witnesses. Ask the Spirit to enable you to be a witness for Jesus. Talk to Him about your fears, your insecurities. Ask Him for boldness and ability.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?