'But Peter, standing up with the eleven,
lifted up his voice, and said unto them,
Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem,
be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:'
(Act 2:14)
'Ye men of Israel, hear these words;
Jesus of Nazareth, '
(Act 2:22a)
'And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,
and began to speak with other tongues,
as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews,
devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Now when this was noised abroad,
the multitude came together, and were confounded,
because that every man heard them speak in his own language.'
(Act 2:4-6)
Hello
@101G,
This was being spoken at the feast of Pentecost, when only Jews would have been present, Jews from many different countries who had arrived in Jerusalem for the feast: For this was a feast instituted by God, which it was incumbent upon the children of Israel to keep throughout their generations. You quote Act 2:39-40:-
'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 did he testify and exhort, saying,
Save yourselves from this untoward generation.'
(Act 2:39-40)
Those to whom Peter spoke these words were Jews, and those referred to with the words, '
to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call', were still Jews, but Jews of the diaspora, many of whom were there in Jerusalem at that time. Peter and the eleven remaining disciples were being equipped for their role as those who had heard the Lord speak, and witnessed the works that God had done through Him, and had also witnessed His resurrection and ascension up far above all heavens. It was they who were given the ability to speak in the tongues of those present, that they may hear and believe the testimony that they had to give concerning the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, Whom they had been with from the beginning, which they had heard, which they had seen with their own eyes, looked upon and handled, of the Word of life (
1 John 1:1-3). Tongue speaking was therefore a practical necessity.
* It would be about ten years later that God would give Peter instruction to go to Cornelius and his household (Gentiles) with the word of life, but here at Pentecost the intended hearers were exclusively of the children of Israel.
'That which was from the beginning,
.. which we have heard,
.... which we have seen with our eyes,
...... which we have looked upon,
........ and our hands have handled,
.......... of the Word of life;
(For the life was manifested,
and we have seen it, and bear witness,
and shew unto you that eternal life,
which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us )
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you,
that ye also may have fellowship with us:
and truly our fellowship is with the Father,
and with his Son Jesus Christ.'
(1John 1:1-3)
Praise God!
I realise that I am only confirming what you know already, but it is good to do.
In Christ Jesus
Chris
Hi C, and thanks for the reply. if you would note at Pentecost.... Acts 2:6 "Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language." Acts 2:7 "And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?" Acts 2:8 "And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" Acts 2:9 "Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia," Acts 2:10 "Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome,
Jews and proselytes," Acts 2:11 "Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." Acts 2:12 "And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?" Acts 2:13 "Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine." Acts 2:14 "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:" Acts 2:15 "For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day." Acts 2:16 "
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;" Acts 2:17 "
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:"
(STOP, TIMOTHY was a GREEK, for his father was Greek, but his Mother Jewish). and many who came was not all JEWS, THIS WAS THE GOOD NEWS). Acts 2:18 "And on
my servants and on
my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:" Acts 2:19 "And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:" Acts 2:20 "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:" Acts 2:21
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 2:22 "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:"
let's keep on reading, Acts 2:41 "
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." Acts 2:42 "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Acts 2:43 "And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles." Acts 2:44 "
And all that believed were together, and had all things common;" Acts 2:45 "And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need." Acts 2:46 "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart," Acts 2:47 "Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
now many was added to the church... right... chapter 6. Acts 6:1 "And
in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied,
there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration." (Where did these Grecians came from?), Acts 6:2 "Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables." Acts 6:3 "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business." Acts 6:4 "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word."
and these Gentiles that was appointed were FULL of the HOLY SPIRIT, just as the apostle Peter stated. Just as the Ethiopia, the eunuch who by the Mosaic Law was prohibit from worship. and he did not know of ..*Isaiah 56:3, see below. Acts 8:26 "And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert." Acts 8:27 "And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,"
*Isaiah 56:3 "Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the LORD, speak, saying, The LORD hath utterly separated me from his people:
neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree."
101G
