1 - When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the roaring of a mighty windstorm came from heaven and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them the ability. 5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation staying in Jerusalem. 6 And when they heard this noise, a crowd gathered. But they were surprised, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language . 7 And they were astonished, saying, “Don't all these who are speaking come from Galilee?” 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” 14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and people of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel, 17 ‘In the last days [hémera - day, (but includes) - a Hebraistic usage, though not entirely unknown to Greek writers, used of time in general - 🤔so also? last ages? Accelerating at the end of the ages?] God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Yes, even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the skies above. And there will be signs on the earth beneath, blood and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood (smoky reflecting of mankind’s final fiery bottles?) before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And it shall - come to pass - that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
[Jn.12:32 - Jesus “will draw all”. Jn.7:37]
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Very Brief Outline of Acts:
Jesus returns to where he was with the Father before his advent/visit (his brief first one).
The Holy Spirit/Presence of God is poured out on the believers who were in Jerusalem on the late Spring holy day of Pentecost. Peter speaks, there are 3000 new believers that day.
The good news message spreads, Peter is invited and goes to a Roman’s house and all believe. The first record of non Hebrew believers (besides likely some on Pentecost).
Persecution breaks out.. jail. stoning. Pharisee Saul leads the persecution, but on his way to Damascus with papers for arrests, Jesus makes himself seen but is so bright Paul falls to the ground and is blinded. After two days he is healed and is a believer, and soon is called Paul. He wrote many (to most) of the New Testament letters, but spent a few years (it seems to me) exclusively listening to the Lord. He established many ‘churches’ in what’s called three missionary journeys, and met and worked with Mark and Luke, and quite a few others. (Luke wrote this Book of Acts.) His fourth journey is to Rome to trial as a prisoner. There’s a shipwreck on the way.. He wrote many of his letters while in prison and under ‘house’ arrest.
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