{"id":11724,"date":"2024-01-02T07:04:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-02T06:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.versebyversebible.cz\/?p=11724"},"modified":"2025-12-04T09:03:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T08:03:09","slug":"skutky-kapitola-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/versebyversebible.hiseo.cz\/en\/skutky\/skutky-kapitola-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Acts \u2013 Chapter 2"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>i.e.: was being fulfilled (This may refer to the completion of the seven preceding weeks.);<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Pentecost;&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fifty days have passed since Christ\u2019s resurrection, and ten days since his Ascension. A brief summary of the timeline: \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pentecost (Shavuot) was celebrated fifty days after Easter (Passover).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They counted 7\u00d77 days = 49, and <em>the fiftieth day<\/em> It was the day of Pentecost.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acts 1:3 Jesus <em>\u201cHe appeared to them for forty days and spoke to them about the Kingdom of God\u201d.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The disciples then waited in Jerusalem, as the Lord had commanded them (Acts 1:4\u20135), and ten days later, that is, on the fiftieth day, the Holy Spirit came.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It would be interesting to know whether the disciples had pinned their hopes on Pentecost. They knew they were to wait, but they had not been told for how long. They had now been waiting for ten days since Jesus\u2019 departure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What did they get up to whilst they were waiting? I reckon they were still on a high. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How long does great joy last? How long does the joy of newlyweds last, or the joy of parents following the birth of a child? How long does the joy of being released from prison, of being healed, or of having one\u2019s life saved last?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certainly not forever \u2013 after just a few days or weeks, the realities of everyday life will start to catch up with you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whenever the disciples remembered that they had indeed been with the risen Christ, they must have been filled with bliss.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>But they had to do something to pass the ten days; they had to prepare food, they had to sleep, and they must have talked about something. They couldn\u2019t have been in a constant \u2018binge\u2019.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Were they determined to wait until something happened? Would they have been able to wait forty days and nights, as the Israelites (did not) do at Mount Sinai?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They certainly stuck together. Shared experiences bring people closer, and particularly intense, extreme experiences do so even more. Friendships forged in war (or simply military service) last a lifetime.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There was certainly plenty to talk about \u2013 time and again they discussed their shared experiences with Jesus, pondering every one of His words. Many things were only just dawning on them, coming together to form a meaningful narrative. After all, there were so many things they hadn\u2019t understood; so many things that only made sense in hindsight, seen through the prism of Christ\u2019s death and resurrection. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No doubt they also read the Scriptures together, and little by little the fulfilled Messianic prophecies became clear to them. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2 Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, like a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>n.: became;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>n.: breath;<\/em> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It came suddenly and without warning: one moment they were sitting there and nothing was happening \u2013 and the next, there was noise everywhere.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We can probably picture it as the sound of a fighter jet or a tornado \u2013 but without the accompanying movement of air.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is interesting that the Holy Spirit manifested Himself acoustically as a whirlwind. This is consistent with both His nature and His name \u2013 in Hebrew (ruach) and in Greek (pneuma)<sup data-fn=\"da72eb00-a6ff-4483-a408-5b9fb7cf7df5\" class=\"fn\"><a href=\"#da72eb00-a6ff-4483-a408-5b9fb7cf7df5\" id=\"da72eb00-a6ff-4483-a408-5b9fb7cf7df5-link\">1<\/a><\/sup> The name of the Holy Spirit is distinctly onomatopoeic, evoking the sound of moving air. It means \u2018spirit\u2019, \u2018wind\u2019 and also \u2018breath\u2019.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>So now the Spirit comes to the sound of the wind, being \u2018true to its name\u2019. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3 And tongues appeared to them, as if&nbsp;<em>it<\/em>&nbsp;fires that had split apart, and he settled on each of them&nbsp;<em>a man<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The descent of the Holy Spirit from heaven was also (as well as by wind) accompanied by fire. Why fire? What does a Person of the Holy Trinity have in common with fire? <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fire <\/strong>As we know it, it is a visible sign of an ongoing chemical reaction \u2013 oxidation. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Oxidation refers to the loss of electrons by a burning substance to oxygen (which is reduced). This results in the formation of carbon dioxide or, in some cases, ash. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It\u2019s perhaps a rather over-elaborate symbolic representation: one substance sacrifices itself so that another may be gained, accompanied by the birth of light, whilst ashes remain. \ud83d\ude0a <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fire runs through the Bible like a common thread. The number of occurrences of the words \u2018fire\u2019 and \u2018to set alight\u2019 exceeds the scope of even a dedicated biblical study \u2013 there are several hundred occurrences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Here\u2019s just a brief, random overview: \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Lord appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush (which, however, did not burn up)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Lord went before the Israelites in the form of a pillar of fire<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Lord descended upon Mount Sinai in fire; to the Israelites, the Lord\u2019s glory on Mount Sinai appeared as a consuming fire.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>God\u2019s fire melts, tests for authenticity and purifies (like a smith\u2019s fire, or charcoal touching the lips)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Lord rained down brimstone and fire from heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He also burnt Nadab and Abihu.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Lord your God is a consuming fire, a God of jealous love.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 Thessalonians 1:7\u20138 <em>The Lord Jesus will appear from heaven with his mighty angels in a blaze of fire.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Luke 12:49 <em>I have come to bring fire upon the earth, and how I wish it would blaze up already!<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Let us reflect once more on why the Holy Spirit (a member of the Holy Trinity) wishes to present himself as <strong>wind <\/strong>and as <strong>fire<\/strong>. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Because the Holy Spirit is neither fire nor wind \u2013 the fact that He reveals Himself to us in this way is entirely deliberate \u2013 He wishes to reveal Himself to us in this manner. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The wind itself is invisible \u2013 we recognise its presence by its effects (John 3:8).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The wind is the breath of God \u2014 the breath that gives life to Adam.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Jesus \u2018breathed\u2019 on his disciples (John 20:22) <em>\u201cReceive the Holy Spirit\u201d<\/em>), thereby repeating the Creator\u2019s life-giving gesture. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Perhaps one could say that the wind or the breath point to God\u2019s <strong>activity <\/strong>towards people and on <strong>relationship-oriented <\/strong>towards people.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Holy Spirit is neither inactive (still air, a lull) nor indifferent towards people (lacking interest, lacking interaction). <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fire <\/strong>produces  <strong>light, heat and transformation<\/strong>, if applicable <strong>ruin<\/strong>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For the sake of completeness, let us note here that the Holy Spirit is also symbolised in the Bible by <strong>with water <\/strong>(rain), <strong>oil<\/strong> . <strong>dove<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Water <strong>restores, purifies, revitalises and refreshes<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Oil <strong>nourishes, heals, protects and adds shine<\/strong>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A dove is flying in (or flying away), it is<strong> clean, shy, unobtrusive, likeable. <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The fire in this case was certainly not hot, let alone scorching. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It looked as though the fire had filled the room in the form of a single, continuous cloud, from which branches extended towards each of those present. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It\u2019s like something out of a sci-fi film \u2013 there\u2019s a cloud of fire in the room, from which pseudopods (little tentacles) detach and seek out a place on the heads of those present. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If aliens were to do something like that to the crew of a spaceship, people would surely be running about the room, screaming in terror and waving their arms about. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This is, in fact, a fundamental encroachment on human autonomy: a person is \u2018taken over\u2019 by an external force, an \u2018intruder\u2019. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We can see that not all \u2018casting\u2019 is the same. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We certainly have a duty to protect our autonomy \u2013 not to let \u2018just anything\u2019 that comes our way (especially dark, demonic forces) get in. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Opening oneself to the Holy Spirit is different. Why?\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Holy Spirit never imposes Himself; He never visits anyone uninvited, let alone by force.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Although it may seem here that the Holy Spirit comes upon people against their will, this is not the case: for all those present had gathered <strong>that is precisely why<\/strong>, that they were waiting for the Holy Spirit, that they wanted to receive Him. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They acted in accordance with Jesus\u2019 instructions \u2013 Jesus had told them that they would receive the Spirit, and where and how they were to wait for it. He even told them this twice, on both occasions just before he left:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Acts 1:4\u20135<em> And whilst he was eating with them, he instructed them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father\u2019s promise \u2014 \u2018which you have heard from me,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.obohu.cz\/bible\/index.php?styl=CSP&amp;k=Sk&amp;kap=1&amp;v=5#v5\"><strong>5<\/strong><\/a>\u2018For John baptised with water, but in a few days\u2019 time you will be baptised in the Holy Spirit.\u2019&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Luke 24:49 <em>\u2018And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but you must remain in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.\u2019&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the disciples had not wanted to be clothed with power from on high, they would not have gathered anywhere; they would simply have gone their separate ways \u2013 and nothing out of the ordinary would have happened to them. (It is quite possible that some of them did just that<sup data-fn=\"6e785e68-5bff-4e83-b763-32b37ebd431d\" class=\"fn\"><a href=\"#6e785e68-5bff-4e83-b763-32b37ebd431d\" id=\"6e785e68-5bff-4e83-b763-32b37ebd431d-link\">2<\/a><\/sup>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>God is the only being in the universe to whom we can truly open ourselves completely and without fear. Only God can we allow to \u2018operate without anaesthetic\u2019 within our innermost being. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To put it another way: at Pentecost in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit comes to a well-prepared environment \u2013 everyone present had already given Jesus their \u2018informed consent\u2019 in advance, <strong>that they agree to receive the Holy Spirit; or, to be more precise, that they desire to do so. <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Of those present, the following were filled with <strong>everyone<\/strong>. That is interesting and exciting \u2013 when we consider what a diverse group of people they were, when we consider that the only thing uniting everyone present was their relationship with Jesus, when we consider that none of them were anywhere near perfect (they were ordinary people, no better than us). Yet the Holy Spirit sought out each person present individually, connected with them through tongues of fire, and <strong>filled <\/strong>him.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Word <strong>to fill<\/strong> It is an interesting topic in relation to the Holy Spirit. Even from a Greek linguistic perspective, it is a rather complex issue, as there are two Greek words that express the concept of \u2018fulfilment\u2019:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I. <strong>\u03c0\u03bb\u03ae\u03b8\u03c9&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong>[<strong>pl\u00e9th\u00f3<\/strong>] fill in, 27 occurrences\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>is often used by Luke (in the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>e.g. about John the Baptist \u201c<em>\u2018Even whilst still in his mother\u2019s womb, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.\u2019<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>about Elizabeth, in response to Mary\u2019s greeting, before she spoke the prophecy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>about Zechariah \u201c<em>\u2018And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied.\u2019<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>here in Acts 2:4 <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>about Peter in Acts 4:8, before he spoke before the Sanhedrin<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acts 4:31 <em>\u201cAnd they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acts 9:17 Ananias said to Saul: <em>\u201c\u2026so that you may be healed and filled with the Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acts 13:0 <em>\u201cSaul, also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked at him\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>II. <strong>\u03c0\u03bb\u03ae\u03c1\u03b7\u03c2, \u03b5\u03c2  [pl\u00e9r\u00e9s]<\/strong> also indeclinable: adjective, full (of what), filled (with what); 16 occurrences <strong>\u03c0\u03bb\u03b7\u03c1\u03cc\u03c9  [pl\u00e9ro\u00f3]<\/strong> verb, 1. to fulfil, to carry out, to complete (of something \/ for someone, and \u2018something\u2019 as the object); to supplement; to bring to completion, to finish \u00a6\u00a6 \u1f61\u03c2 \u03b4\u1f72 \u1f10\u03c0\u03bb\u03ae\u03c1\u03bf\u03c5 \u1f38\u03c9\u03ac\u03bd\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f78\u03bd \u03b4\u03c1\u03cc\u03bc\u03bf\u03bd (*Acts 13:25) when John had completed his mission 2. (pass.) to be filled; to be fulfilled (also fig.), to come to pass; (of time, also) to elapse; to reach the full number \u00a6\u00a6 \u1f10\u03c0\u03bb\u03b7\u03c1\u03ce\u03b8\u03b7 \u1f21 \u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u03ae the Scripture was fulfilled; 86 occurrences\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Apart from the Acts, Paul often uses the term in his epistles <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acts 6:3, the election of deacons: \u201c<em>\u2018seven men\u2026 filled with the Holy Spirit\u2019<\/em>, 6,5 <em>\u201cStephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acts 7:55 <em>\u201cStephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acts 11:24 Barnabas: \u201c<em>\u2018He was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.\u2019<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eph 3:19 <em>\u201c\u2026so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God\u201d <\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eph 5:18 <em>\u201c\u2026but be filled with the Spirit\u201d <\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Colossians 1:9 \u2018.<em>..so that we may be filled with the knowledge of his will\u201d<\/em> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Phil 1:11 <em>\u201c\u2026filled with the fruit of righteousness\u201d <\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We can therefore see that both Greek verbs refer to fulfilment in the sense of <strong>the physical filling of the container<\/strong> \u2013 and the process of being filled with the Spirit is much the same: a person is empty, God fills them, and then they are no longer empty; there is something (or rather, someone) within them. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It may be repeated and may precede some form of spiritual expression, an act of courage or service.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2018Pler\u014d\u2019 is always used in the passive form \u2018to be filled\u2019 = the agent is therefore the Spirit, not us (it is not we who fill ourselves, but God who fills us).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pler\u00f3o is more enduring; it is not a one-off experience and can be more active (we are meant to fulfil ourselves, or at least to strive to do so).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pler\u00f3o and pl\u00e9th\u00f3 need not refer solely to the Holy Spirit, but <strong>both <\/strong>Verbs also occur in other literal and figurative meanings: to fill a boat or a net with fish, to soak a sponge in vinegar, the days of childbirth were fulfilled, everything that was written was fulfilled, the house was filled with fragrance, fulfil the will of the fathers, sorrow filled the heart.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The verb *gemiz\u014d* is used to describe the filling of the jars with water at Cana; this is said to be practically synonymous with *pler\u00f3o*. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is not only the Holy Spirit who fills the human heart \u2013 on the contrary, Satan filled the hearts of both Ananias and Elimas. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In the case of Judas, the verb \u2018entered into him\u2019 is used in reference to Satan. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Old Testament also occasionally refers to being filled with the Holy Spirit in various ways:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>on Joseph, Gen. 41:38: <em>\u2018Is there a man in whom the Spirit of God dwells?\u2019<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exodus 31:3 and 35:31 concerning Bezalel<em>  \u201cand filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, understanding and knowledge for every kind of work\u201d<\/em>&#8222;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>About Joshua, Numbers 27:18 <em>\u201cThe Lord said to Moses: \u2018Take Joshua, the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand upon him. Set him before Eleazar the priest and before the whole congregation, and commission him in their sight\u2019.\u201d&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 Samuel 10:6 concerning Saul <em>\u201cThe Spirit of the Lord will come upon you; you will prophesy with them, and you will be transformed into a different man.\u201d<\/em> 11,6 <em> \u201cWhen Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God came upon him and he was filled with rage.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Judges 6:34 concerning the judges Gideon, Jephthah (Judges 11:29), Samson (Judges 14:6; 15:14) and Gideon <em>\u201cAnd the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon\u201d<\/em> \u2013  h. <strong>put on <\/strong>(a lovely term).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nu 11:25 \u201c<em>The Lord came down in a cloud, spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was upon him and bestowed it upon seventy men from among the elders. And it came to pass that when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, but did so no more.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>About David 1 Sam. 16:13 \u201c<em>Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. From that day on, the Spirit of the Lord continued to rest upon David.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It would therefore seem that, in the Old Testament, being filled with the Holy Spirit does occur, but it is:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a gift reserved for a select few<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>namely, people with important roles (government, prophecy, leading in battle, craftsmanship)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>it may be temporary or short-term <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Other languages<\/strong> \u2013 this is the first mention of anything of the sort. Speaking in tongues is not explicitly mentioned in the Old Testament. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Glossolalia may be concealed within certain forms <strong>prophecy or other ecstatic manifestations, <\/strong>e.g. in the case of Saul and the prophets, or the seventy elders (including the two who remained in the camp). <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He is probably talking about languages <strong>Joel <\/strong>when he promises that<em> \u2018God will pour out his Spirit on all flesh\u2026 they will prophesy, have dreams and visions\u2026\u2019<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pentecost is sometimes regarded as a sort of <strong>\u201canti-Babel\u201d<\/strong>:  The confusion of tongues was God\u2019s response to human pride; mutual understanding is God\u2019s response to faith. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To conclude \u2013 there is no doubt as to who is<strong> donor <\/strong>this unusual aspect \u2013 it is <strong>The Spirit who enables believers to speak.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5 In Jerusalem there were Jews, devout men from all the nations which&nbsp;<em>are<\/em>&nbsp;under the open sky<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Anyone who sets out on a pilgrimage is devout; they must be \u2013 after all, setting out on a journey to Jerusalem requires considerable organisational effort and financial sacrifice. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The influx of Jews from the diaspora was considerable and diverse \u2013 indeed, as we shall see later, there were Parthians, Medes and Elamites, Mesopotamians, Judeans, Cappadocians, Pontians, inhabitants of Asia Minor, Phrygians, Pamphylians,\u00a0Egypt, Libyans, Cyrenians and Romans. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For none of them, however, was this a matter of a few days in the sense of: \u2018I\u2019ll pop over to Jerusalem for a week\u2019 \u2013 after all, from the Parthian and Median Empires, and from Elam, it was around 1,500 km to Jerusalem; from Mesopotamia, Cappadocia, Pontus, Phrygia and Pamphylia it was around a thousand km, and from Egypt around five hundred. The Libyans from Africa apparently had the longest journey (up to two thousand km). <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>That must certainly have involved travelling for several months and costs running into hundreds of thousands in today\u2019s terms, not to mention the dangers and hardships of the journey. <\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I assume that these pilgrims could not set out on the journey every year \u2013 that was an obligation reserved for the Israelites. Nevertheless, there were thousands, even tens of thousands, of pilgrims. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Such an approach is unimaginable to us today \u2013 after all, it\u2019s sometimes a struggle for us just to get from Ostrava to Prague, let alone find accommodation in Prague. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Even missionary trips tend to be short these days \u2013 for example, I have never spent more than a month in Africa. Yet travelling is now incomparably faster, safer and more comfortable. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Setting out on such a journey requires truly strong motivation: it is of great importance to God that I visit Him in Jerusalem and worship Him. My salvation, and so on, depends on whether I worship the Lord. And thousands of Diaspora Jews and proselytes found this motivation within themselves. <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>6 And when that sound was heard, a great many people gathered<em> people<\/em>&nbsp;and they were confused, because each of them had heard him speak&nbsp; <em>6 Its rising<\/em>&nbsp;in their own words.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The sound of the gale was so loud, then, that it could be heard far and wide even outside the house \u2013 presumably throughout the whole town.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This was not a private affair involving the 120 worshippers who had gathered, but an event affecting the whole town. The noise attracted pilgrims and local residents in their thousands to the scene. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What had they witnessed? The 120 people present left the house and were now speaking to the crowd gathered outside. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How should one picture their glossolalia? \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Were the believers, filled with the Spirit, speaking more or less in a trance, whilst the pilgrims present watched them with interest, walking amongst them and gradually finding (more or less by chance) those who spoke their language?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Or were the filled Christians aware of the power they had just received, and were they moving through the crowd to see who would \u2018take the bait\u2019 at the words coming from their mouths?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Or did people spontaneously form groups based on nationality (which would be logical \u2013 people at pilgrimages would surely have naturally  stuck together according to their countries of origin) \u2013 having been baptised in the Spirit, did they join these groups, receive an ad hoc language for the group present, and preach to them?  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Naturally (given the way incomprehensible glossolalia in angelic tongues appears today), we tend to imagine the gift of tongues at Pentecost as a kind of trance \u2013 but that is not the only possibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Pentecost experience was extraordinary \u2013 the Church was born on that day. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>There is no account in the Bible of glossolalia ever recurring in an intelligible form \u2013 in his epistles, Paul always refers only to unintelligible glossolalia. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nowadays, unintelligible glossolalia is by far the norm \u2013 reports of speaking in an intelligible language are rare and isolated cases<sup data-fn=\"5dbdb596-af0b-4636-9b8e-1411cd10ecc6\" class=\"fn\"><a href=\"#5dbdb596-af0b-4636-9b8e-1411cd10ecc6\" id=\"5dbdb596-af0b-4636-9b8e-1411cd10ecc6-link\">3<\/a><\/sup>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>That there were people <strong>confused<\/strong>, it\u2019s hardly surprising \u2013 what am I supposed to think when I hear Czech spoken in a faraway foreign country? And not from a Czech, nor from someone who\u2019s been learning Czech, but from a local who\u2019s never even heard of the Czech Republic in his life?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>7 Everyone<sup>]<\/sup>&nbsp;They were amazed and said in wonder, \u2018Look, aren\u2019t these all those who\u2026\u2019&nbsp;<em>here<\/em>&nbsp;Do the Galileans speak?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Confusion, amazement and wonder<\/strong> \u2013 understandable reactions to the situation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was obvious at first glance that the disciples were \u2018country bumpkins\u2019. How did those present identify them?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Not based on the accent of Hebrew or Aramaic this time, so presumably based on their clothing. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>8 How come,&nbsp;<em>all<\/em>&nbsp;Does each of us hear our own language, the one we were born speaking? 9 The Parthians, Medes and Elamites, the inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya near Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cyrene \u2013 <em>the area around present-day Tripoli;&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>In the NS, \u2018Asia\u2019 refers to the western coast of the province of Asia Minor;&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fifteen countries (with two more mentioned in the following verse) of origin of visitors and pilgrims to Jerusalem are listed. As we have already noted, this is a truly diverse selection of countries, most of which are quite distant.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fifteen is more than twelve \u2013 so it was not only the twelve apostles who spoke to the pilgrims in different languages, but also some of the other disciples who were present.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We do not know exactly how many people were filled with the Spirit \u2013 when a new apostle was chosen shortly after the Ascension, there were one hundred and twenty disciples gathered together \u2013 so we might perhaps estimate that a similar number spoke in tongues. .  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In Jerusalem, on Pentecost, it must have looked like \u2018London at the airport\u2019 \u2013 a mix of people of different races, wearing the most varied clothing and observing the most diverse customs. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Egyptians certainly look different, as do the Romans, and the Libyans (black people) look different again. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What united them all, however, was their reverence for the Lord \u2013 it was this that brought them to Jerusalem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>11 Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs:&nbsp;<em>everyone<\/em>&nbsp;we hear them speaking in our own languages about great things<sup> <\/sup>\u2018Divine.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>that is, the pagans who joined Israel through circumcision;&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Among the pilgrims were Jews from the diaspora, but also indigenous pagans who had converted to Judaism or joined the Jewish faith. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>12 Everyone&nbsp;<em>of which<\/em>&nbsp;They were amazed and bewildered, and said to one another, \u2018What does this mean?\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Confusion, amazement and wonder<\/strong> had already been mentioned \u2013 Luke had already run out of verbs to describe the travellers\u2019 state of mind: surprise, shock, confusion, the lack of a plausible explanation. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>13 But others mocked them, saying, \u2018They\u2019re drunk.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>e.g.: They are full of new wine;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Those present sought an explanation at any cost \u2013 the general drunkenness did not explain the event, but at least provided some explanation that was natural and fitted within the framework of their experience. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Could mass poisoning from some sort of psychedelic mushrooms perhaps induce a similar state?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It can nevertheless be concluded that the state in which the disciples speaking in tongues found themselves was, at least to some extent, ecstatic \u2013 in that it resembled drunkenness in some respects to those present. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>14 Peter stood up&nbsp;<em>together<\/em>&nbsp;With the eleven, he raised his voice and spoke directly to them: \u2018Men of Judah and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you; listen carefully to my words.\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Greek: apofthengesthai, spoken directly in the New Testament on 3 occasions: Acts 2:4; 2:14; 26:25 \u2018to speak (clearly) \/ to proclaim (emphatically)\u2019 \u2013 the word here denotes: to speak prophetically \/ by the Spirit;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Let us imagine the following situation: Thousands of pilgrims have gathered at the site. The disciples are speaking to them, each in a different language. Groups of people who speak related languages are beginning to form, but there is still considerable confusion \u2013 people are arguing excitedly amongst themselves. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At this moment, Peter is trying to get everyone\u2019s attention \u2013 he is trying to shout above the general din. Gradually, the disciples speaking in tongues and the pilgrims fall silent. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We can see that even at the first outpouring of the Spirit, it was the case that <strong>People have control over their spiritual gifts<\/strong> (1 Cor 14:32: \u201c<em>The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.<\/em>)<strong> \"<\/strong>: However intense the experience of being filled with the Spirit may have been, however much tongues of fire may have rested upon each of the disciples, when the time came to be silent, the disciples simply fell silent. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Everyone is hanging on Peter\u2019s every word \u2013 eagerly waiting to find out what\u2019s going on. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>15 These&nbsp;<em>People<\/em>&nbsp;They aren\u2019t drunk, as you think. After all, they\u2019re&nbsp;<sup>(<\/sup>nine o\u2019clock in the morning<sup>)<\/sup>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>i.e.: the third hour of the day;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We first learn that all this is taking place <strong>in the morning <\/strong>\u2013 if it is currently roughly <strong>nine<\/strong>, the roar of the approaching Spirit must have been heard by eight at the latest, though more likely at seven or even earlier (people needed time to gather from all corners of the town; they had to observe the situation for a while, listen, and so on).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>So either the disciples were early risers, or rather, they had all spent the night there. It is quite likely that, after the night, they gathered for morning prayer, perhaps at six or seven o\u2019clock in the morning. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In Jerusalem, dawn breaks before six o\u2019clock in the morning in May and June. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peter first responds to the most common explanation of the events that is circulating amongst those present \u2013 namely, that the disciples were all drunk. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This explanation is, of course, flawed \u2013 a group of drunken ramblers wouldn\u2019t have attracted thousands of people from all over the city (it was the roar that drew them in). <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Although the disciples may have shown some signs of an ecstatic state that might resemble drunkenness (they may have had uncoordinated movements), they remained on their feet and spoke clearly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, Petr felt the need to refute this rumour. He points to the early hour, arguing: \u2018No one could possibly have got completely \u201cdrunk\u201d this early in the morning.\u2019 \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To put it light-heartedly: Petr\u2019s argument wouldn\u2019t have gone down well in Ostrava \u2013 it\u2019s not uncommon to see groups of drunk people wandering around the city in the early hours after a night of partying.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>16 But this is what is said through the prophet&nbsp;<sup>[<\/sup>Joel<sup>]<\/sup>: 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,&nbsp;<em>all<\/em><sup> <\/sup>I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 18 Even upon my servants and my handmaids&nbsp;<sup>[<\/sup>in those days<sup>] <\/sup>I will pour out of my Spirit,&nbsp;<sup>[<\/sup>and they will prophesy<sup>]<\/sup>. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>vision: Greek: horasis; cf. the more common term: horama<\/em>.  Horasis was mentioned by Cornelius in Acts 10:3 and by John in Revelation 9:17.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Joel 3 says the following:<em> Then it shall come to pass that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even upon the male and female servants I will pour out my Spirit in those days.\u00a0I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth: blood, fire and columns of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the great and dreadful Day of the Lord comes.\u00a0And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved, for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be a place of refuge, as the Lord has said, amongst the survivors whom the Lord calls.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peter quotes Joel very accurately (no doubt from memory); the differences from the original text are insignificant:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Peter: \u2018in the last days\u2019 vs. Joel: \u2018then it shall come to pass\u2019 <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the order of the young and the elderly: Joel lists the elderly first, followed by the young; Peter lists the young first, followed by the elderly. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Petr labels the phenomena on the ground with the names of the signs. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2018turns\u2019 (the Sun into darkness) \u2192 \u2018changes\u2019 \u2013 it\u2019s the same thing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2018The Lord\u2019s\u2019 \u2192 \u2018the Lord\u2019s\u2019 is the same thing. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We have before us one of the Old Testament prophecies, the place and time of whose fulfilment we know precisely.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peter does not hesitate to identify Joel\u2019s prophecy with what is happening at that very moment. This is certainly an inspired and therefore true interpretation, but it is not as straightforward as it might seem at first glance: Joel says nothing about tongues; on the contrary, he speaks of a whole range of other phenomena which were not taking place in Jerusalem at that time (there were no dreams, visions, wonders or signs in the heavens or on earth). <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>For Petr, the key part of the entire passage quoted was the beginning of Joel\u2019s words about the outpouring of God\u2019s Spirit upon every flesh<\/strong><em>.<\/em>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>And this applied to everyone, regardless of status or background, including slaves \u2013 there may well have been some slaves amongst the disciples. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nevertheless, he quotes the prophet\u2019s entire third chapter \u2013 perhaps to capture the attention of those present and demonstrate his knowledge of Scripture \u2013 for they were all devout Jews and proselytes who certainly knew their Scriptures well and took them very much to heart. Their willingness to listen to someone well-versed in the Scriptures was surely greater than if some ignorant person had been speaking to them.) <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It could have come from Petr and some sort of \u2018identification\u2019 procedure upon entry: <strong>Look \u2013 you are being addressed by someone who is able to quote long passages from our Holy Texts from memory. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It may be, however, that Peter quoted the whole passage in order to emphasise that the outpouring of the Spirit is <strong>an eschatological event,  <\/strong>that it\u2019s <strong>as a sign that these are the last days. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peter draws a clear parallel between current events and Joel\u2019s prophecy: \u201c<strong>He says: \u2018This is what is spoken through Joel\u2019 \u2013 <\/strong>it is a question of <strong><strong>the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon every person<\/strong> (including male and female slaves).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Joel also speaks of the prophecies of children, the visions of young men and the dreams of the elderly<\/strong> \u2013 Was that what happened at Pentecost in Jerusalem as well? <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Probably yes, even though Luke does not explicitly mention this in the Acts of the Apostles \u2013 the outpouring of the Spirit evidently affected the whole city.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In other words: a revival came over Jerusalem. \u2013 How else can one explain that, shortly afterwards (following Peter\u2019s rather ordinary sermon), three thousand of those present were suddenly converted? A mere encounter with people speaking in tongues was certainly not enough to bring this about. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>19 And I will perform wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below,&nbsp;<sup>[<\/sup>blood and fire and columns of smoke<sup>]<\/sup>.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>row: steam (column: columns);<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the great and glorious Day of the Lord comes.<\/strong> <strong>21 I&nbsp;<sup>(<\/sup>it will happen,<sup>) <\/sup><em>all<\/em>&nbsp;\u2018Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.\u2019\u201c<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>e.g.: obvious;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We know of no such heavenly signs having taken place at Pentecost in Jerusalem. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Joel is referring more specifically to the solar eclipse at Easter at the time of Christ\u2019s death \u2013 he thus includes the events of Easter amongst the eschatological events, to which they certainly belong \u2013 for Christ\u2019s death and resurrection undoubtedly marked the beginning of the final phase of human history.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>That the Lord\u2019s Day will be exceptionally <strong>great and glorious,<\/strong> There is no doubt about it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Joel and Petr are now following up with further information, <strong><em>all<\/em>&nbsp;Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Listeners therefore learn that<strong> they are facing some danger, but that there is a way to avoid it. <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It seems to have struck a chord in their hearts \u2013 the pilgrims in Jerusalem were devout; they \u2018knew\u2019 the Lord and \u2018felt a sense of guilt towards Him\u2019: they felt the need to make amends to the Lord through their pilgrimage and by offering sacrifices in the Temple. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They were \u2018soft-hearted\u2019 on the Feast of Pentecost; their \u2018spiritual ears\u2019 were open.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Now, moreover, they were terrified by the supernatural events they had witnessed. Their knees were probably shaking at that moment \u2013 they feared that the terrible noise they had heard would be followed by those present being wiped off the face of the earth, or something similar.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>22 \u2018Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God<sup> <\/sup>by mighty deeds, wonders and signs which God performed amongst you through him, as you yourselves know,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>e.g.: Nazarene;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peter changes the subject and directs the attention of his (shaken) listeners towards Jesus \u2013 He is the problem. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Those present were certainly aware that Jesus had performed many supernatural deeds. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There were apparently not many eyewitnesses to Jesus\u2019 miracles amongst the listeners, although there may well have been some among them who had been healed or supernaturally fed. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>But there is no doubt that every single one of them had heard of Jesus.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peter unequivocally (and boldly) declares that Jesus performed his deeds by the power of the Lord. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>23 of this&nbsp;<em>men<\/em>, issued in accordance with the prescribed procedure and prior notification<sup> <\/sup>You were crucified by the hands of the godless&nbsp;<em>on the cross<\/em>&nbsp;and removed it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>e.g.: lawless;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was clear to the listeners who had put Jesus to death \u2013 it was the Jewish authorities. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peter emphasises that this happened by God\u2019s permission \u2013 that it was part of God\u2019s plan (<strong>office<\/strong>) and that this was a decision God had made long ago (<strong>anticipation<\/strong>).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>So it was neither an accident nor a triumph of evil. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The perpetrators of Christ\u2019s death, however, were <strong>godless people <\/strong>\u2013 Roman soldiers. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>24 <em>But <\/em>God raised him from the dead, freeing him&nbsp;<em>.<\/em>&nbsp;the agony of death, for it was impossible to keep him from it.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>usually associated with labour pains;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>var.: the underworld (Hades);&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>But God did not allow evil to triumph \u2013 it was impossible for this to be the Messiah\u2019s definitive defeat. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>God saved Jesus from death and raised him from the dead. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>25 For David says of him: \u2018I have always seen the Lord before me, for he is at my right hand, so that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart has rejoiced and my tongue has exulted; moreover, my body shall dwell in hope, 27 for you will not abandon my soul to the grave, nor will you allow your Holy One to see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.\u2019\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Petr quotes the Old Testament again: this time four verses from Psalm 16: <em>8 I always set the Lord before me. With him at my right hand, I shall not fall. 9 Therefore my heart rejoices and my soul exults. Even my body shall dwell in safety, 10 for you will not abandon my soul to the grave; you will not let your faithful one see the pit. 11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures for evermore.<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once again, he quotes very accurately, even though Peter is said to be quoting from the Septuagint translation rather than the original Hebrew.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If we compare the KMS translations, we can see some minor differences:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201c<em>\"I saw the Lord always before me\" <\/em>vs. \u201c<em>I always keep the Lord before me<\/em>\u201c: There is a subtle distinction between \u2018seeing\u2019 and \u2018picturing in one\u2019s mind\u2019. Lord vs. Jehovah. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em> \u2018for He is at my right hand, so that I may not falter.<\/em>\u201c vs. <em>\u2018As long as I have my right hand, I won\u2019t fall.\u2019<\/em>\u201cTo falter or to fall \u2013 God, standing at one\u2019s right hand, prevents both.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201c<em>\u2018my heart leapt for joy\u2019<\/em> vs. \u201c<em>delights<\/em>\u201c: a difference in aspect.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&#8222;<em>\u2018the language burst into song\u2019 <\/em>vs. \u201c<em>\"Glory rejoices\"<\/em>: Fame is incomprehensible; language is more logical. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>\u2018The body lives in hope\u2019<\/em> vs. \u201c<em>safe<\/em>&#8222;: \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It\u2019s a matter of difference \u2013 perhaps it could be understood as follows: <strong>When Jesus was dying, His body was by no means safe, but there was hope of resurrection. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>God, on the other hand, protected David, and he lived his life in safety \u2013 he died of old age and did not perish in any battle.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This shift from \u2018security to hope\u2019 had already been made by the translators of the Septuagint, not by Peter himself. However, Peter, guided by the Spirit, made excellent use of it. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201c<em>\u2018you shall not leave a soul behind\u2019<\/em> vs. <em>\u201cshall not give over\u201d<\/em> (in the underworld): more or less the same<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>\u201cto his faithful one\u201d <\/em>vs. <em>\u201cto the saint\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201c<em>ruin<\/em>\u201c vs. <em>\"a pit<\/em>\u201c: \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Once again, following the Septuagint, Peter equates the pit (that is, the grave) with destruction, that is, complete decay. For whilst Jesus did experience the pit\/grave, he did not experience decay.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201c<em>You have shown me the paths of life<\/em>\u201c vs. \u201c<em>\"You show me the path of life\"<\/em>: essentially the same thing \u2013 God informs His people of the way of life that leads to eternal life with Him.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>\u201cYour presence is a source of great joy\u201d<\/em> vs. <em>\u2018You will fill me with joy in your presence.\u2019<\/em>: the meaning is the same \u2013 it is good with God. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Petr is giving it a miss <em>\u2018In your right hand is eternal bliss.<\/em>\"<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>29 \u2018Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is amongst us to this very day.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>i.e.: passed away;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>&nbsp;i.e.: up to the present day;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peter embarks on an inspired interpretation of David\u2019s prophecy. He approaches it logically and astutely. The soil (the hearts of those listening) is \u2018fertile\u2019 \u2013 they take the sacred texts seriously, and are currently moved by the Spirit and bear witness to God\u2019s workings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At this point, we might reflect on how Peter came up with his sermons, how he \u2018devised\u2019 them. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is reasonable to assume that they were not prepared for it: the outpouring of the Holy Spirit came more or less as a surprise \u2013 although the disciples knew that something was going to happen, and perhaps suspected it would be on Pentecost, they did not know the details. They could hardly have known that it would happen first thing in the morning. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Although, to a certain extent, their waiting might have been centred on the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. Perhaps that is why they were gathered together first thing in the morning. Perhaps they did not meet like that every morning. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And they certainly couldn\u2019t have known that, moments later, they would need to address a crowd of several thousand. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>So Petr spoke off the cuff, without any preparation. Something had to be done, and Petr took up the gauntlet. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As is often the case (as we know from throughout the Bible), his speech was a blend of his own thoughts and the supernatural inspiration of the Spirit. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He addresses those present as <strong>brothers<\/strong> \u2013 he overlooks women; either they were not present, or they were in a significant minority, or he omitted them when addressing people (which was nothing out of the ordinary at the time; in fact, it was the norm).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It\u2019s possible that there really weren\u2019t many women there \u2013 when I hear something strange and noisy going on outside and I rush out to see what\u2019s happening (or perhaps grab a gun), I wouldn\u2019t take a woman with me. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And it begins by drawing a parallel between Jesus and David \u2013 David, like all other people (apart from Enoch and Elijah), died without exception. In David\u2019s case, there is undeniable evidence of his death <strong>grave <\/strong>(which was apparently already the centre of a certain form of worship at that time).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li> Where is David\u2019s grave today?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>King David\u2019s traditional tomb, as a tourist and religious site, is situated on Mount Zion.  The building has a complex history, having served as a church, a mosque and eventually becoming an important Jewish place of worship. The Last Supper is said to have taken place on the first floor of the building.\u00a0It lies to the south-west of Jerusalem\u2019s Old City, just outside the walls, near the Armenian Quarter. However, this site did not come into existence until the Middle Ages, and most archaeologists reportedly do not recognise its historical authenticity. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Bible states (1 Kings 2:10; Nehemiah 3:16) that David was buried in the \u2018City of David\u2019, which is a south-eastern hill in Jerusalem below the Temple Mount, where the kings were buried. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>However, no clearly marked grave was found. Moreover, the entire area had been destroyed and rebuilt many times (following the Babylonian destruction, Hellenistic reconstructions, the Roman destruction, and later Muslim and Crusader settlements).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is not possible to carry out a thorough archaeological \u2018excavation\u2019 of the site \u2013 it is inhabited, has new developments, and is a politically sensitive location<sup data-fn=\"a9283411-6900-4256-8539-0162882b4d7d\" class=\"fn\"><a href=\"#a9283411-6900-4256-8539-0162882b4d7d\" id=\"a9283411-6900-4256-8539-0162882b4d7d-link\">4<\/a><\/sup>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is quite likely that the royal tombs were plundered \u2013 they were a lucrative target. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>So if Petr locates David\u2019s grave with such certainty, it is either because the grave still existed at that time, or (more likely) because a place of pilgrimage identified as David\u2019s grave and generally accepted as such already existed at that time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>30 He was&nbsp;<em>speech,<\/em>&nbsp;a prophet, and he knew that God had sworn to him that He would place him on His throne&nbsp;<sup>(<\/sup>a descendant of his loins<sup>)<\/sup>;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>i.e.: from the fruit of his loins; <\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peter now points out the obvious contradiction between David\u2019s words and reality: David claims that his <strong>The body will dwell in hope, for God will not leave its soul in the underworld, nor will He allow it to see destruction. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>David, however, died \u2013 and so he ended up in the underworld and in the pit \u2013 he obviously did not actually remain there, but he did end up there. And his body still lies in the pit, as anyone can see for themselves. And his soul is apparently still waiting in the underworld \/ Hades for the resurrection. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>So either David was \u2018talking rubbish\u2019 or there must be another explanation for what he said.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>31 He foresaw the future and spoke of Christ\u2019s resurrection,&nbsp;<em>when he said,<\/em>&nbsp;all&nbsp;<sup>[<\/sup>his soul<sup>]<\/sup>&nbsp;she was not left in the underworld, and his body did not see decay.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>e.g.: Hades;&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Because David spoke under inspiration, his words must be taken seriously \u2013 and Peter offers an explanation for this apparent contradiction: in the psalm, David was not speaking of himself, but of his descendant \u2013 and the descendant in whom all these things were fulfilled was none other than Jesus. He did indeed not remain in Hades, and His body did indeed not decay. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>32 It was this Jesus whom God raised from the dead&nbsp;<em>.<\/em>&nbsp;We are all witnesses to this.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>And this resurrection took place recently, and we were there to witness it for ourselves.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>33 When, then, he was exalted by the right hand of God&nbsp;<em>.<\/em>&nbsp;received from the Father&nbsp;<sup>(<\/sup>the promised Holy Spirit<sup>)<\/sup>, he poured out what you&nbsp;<em>now<\/em>&nbsp;you can see and hear.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>n.: on the right;&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>e.g.: the promise of the Holy Spirit (i.e. the subject or content of that promise);&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peter takes the events \u2018one step at a time\u2019 \u2013 after his resurrection, Jesus was exalted to the Father and from there poured out the Holy Spirit upon the earth. And that is what is happening now, and what all those present are witnessing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is a strange feeling to witness the intertwining of sacred prophetic texts with the reality of the present day. One cannot help but wonder: is it really possible that this millennia-old prophecy, which has puzzled thousands of scholars, is being fulfilled right here and right now, in my very presence?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>We may experience similar feelings when we ourselves are filled with the Spirit or when we witness something supernatural.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>34 For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says: \u2018The Lord said to my Lord: \u201cSit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies&nbsp;<em>a<\/em>&nbsp;\u2018the soles of your feet.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Peter continues his argument, this time quoting Psalm 110:1:<em> A psalm of David. The Lord said to my Lord: \u2018Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.\u2019&nbsp;<\/em>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He quotes it exactly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He elaborates on his argument \u2013 David is dead; we have his grave. So when David speaks of the resurrection or of eternal life, he cannot be speaking of himself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This is true of Psalm 16, just as it is of Psalm 110. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What does Psalm 110 actually say? \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>That David has some other lord besides the Lord. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Everyone realised that this man was the Messiah.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peter clarifies that this Lord \/ Messiah is, specifically, Jesus of Nazareth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If we identify Jesus with the \u2018Lord\u2019 of David, it follows logically that the Lord will one day call him to Himself. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He will seat Jesus the Messiah at his right hand and will work to ensure that he later \u2018hands over\u2019 dominion over the entire universe to Jesus. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>36 \u2018Let the whole house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>n: recognises;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>&nbsp;trans.: Christ<\/em>;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peter\u2019s line of reasoning has been logical so far and is now reaching its climax: K<strong>When we take into account the prophetic texts, the reality we have experienced recently, and what you are seeing right now, we cannot but conclude that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah of God.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meanwhile, Petr is taking a dig at the audience \u2013 he says that <strong>They were the ones who crucified Jesus. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He surely means, first and foremost: \u2018You, as Jews; you, as the Jewish people; or, perhaps, your authorities.\u2019 <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>He may, however, point out that a similar crowd chanted \u2018Crucify him\u2019 just under two months ago. Some of those present now might well have been among the crowd chanting against Jesus back then. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Which is, of course, a disaster \u2013 <strong>to be confronted with the fact that I recently \u2018lynched\u2019 an innocent person<\/strong>, is an endless disgrace and a disaster. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>37 When&nbsp;<em>speech,<\/em>&nbsp;they heard, they were&nbsp;<sup>(<\/sup>deeply affected<sup>)<\/sup>&nbsp;in the heart&nbsp;<em>.<\/em>&nbsp;They said to Peter and the other apostles, \u2018What shall we do, brothers?\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>e.g.: pierced;&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>[There are two ways to wield the tongue (= the sword) \u2013 to bring death, or to bring life, and indeed eternal life \u2026]&nbsp;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Of course they wouldn\u2019t be<strong> struck at the heart <\/strong>\u2013 To discover that the man whom I, or my nation, sent to his death was God\u2019s chosen one is a shock. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Did I really behave like that? Did I really wish death upon an innocent person? Am I really such a \u2018bastard\u2019? <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The shock of realising one\u2019s own sinfulness is one of the most harrowing realisations in life.<\/strong> When King David realised what he had done to Uriah through his affair with Bathsheba, he was overcome with shock \u2013 he lay on the ground, distraught, and refused to eat or drink. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>It is one of the worst experiences a person can have, but at the same time it is a life-saving and purifying experience. For without being confronted with the reality of our sinfulness, there is no hope for us. <\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Blessed are those who experience this shock whilst still alive and thus have the opportunity to respond. By contrast, the misery of those who will only face this confrontation with reality after death, when they stand before God\u2019s judgement, is endless. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Those present reacted in the very best possible way \u2013 they didn\u2019t break down, but <strong>They asked for advice: What should we do?&nbsp;<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Those present might have started making excuses or shifting the blame: \u2018We didn\u2019t mean to\u2019, \u2018We didn\u2019t know\u2019. But there\u2019s no helping people like that. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fortunately, God does not leave us to wallow in our guilt, but wants to help us out of it: \u2018Yes, what you did was truly awful, but I want to pull you out of this situation. I am offering a solution.\u2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It\u2019s lovely that those present refer to Peter and the other apostles as:<strong> \u2018Brothers\u2019<\/strong>. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In saying this, they are alluding to their shared origins: \u2018After all, you are Jews too.\u2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In this way, they express their trust in them, believing that they can receive help or good advice from them. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In fact, they are ingeniously \u2018winning the apostles over to their side\u2019. They could have been aloof and cautious towards the apostles, thinking: \u2018We have killed these men\u2019s master; they will probably want to take revenge on us; they certainly won\u2019t be inclined to make our situation any easier.\u2019<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>But those present said to the apostles: \u2018You are Jews, just like us \u2013 so tell us, how can we get out of this terrible situation?\u2019 <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This is a universally applicable and universally effective approach: When one member of a pack of dogs \u2018shows its belly to another\u2019, it is signalling: \u2018I am putting myself at your mercy, I do not wish to fight, we are part of the same pack\u2019 \u2013 the stronger individual will not only stop attacking, but will even begin to protect the weaker member. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jewish congregations do something similar. <strong>They pull the apostles \u2018into their boat\u2019 and ask for help and advice on how to save themselves. <\/strong>They emphasise that it is not the case that \u2018we are pitted against one another\u2019 \u2013 you, the disciples of Christ, and us, His murderers.  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As we shall see later, this was a wise approach \u2013 they did indeed receive help from the apostles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>38 Peter said to them&nbsp;<sup>[<\/sup>he said<sup>]<\/sup>: \u201cRepent, and let each of you be baptised in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>&nbsp;n.: k (Greek: eis);<\/em> \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The phrase \u2018towards\u2019 the forgiveness of sins is perhaps more accurate than \u2018for\u2019. \u2018For\u2019 implies that baptism is a sign of forgiveness, whereas \u2018towards\u2019 the forgiveness of sins better conveys <strong>purposefulness<\/strong> this act: I am being baptised, \u201c<strong>so that<\/strong>\u201cI was forgiven.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>n.: you will receive;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Petr doesn\u2019t stand on ceremony and shows them the way to safety. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peter neither excuses nor downplays their sin \u2013 they did indeed play a part in the unjust death of God\u2019s Son, and strictly speaking, they ought to be severely punished for it.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Similarly, Peter neither played down nor made excuses for his own failure when he denied Jesus.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Making excuses for or downplaying one\u2019s own sins is not the path to salvation.<\/strong> That one goes a different way. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The path to salvation is both easy and difficult at the same time: <strong>Repent and be baptised. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strictly speaking, it\u2019s almost insultingly simple \u2013 absolutely anyone can do it: admit that I\u2019ve done wrong, apologise to God, and seal it all with a brief dip in the water. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>That we\u2019re supposed to let ourselves <strong>to baptise in the name of Jesus the Messiah<\/strong> It is quite logical \u2013 it is all about Jesus; our salvation revolves around Jesus. So it is on Jesus that we also base our new covenant with God.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This process is salvific \u2013 repentance and baptism result in <strong>the forgiveness of our sins<\/strong>!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>But the \u2018benefits\u2019 of this process do not end there \u2013 in addition to the forgiveness of sins, the penitent and the newly baptised also receive supernatural gifts for life \u2013 <strong>the gifts of the Holy Spirit.<\/strong> One of the Persons of the Holy Trinity descends upon such a new Christian and takes up residence with him or within him.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>39 For this promise is for you and your children, and for all who&nbsp;<em>are<\/em>&nbsp;far away <em>.<\/em>&nbsp;\u2018whom the Lord our God shall call.\u2019&nbsp;<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>I can guarantee you this outcome of repentance and baptism (forgiveness and the reception of the Holy Spirit) (declares Peter) \u2013 <strong>(had) promised<\/strong> for it is the Lord Himself.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To whom does the Lord guarantee this outcome? Put simply \u2013 <strong>to all<\/strong>. To everyone, regardless of age, generation or where they come from.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The promise also applies to people living far from Jerusalem \u2013 including us here in Ostrava or in the Czech Republic (around 2,600 km as the crow flies).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Just for interest\u2019s sake \u2013 this naturally also applies to the inhabitants of the place on the planet furthest from Jerusalem, which lies somewhere in the Pacific Ocean, near French Polynesia. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is interesting to note that the invitation and the promise apply to those whom <strong>The Lord is calling.<\/strong> What\u2019s it all about? <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In passing, Peter touches on the question of God\u2019s election and calling here. This is a complex theological question <strong>predestination<\/strong>, concerning whether a person\u2019s turning to God is a matter of human free will or divine intervention. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In a mysterious way, both are true at the same time: it is an act of free human will, which would, however, not be possible without God\u2019s calling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paul\u2019s listeners were clearly not troubled by this theological \u2018subtlety\u2019 \u2013 they had no problem with God\u2019s calling. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>40 <em>A <\/em>in many other ways&nbsp;<em>speech,<\/em>&nbsp;He testified to them and urged them: \u2018Save yourselves from this perverse generation!\u2019<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>n.: distorted;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peter offers a way to salvation whilst at the same time making no secret of the gravity of the situation \u2013 for what we humans have done in our <strong>perversions <\/strong>. <strong>distortions <\/strong>They did this to Christ; God\u2019s destructive wrath hangs over us. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And that must be avoided at all costs. There is a way to save the situation; we just need to make the most of it at all costs. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Petr described the situation vividly and urgently, and he certainly repeated the rescue plan several times. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>41 Those who&nbsp;<sup>[<\/sup>joyfully<sup>]<\/sup>&nbsp;They accepted his message, were baptised, and on that day about three thousand souls were added to their number.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The question is how many people had gathered \u2013 not everyone accepted Peter\u2019s words, but it is possible that the majority did.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>However, if, say, ten thousand people were present, just under a third would respond positively to the word.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Three thousand baptised people is a great many \u2013 the hearts of those present were prepared and moved by Peter\u2019s words.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Under the influence of the events they had experienced (the roar, the intelligible speaking in tongues), Peter\u2019s words and the Holy Spirit, all the baptised said: \u2018That man is right \u2013 that Jesus was the Messiah and we really did kill Him. God must be angry with us \u2013 we must save ourselves. So we\u2019ll do as he says.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Not only did they do that, but they also took Peter\u2019s words to heart <strong>joyfully<\/strong>. When a person realises what they are facing and, at the same time, that they can avoid it, it is a cause for joy that there is nothing beyond their control. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>42 They devoted themselves to the apostles\u2019 teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Without us really noticing, a church has just been established.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In a single step, we move from a Pentecostal \u2018evangelistic\u2019 sermon to the circumstances of the early Church.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A series of events must have followed on Pentecost \u2013 after Peter\u2019s sermon had \u2018struck a chord\u2019 and those present began, one after the other, to ask to be baptised, someone must have called out at some point: \u2018Let\u2019s go to the water.\u2019 <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Then the three thousand penitents, together with the twelve apostles and a few dozen other disciples, had to set off for some body of water or river. Where could they go? What options did they have?\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>During the excavations, more than 50 large ritual purification basins (mikvahs) were reportedly found near the Temple<sup data-fn=\"70520885-adf1-4a2d-aa69-7e1c49497b4b\" class=\"fn\"><a href=\"#70520885-adf1-4a2d-aa69-7e1c49497b4b\" id=\"70520885-adf1-4a2d-aa69-7e1c49497b4b-link\">5<\/a><\/sup>. So they could have gone there. Pilgrims to Jerusalem would purify themselves there \u2018en masse\u2019 before entering the Temple Mount. There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, so three thousand new Christians could easily have gone unnoticed amongst them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They could have gone to the Pool of Siloam or Bethesda.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Gichon Spring was the town\u2019s main source of water.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Kidron stream was nearby. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It seems more likely that those being baptised dispersed to the various mikva\u2019ot around the Temple. If a procession of three thousand people had set off for some large body of water, it would have caused quite a stir. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, in a town teeming with pilgrims, all sorts of things could have gone missing. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What did these new believers do next? <strong>They devoted themselves to the apostles\u2019 teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.<\/strong> In a nutshell \u2013 they stuck together. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Christianity is a collective endeavour.<\/strong> It is not possible (with a few exceptions) to be a Christian in the sense of: \u2018I\u2019ll believe, I\u2019ll get baptised, and then no one among Christians will ever see me again.\u2019<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What does it mean <strong>to continue in the apostles\u2019 teaching<\/strong>? To associate with those who were already more advanced in their knowledge of Christ and to learn from them. The Apostles were unrivalled in this respect \u2013 the three years they spent with Christ had given them knowledge, experience and insights that no one else could have had. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Apostles did not have to come up with anything complicated \u2013 all they had to do was tell others what Jesus was like; what it was like to be with Him; all the things they had experienced with Him and what He had told them. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Word <strong>steadfastly <\/strong>This shows that interest in the apostles\u2019 teaching was neither short-lived nor fleeting. Those who repented and were baptised held fast to their new faith.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Even the preparation of the apostolic teaching alone required a great deal of organisational work from the early Church \u2013 people had to be organised in some way, suitable venues for meetings had to be found (e.g. with good acoustics), it had to be decided who would say what, the time of the meetings had to be set, and much more besides. The apostles had their work cut out for them. And all this was happening on the fly. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It might help to imagine how we would cope if, overnight, three thousand enthusiastic \u2018souls\u2019 were to join our congregations. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What does it mean <strong>to remain in the community,<\/strong> We\u2019ve already mentioned this. Living together, sticking together.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What does it mean <strong>to remain in the thick of things<\/strong>: It seems this was already some form of commemoration of the Last Supper. Jesus said, \u2018Do this in remembrance of me,\u2019 and the disciples began to do so. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The early form of breaking bread together was quite possibly more \u2018natural\u2019 than it is today \u2013 it was not a celebration or a ceremony, but the disciples \u2018simply\u2019 gathered together and ate and dined together. As they ate, the apostles told them time and again how the Last Supper with Jesus had taken place on the eve of Passover.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sharing a meal is always a very unifying experience, wherever you are. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gradually, the Lord\u2019s Supper became increasingly formalised and took on a ceremonial character. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215, the doctrine of transubstantiation was adopted (in my view, erroneously) as official doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Today\u2019s Protestants generally practise communal breaking of bread \u2018somewhere in between\u2019: not entirely informally (like an ordinary communal meal), but not as a magical ritual either. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What does it mean to stay in <strong>prayers<\/strong>, is quite clear. But I would be very interested to know how Christians prayed together back then. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There\u2019s so much I\u2019d like to know!: Did they praise God alone? Did they give thanks for salvation? Did they also pray to Jesus? Did they bring their needs before Him? Did they pray for the sick? Did they pray in tongues? When did the tongues cease to be intelligible? To what extent was supernatural power present during their prayers? And much more besides.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some of our brothers and sisters in the congregation have been praying every evening for at least half an hour on Zoom for three years now (since the start of the war in Ukraine). I don\u2019t join them nearly as regularly as they do, but even so, it\u2019s clear that such persistent prayer is a special (and demanding) form of prayer discipline. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There are, in fact, a number of pitfalls: one must avoid falling into a rut, \u2018submarine sickness\u2019 (as it is usually the same group of people who attend), repeating the same topics over and over again, slipping into \u2018begging\u2019 prayers, and much more besides. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There was certainly a revival in the early Church, and the presence of the Holy Spirit was evident \u2013 such prayers are then easier, but still far from easy. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I once saw a video of a house church prayer meeting in China \u2013 it was taking place behind closed doors, but people were also gathering outside the door to pray. And God\u2019s power was quite clearly at work even upon those who remained outside. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>43 Fear gripped every soul; through the apostles,&nbsp;<em>in Jerusalem<\/em>&nbsp;many wonders and signs took place<em> and there was great fear amongst them all<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Let us just recap the sequence of recent events: Easter \u2026 the risen Jesus spending forty days with his disciples \u2026 the Ascension \u2026 ten days of waiting \u2026 the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost \u2026 the immediate establishment of the great Church. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The sequence \u2013 or rather, the whirlwind \u2013 of events unfolded at a dramatic pace. Out of the blue, the apostles found themselves in charge of a congregation of at least three thousand. And the revival continued. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For God continued to confirm the apostles through supernatural <strong>miracles and signs. <\/strong>It didn\u2019t end with the tongues \u2013 the supernatural interventions continued. What form did they take?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It seems that (as with Jesus) these were mostly miraculous healings and the casting out of demons: Jesus mostly healed (or raised people from the dead, which is healing taken to the extreme) and cast out demons \u2013 but on occasion he also performed miracles and signs of a different nature: \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He calmed the storm, walked on water, multiplied the food, turned water into wine, and placed a coin inside a fish.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I would rather guess that the apostles mostly healed people and cast out demons, although later on, for example, they were supernaturally delivered from prison. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is mentioned twice <strong>fear<\/strong> \u2013 Why? When faced with truly massive supernatural acts of God, it is only natural \u2013 one finds oneself \u2018floundering\u2019 in the face of things that are beyond one\u2019s grasp, things over which one has no control. God\u2019s miracles were certainly \u2018benevolent\u2019 and kind and helpful towards people, but who can guarantee that such things will not \u2018get out of hand\u2019 for people?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Furthermore, it is highly likely that there were confrontations with demons, that is, evil forces. When a person does something like this, they must be \u2018firmly grounded\u2019 (firmly rooted in Christ) so that the supernatural forces unleashed do not sweep them away. Even for Jesus himself, confrontations with demons were not always entirely trouble-free. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>So <strong>The apostles themselves, the new Christians who had joined them, and the people around them must have felt fear or awe at these events.<\/strong> Suddenly, things were happening in Jerusalem that defied ordinary understanding. A new \u2018sect\u2019 was growing at a rapid pace, and accounts of supernatural healings and exorcisms were becoming commonplace.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold<em> own<\/em>&nbsp;their goods and possessions, and shared them out amongst everyone according to their needs.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>n.: plots of land;<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>New believers were drawn to the fellowship more than is usual. The events were so dramatic and unfolded so quickly that people were reluctant to leave the gathering in the evening and return home to everyday reality. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Similar accounts are quite common amongst witnesses to various revivals, even in modern times: people spend long hours together, often entire nights, in praise and prayer, sleeping only as long as is absolutely necessary so that they can return to the gathering the following morning. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When God acts in this way, it\u2019s a \u2018shame\u2019 to go home \u2013 after all, one might miss out on something important or beautiful. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>They shared everything<\/strong> It is a completely unexpected piece of information about which reams of books have been written.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What was it all about, really? Christian communism<sup data-fn=\"27089ee1-78dc-4c38-a442-27fae6eb0d72\" class=\"fn\"><a href=\"#27089ee1-78dc-4c38-a442-27fae6eb0d72\" id=\"27089ee1-78dc-4c38-a442-27fae6eb0d72-link\">6<\/a><\/sup>, what is this situation sometimes called? \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If this really was a case of voluntary sharing of property, it is a unique event in history. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As far as I am aware, apart from the kibbutzim in Israel, this model has never worked effectively in history. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We who lived through real socialism<sup data-fn=\"fb6e5988-e0d7-4d68-8af4-bfffe4844f31\" class=\"fn\"><a href=\"#fb6e5988-e0d7-4d68-8af4-bfffe4844f31\" id=\"fb6e5988-e0d7-4d68-8af4-bfffe4844f31-link\">7<\/a><\/sup>, we have<strong> a deep mistrust of any suggestion of joint ownership of property.<\/strong> Nothing like that can work \u2013 we humans are far too sinful and selfish for that. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There is no further mention of anything of the sort in the rest of the Bible \u2013 a short while later, Ananias and Sapphira did not bring all their possessions, but only the money from the sale of one field.  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In my view, this was an extraordinary situation shortly after Pentecost, when a revival was taking place, accompanied by a surge in a sense of belonging. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A comparable example here might be the events of the Velvet Revolution in 1989, when students, artists and many others lived together for days and weeks on end in schools and theatres. They held meetings and made plans whilst sleeping on the floors; they ate together.  People from the local community supported them, bringing them food. Nobody worried about possessions \u2013 everyone shared everything, united by a single powerful idea.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Such surges of solidarity are not uncommon (I recall, for example, the film *The Strawberry Proclamation*) \u2013 they occur during periods of various revolutions and other momentous changes. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, they fade away within a matter of days or weeks, or months at most. Then they must transform in some way, because every revolution eventually runs its course. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>I therefore believe that this account of the growth in assets corresponds to a period of growth lasting several weeks following the establishment of the Church. The apostles then had to gradually transform the situation into a model that could be sustained in the long term.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In this case, it was most likely <strong>enthusiasm fuelled by the expectation of Christ\u2019s imminent return (i.e. within a matter of weeks or months).<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As the weeks went by and Jesus did not return, the church had to respond by returning to normal life \u2013 people needed to earn a living, farm work could not wait, and so on. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Where else in history has the sharing of property occurred? \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The hermit and monastic movements; religious orders.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Waldensians, Anabaptists and Moravian Brethren placed an emphasis on mutual support (without completely abolishing private property). <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some exceptional examples are <strong>Campers<\/strong>. Here, the sharing of property continued for one or two years, after which the rules were relaxed. There were conflicts between radicals and moderates. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jewish institutions have proved capable of functioning effectively over the long term <strong>kibbutzim<\/strong><sup data-fn=\"858bc1be-b222-47d3-8218-fa0523a5632f\" class=\"fn\"><a href=\"#858bc1be-b222-47d3-8218-fa0523a5632f\" id=\"858bc1be-b222-47d3-8218-fa0523a5632f-link\">8<\/a><\/sup>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The kolkhozes and sovkhozes in the Soviet Union serve as a disastrous cautionary tale. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2018Primitive\u2019 tribal societies continue to function in this way to this day. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the USA, a number of different experimental communities of marginal significance sprang up. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Various community-based organisations are still being set up today, for example those with an environmental focus. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>In general, let us emphasise that, from a higher perspective, a communal way of life without personal property is the right one. The fact that it has never been successfully established in a meaningful way over the long term is attributable to the sinful nature of humankind. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Personal possessions are largely pointless \u2013 after all, our shroud really \u2018won\u2019t have any pockets\u2019. And as for our descendants: who among us knows \u2018who will inherit what we have accumulated?\u2019<\/mark><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>On the contrary, personal possessions are an obstacle to gaining eternal life and treasure in heaven \u2013 as Jesus warned us time and again. <\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\"><strong>The only meaningful use of one\u2019s personal possessions is to place them at God\u2019s disposal and to try to use them to acquire lasting treasures in the heavenly bank.<\/strong><\/mark><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>46 Day after day they continued to meet together in the temple, and in their homes they broke bread&nbsp;<em>.<\/em>&nbsp;They ate their meal with joy and a simple heart.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What else did the early Church do? <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They used to meet at  \u201c<strong>everyday <\/strong>\"base\". \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>They used the Temple as a suitable meeting place \u2013 after all, it had never ceased to be the house of \u2018Jesus\u2019 Father\u2019.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>All those who were converted were Jews, and it never occurred to anyone to make an issue of their Jewishness. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They were not prevented from doing so \u2013 apparently the Jewish authorities could not find sufficient grounds for doing so, or perhaps lacked the courage. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If they gathered in their hundreds and thousands, they must have been a distinctly prominent group within the Temple\u2019s activities. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No doubt other visitors joined their gatherings \u2013 and it is quite possible that some of them turned to Christ.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I wonder whether they spent whole days in the Temple or met up there in the afternoons after work? <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The apostles apparently \u2018preached\u2019; they all sang songs together and prayed. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Where in the Temple did they gather? \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Presumably in the Court of the Gentiles (to which everyone had access \u2013 men, women, even non-Jews), or perhaps in the Court of the Women (that was as far as women were allowed to go; that is where the festivals were held). <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It seems that Jesus himself taught there. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>I\u2019m sure that at least sometimes in <strong>Solomon\u2019s Colonnade \u2014 <\/strong>&#8222;<em>\u2018All the people gathered round them in Solomon\u2019s Portico\u2019<\/em> (Acts 3:11); \u201c\u2026<em>they were all in agreement <strong>. <\/strong>\u2018Solomon\u2019s Colonnade.\u2019<\/em> (Acts 5:12)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The colonnade was spacious enough to accommodate hundreds or even thousands of people.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Perhaps, however, sometimes as far as the Court of the Israelites, where women were no longer permitted (only ritually pure Jewish men).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There was also the Courtyard of the Priests, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies (reserved for priests and the high priest). <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>They went from house to house breaking bread<\/strong>: It may have been some form of commemoration of the Passover meal with Jesus, but it could also have been a communal meal, where families invited one another to dine together.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It was probably a mixture of both \u2013 at that time, they probably didn\u2019t pass a piece of bread round the table as we do today. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>They ate their meal with joy and a simple heart<\/strong>: Luke seems to be saying that the meal together \u2018was lovely\u2019. That there was a friendly and warm atmosphere and that God\u2019s presence could be felt. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Simplicity of heart<\/strong> It reflects the sincerity and straightforwardness of their motives \u2013 people welcomed one another into their homes without any ulterior motives, simply because they cared for one another and, together, felt they were part of something great and significant.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Once again, we can draw on the image of a student movement \u2013 when everyone is camping together in a tent city, nobody worries about who\u2019s sitting next to whom or who\u2019s brought more or less food.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>47 They praised God and\u00a0<sup>(<\/sup>they were popular<sup>)<\/sup>\u00a0among all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>i.e.: being in favour;\u00a0<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The primary sentiment of the early Church was gratitude:  Gratitude for salvation, gratitude that God was willing to forgive the crucifixion of His own Son. Gratitude for eternal life, gratitude for finding the meaning of life, gratitude for the Church. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At first, the early Church elicited overwhelmingly positive reactions from those around it \u2013 it was only with the passage of time that this began to change.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The reason for this positive reception was apparently the presence of the Spirit of God over the city. The Christians had also (so far) done nothing controversial. It is also possible that the recent events surrounding Jesus\u2019 crucifixion were still fresh in people\u2019s minds, perhaps accompanied by feelings of guilt. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In any case, the situation was such that people were turning to God every day and joining the Church. As a result, the Church was able to grow from three thousand to perhaps double that number, or even more, within a short space of time.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The apostles and the other leaders \u2018had their work cut out for them\u2019.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The words <strong>The gentleman was topping up <\/strong>reminds us that every person\u2019s conversion depends on God\u2019s intervention. \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is a combined process involving God\u2019s sovereign action and human free will. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-footnotes\"><li id=\"da72eb00-a6ff-4483-a408-5b9fb7cf7df5\">And, after all, in Czech too. <a href=\"#da72eb00-a6ff-4483-a408-5b9fb7cf7df5-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 1\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"6e785e68-5bff-4e83-b763-32b37ebd431d\">If someone was unable to be with the others at Pentecost, they could still receive the Spirit wherever they happened to be \u2013 just as <strong>Eldad and Medad <\/strong> at the Israeli camp at Nu 11.  <a href=\"#6e785e68-5bff-4e83-b763-32b37ebd431d-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 2\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"5dbdb596-af0b-4636-9b8e-1411cd10ecc6\">I\u2019ve heard about it \u2018first-hand\u2019, but I\u2019ve never personally seen intelligible glossolalia in an existing language, let alone experienced it myself. <a href=\"#5dbdb596-af0b-4636-9b8e-1411cd10ecc6-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 3\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"a9283411-6900-4256-8539-0162882b4d7d\">Which is practically everywhere in Jerusalem. <a href=\"#a9283411-6900-4256-8539-0162882b4d7d-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 4\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"70520885-adf1-4a2d-aa69-7e1c49497b4b\">Some mikvahs were reportedly so large that they could accommodate several people at once. They had staircases for both going down and coming up.<strong> <\/strong> <a href=\"#70520885-adf1-4a2d-aa69-7e1c49497b4b-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 5\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"27089ee1-78dc-4c38-a442-27fae6eb0d72\">The Communist principle, which was utterly nonsensical and utopian, was: \u2018From each according to their ability, to each according to their needs.\u2019  <a href=\"#27089ee1-78dc-4c38-a442-27fae6eb0d72-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 6\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"fb6e5988-e0d7-4d68-8af4-bfffe4844f31\">This is a widespread phenomenon \u2013 anyone who has experienced something of the sort first-hand in any way, such as the inhabitants of South American countries with left-wing governments, is highly sensitive to any hint of communist thinking.  <a href=\"#fb6e5988-e0d7-4d68-8af4-bfffe4844f31-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 7\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><li id=\"858bc1be-b222-47d3-8218-fa0523a5632f\"><strong>The kibbutz movement<\/strong>. A kibbutz is a voluntary agricultural or industrial community based on collective ownership of property, equality amongst members, the sharing of labour and income, and collective decision-making. They began to emerge in 1909 (the first kibbutz <strong>Degania Alef<\/strong>). They were founded by young Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe.<br>The ideology was largely socialist. The second phase continued following the establishment of Israel in 1948. The movement reached its peak in the 1970s, when it comprised 4% of Israel\u2019s population. Kibbutz members had communal dining halls and laundries; men and women were equal; children were brought up in separate \u2018children\u2019s houses\u2019; they elected their leaders and received equal pay. Today, there are reportedly around 270 kibbutzim; some are traditional communal settlements, whilst others are mixed and even include private ownership.  <a href=\"#858bc1be-b222-47d3-8218-fa0523a5632f-link\" aria-label=\"Jump to footnote reference 8\">\u21a9\ufe0e<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1 Kdy\u017e nastal&nbsp;den Letnic,&nbsp;byli v\u0161ichni spolu na&nbsp;jednom&nbsp;m\u00edst\u011b. 2 N\u00e1hle&nbsp;se ozval&nbsp;zvuk z nebe, jako kdy\u017e se \u017eene prudk\u00fd v\u00edtr,&nbsp;a naplnil cel\u00fd d\u016fm, kde sed\u011bli.&nbsp; 3 A uk\u00e1zaly se jim jazyky jakoby&nbsp;z&nbsp;ohn\u011b,&nbsp;kter\u00e9 se&nbsp;rozd\u011blovaly, a na ka\u017ed\u00e9m z nich se usadil&nbsp;jeden. 4 V\u0161ichni byli napln\u011bni Duchem Svat\u00fdm&nbsp;a za\u010dali mluvit jin\u00fdmi jazyky,&nbsp;jak jim&nbsp;Duch d\u00e1val promlouvat.&nbsp; 5 V Jeruzal\u00e9m\u011b pob\u00fdvali [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"[{\"content\":\"A konec konc\u016f i \u010desky.\",\"id\":\"da72eb00-a6ff-4483-a408-5b9fb7cf7df5\"},{\"content\":\"Pokud n\u011bkdo nemohl b\u00fdt o Letnic\u00edch s ostatn\u00edmi, mohl Ducha dostat i tam, kde zrovna byl - podobn\u011b jako <strong>Eldad a M\u00e9dad <\/strong> v izraelsk\u00e9m t\u00e1bo\u0159e v Nu 11. \",\"id\":\"6e785e68-5bff-4e83-b763-32b37ebd431d\"},{\"content\":\"Sly\u0161el jsem o nich \\\"z prvn\u00ed ruky\\\", ale osobn\u011b jsem srozumitelnou glosol\u00e1lii existuj\u00edc\u00edm jazykem nikdy nevid\u011bl, nato\u017e abych ji za\u017eil osobn\u011b.\",\"id\":\"5dbdb596-af0b-4636-9b8e-1411cd10ecc6\"},{\"content\":\"Co\u017e je v Jeruzal\u00e9me prakticky ka\u017ed\u00e9 m\u00edsto.\",\"id\":\"a9283411-6900-4256-8539-0162882b4d7d\"},{\"content\":\"N\u011bkter\u00e9 mikve \u00fadajn\u011b byly tak velk\u00e9, \u017ee se do nich ve\u0161lo v\u00edce lid\u00ed najednou. M\u011bly schodi\u0161t\u011b pro sestup i v\u00fdstup.<strong> <\/strong>\",\"id\":\"70520885-adf1-4a2d-aa69-7e1c49497b4b\"},{\"content\":\"Komunistick\u00e1, zcela nesmysln\u011b utopistick\u00e1  z\u00e1sada zn\u011bla: Ka\u017ed\u00fd podle sv\u00fdch schopnost\u00ed, ka\u017ed\u00e9mu podle jeho pot\u0159eb. \",\"id\":\"27089ee1-78dc-4c38-a442-27fae6eb0d72\"},{\"content\":\"Jde o obecn\u00fd jev - na jak\u00e9koliv n\u00e1znaky komunistick\u00e9ho sm\u00fd\u0161len\u00ed jsou alergi\u010dt\u00ed v\u0161ichni, kdo n\u011bco takov\u00e9ho jak\u00fdmkoliv zp\u016fsobem zakusili na vlastn\u00ed k\u016f\u017ei, nap\u0159. obyvatel\u00e9 jihoamerick\u00fdch zem\u00ed s levicov\u00fdmi vl\u00e1dami. \",\"id\":\"fb6e5988-e0d7-4d68-8af4-bfffe4844f31\"},{\"content\":\"<strong>Kibucov\u00e9 hnut\u00ed<\/strong>. Kibuc je dobrovoln\u00e1 zem\u011bd\u011blsk\u00e1 nebo pr\u016fmyslov\u00e1 komunita zalo\u017een\u00e1 na spole\u010dn\u00e9m vlastnictv\u00ed majetku, rovnosti \u010dlen\u016f, sd\u00edlen\u00ed pr\u00e1ce a p\u0159\u00edjm\u016f a na kolektivn\u00edm rozhodov\u00e1n\u00ed. Za\u010dalo vznikat v r. 1909, (prvn\u00ed kibuc <strong>Degania Alef<\/strong>). Zakl\u00e1dali je mlad\u00ed \u017eidov\u0161t\u00ed p\u0159ist\u011bhovalci z v\u00fdchodn\u00ed Evropy.<br>Ideologie byla zna\u010dn\u011b socialistick\u00e1. Druh\u00e1 f\u00e1ze pokra\u010dovala po vzniku Izraele v r. 1948.  Hnut\u00ed vrcholilo v sedmdes\u00e1t\u00fdch letech, kdy zahrnovalo 4% obyvatel Izraele. Kibucn\u00edci m\u011bli spole\u010dn\u00e9 j\u00eddelny a pr\u00e1delny, mu\u017ei a \u017eeny byly rovnopr\u00e1vn\u00ed, d\u011bti vychov\u00e1vali v odd\u011blen\u00fdch \u201ed\u011btsk\u00fdch domech\u201c, veden\u00ed volili, m\u011bli rovn\u00e9 odm\u011bny. Dnes \u00fadajn\u011b existuje asi 270 kibuc\u016f, \u010d\u00e1ste\u010dn\u011b jsou klasick\u00e9 komunitn\u00ed, n\u011bkter\u00e9 sm\u00ed\u0161en\u00e9 i se soukrom\u00fdm vlastnictv\u00edm. \",\"id\":\"858bc1be-b222-47d3-8218-fa0523a5632f\"}]"},"categories":[51],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-skutky"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/versebyversebible.hiseo.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/versebyversebible.hiseo.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/versebyversebible.hiseo.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/versebyversebible.hiseo.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/versebyversebible.hiseo.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11724"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/versebyversebible.hiseo.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11724\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/versebyversebible.hiseo.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/versebyversebible.hiseo.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/versebyversebible.hiseo.cz\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}