Disciples Speaking in Tongues at PentecostBible World
2:3Acts 2:3
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
On the day of Pentecost divided tongues resembling fire appeared and rested individually on each believer gathered in one place. They were an emblem of the gift of speaking fluently in languages not previously known, and the fire signified the fervent zeal and power that would attend their words. The sign came suddenly with a rushing wind after ten days of unity, confession, prayer and putting away sin, as the fulfillment of Christ's promise sent from heaven after His ascension, enthronement and intercession. Filled with the Spirit the disciples preached Christ as risen and exalted Prince and Saviour with boldness and illumination, and about three thousand souls were added that same day. That outpouring was the former rain opening the gospel work, to be followed by a more abundant latter rain and the same Spirit for consecrated believers today who pray, unite and witness to the ends of the earth.
Visible Tongues of Fire
What appeared was divided or cloven tongues resembling fire, with the division at the tips, and one tongue sat and rested individually on each believer gathered. It was a visible sign accompanying the coming of God's power, given after obedience to remain in Jerusalem and continuance together in prayer, followed by being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking as the Spirit enabled. The resting on each disciple enabled people of many different nationalities present to hear in his own language wherein he was born, which was meant to carry conviction to them and to spread the message broadcast everywhere, and the same kind of manifestation will happen again when God's people follow on to know the Lord. This visible sign accompanied the empowering to bear powerful evidence that Jesus was God's Son, had risen from the dead, and had ascended to heaven, and it moved those who had feared to acknowledge conviction to act fearlessly.
The tongues were an emblem of the gift of speaking fluently in several languages the disciples had not known before. The fire signified the fervent zeal with which they would work and the power that would attend their words. The tongues like fire are linked with lips touched by holy fire, for the Spirit sanctified and empowered the disciples to proclaim saving truth, convince the world of sin, convert sinners, and bring them the righteousness of Christ. This holy fire is the Spirit's inspiration to be used in God's work, and the Spirit's leading and guidance make a person a safe counsellor.
The sign was a public manifestation of the Lord's power to His people so that people outside would also know the power of Jesus Christ. It was heaven manifesting the power that comes upon God's people in their emergency, in answer to days of prayer and seeking the Lord, and it was not done in private. After praying for ten days and remaining in Jerusalem as instructed to wait to be clothed with power from above so they could bear witness, the disciples received the Holy Spirit in large measure as an answer to prayer, the glory of God came among them, heavenly powers worked with them bringing about wonderful things and wonder among the people, testifying to Christ's divine power and glory and showing that God's power can prevail over earthly powers. This public demonstration in Jerusalem was meant to show the Jews and others gathered there that Jesus Christ had ascended to heaven and to reveal Him as the one they had crucified.
The true fire God gives is the Holy Spirit that molds workers after the right likeness and moves them to firmly establish and build up the work God has entrusted, especially in destitute new places like Nashville as a center for the South, working without selfishly binding about, hindering, criticizing, or discouraging those doing a special work they have not helped establish. Using strange fire is the opposite spirit of unreasonable, unjust, unwise zeal that finds fault, tears down, and leaves suffering people to perish, and it is not led of God and must be quenched at once. The endowment resembles that of the seventy elders around the tabernacle, for when the Spirit rested upon them they prophesied, foretold the work and mission of Christ, and spoke with wisdom and fluency of speech that evidenced to all that the power of God was upon them. This prepared them for their work and honored them in the presence of the people, so that confidence would be established in them as men chosen of God to unite their authority with appointed leadership in restraining and governing, paralleling the disciples being given power from on high at Pentecost.
Setting at Pentecost
The tongues of fire appeared on the day of Pentecost, when the disciples were all with one accord in one place in Jerusalem. They were gathered in unity in the upper room and house where they were sitting, at a great religious festival with devout Jews out of every nation dwelling at Jerusalem and devout Jews from every nation under heaven present. The early believers were together in unity and harmony, and the Spirit worked mightily among and through those thus united.
It came suddenly with a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind that filled the house where they were sitting and the whole place where they were assembled. The cloven tongues like as of fire sitting upon each of them meant each one was filled with the Holy Ghost. All were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance.
It came after obedience to Christ's commission to remain in Jerusalem and not depart until they received the promise of the Father, at the end of ten days spent together without His personal presence. Those days were spent in unity and in prayer and supplication for the fulfillment of God's promise, with deep heart-searching, earnest searching of heart to remove what would hinder the promise, confession of sins and putting away of sin, fasting, humbling of hearts, putting away all differences, envy and struggles for position, and drawing close together in Christian fellowship. They remembered their privilege of close association with Christ, their slowness to understand Him and His lessons, and their sadness for having grieved Him by failure to understand.
Those of many nationalities then heard them speak in his own language wherein he was born the wonderful works of God. That hearing in their own tongue caused amazement and inquiry, was meant to carry conviction to them, and was to spread the message broadcast everywhere and give the assembled multitudes the message of the risen Saviour. Mockers who said the men were full of new wine showed that those who do not come under the influence of the Holy Spirit do not know it or recognize God's working in His own way, and the same mocking would occur if such a manifestation happened now. It took place shortly before Peter and John went to the temple and healed the cripple.
Promise Fulfilled in Christ
The divided tongues resting on each one fulfilled the promise of the Father and of Christ that after the Holy Ghost came upon them they would receive power to be witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Only after receiving this fuller gift could they fulfill the commission to preach the gospel to all the world. It came when they were all with one accord in one place, at the end of ten days of obedience to Christ's direction not to depart from Jerusalem until they received the promise, days spent together in prayer and supplication, deep heart-searching, confession of sin, putting away all differences, drawing close together in Christian fellowship, remembering their privilege of close association with Christ and their slowness to understand His lessons. Suddenly a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind filled the house where they were sitting, cloven tongues like as of fire sat upon each of them, each one was filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance, and devout Jews out of every nation then dwelling at Jerusalem heard them speak in his own language wherein he was born the wonderful works of God to amazement and inquiry. This has a special bearing upon God's people now, because salvation has been purchased at infinite cost and solemn responsibility rests upon all to receive this power and do this witnessing work.
It came after Christ's crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, glorification, and enthronement, when He had taken His position as Advocate in the heavenly courts and His sacrifice had been accepted. His first act in heaven was to send the Spirit in rich abundance as a heavenly endowment, in answer to His own intercession and to the disciples' prayers. The gift came with a fullness and power that had not been seen before, was to remain with the church, and was to be communicated through the church to the world. Those who did not come under its influence did not recognize God's working, as the mockers who said the men were full of new wine showed.
The divided tongues resting on each disciple was heaven's communication to them that Christ had been received in the heavenly courts with the angels who accompanied Him, that all heavenly intelligences had joined in His coronation service, and that His inauguration was complete. The Spirit's coming represented Christ's presence with His followers and the conscious presence of their ascended Lord as they began their gospel ministry. By the Spirit's presence Christ was enabled to dwell continually in their hearts, making their union with Him closer than when He was physically with them, with His indwelling light and love and power shining through them. The Spirit who had abode in Christ became their source of intelligence and power for continuing Christ's work and bearing witness to Him. It came to disciples who knew Jesus was in heaven with sympathies still toward them as a friend at the throne of God, who in solemn awe bowed in prayer to the Father in the name of Jesus, extending the hand of faith with the plea of Christ dead, risen again, at the right hand of God interceding for them, bringing fulness of joy in the presence of the Comforter just as Christ had promised.
The blessing turned their minds from the earthly sanctuary to the heavenly sanctuary, where Jesus had entered by His own blood to give them the benefits of His atonement. Those who rejected John's testimony and Jesus could not receive this blessing or learn the way into the heavenly sanctuary.
Pentecost was the plentiful shower of the Spirit, greater than Christ's earlier breathing of the Spirit upon the disciples and impartation of peace as a few drops before the shower. That later, plentiful outpouring equipped the disciples for their entrusted work as witnesses of the resurrection and as teachers of His words, character, precepts, and example. The disciples received the Spirit's gift in its fullness only after they had surrendered themselves fully to His work through faith and prayer. The event marks the giving of heaven's gifts to Christ's followers; those gifts are theirs in Christ, but they possess them in practice through receiving the Spirit.
Empowering for Witness
Each was filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance, with cloven flame-like tongues resting individually upon each one gathered in unity and prayer in obedience to remaining in Jerusalem. The visible sign came after ten days of earnest prayer and searching of heart, displaying heaven's power poured out on the church to enable speech in other languages. It gave marvelous power to preach among other nations in pure, simple, and accurate word and accent though unlettered, including prophesying, and the Spirit-empowered preaching that followed brought three thousand to conversion in one day. The gathering together to receive the Spirit is an example for believers praying together to plead for the Spirit to descend upon them.
The Spirit empowered them to bear powerful evidence that Jesus is God's Son, who had risen from the dead, had ascended, and was exalted by God to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of sins. The great demonstration was a revelation that Jesus Christ was the one they had crucified, glorifying the risen Saviour before eyes that before saw no beauty in Him to desire Him. The wondrous sermon in the demonstration of the Spirit and with power lifted Jesus up, and by that lifting up three thousand souls were brought to repentance and converted in one day. Its power opened minds deceived by false teaching to conviction of sin and faith in Him as Redeemer, answered false reports about His resurrection, renewed backsliders, and turned former opponents into champions who carried repentance and forgiveness to people from many nations to spread to their homes. Beholding the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world brings repentance, for the glorious inner beauties of Christ's work and character are not discerned with natural eyes, but it is the Spirit that quickens.
It gave holy boldness with assurance that Jesus would be with them always as a Friend at court, so that those who had feared to acknowledge conviction acted fearlessly. Fear of persecution and fear of the Jews was taken away, and those who receive the Spirit see that God will deliver if He wills deliverance and are ready to suffer if not, as when prison doors were opened with direction to go out. In Jerusalem as a great center of influence light from heaven shone in its most powerful rays upon the Lord's witnesses to bear the gospel message, and many who had been afraid to confess Jesus acknowledged Him as the Son of God before hostile religious rulers. The vivifying influence filled them to speak the word of God with boldness, gave the apostles great power to witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and brought great grace upon them all, a need believers today must feel.
It brought heavenly illumination in which truths Christ had spoken in parables and teachings formerly mysterious were unfolded, and they gained assurance He was the Messiah with confidence to testify to the world. Light made clear what had been mystery, exposed former theories and interpretations as foolish, and cleared away confused ideas and fanciful theories to bring light to understanding of heavenly things. Forgotten words were brought back to mind, helping them understand His life and teaching and speak of Him with assurance and with eloquent words that brought light to hearers and converted many, showing they had been with Jesus. The gift gave all the knowledge of God they could bear, but it was not the complete fulfillment of Christ's promise to show plainly of the Father, for full plain knowledge is yet to come when the conflict is ended and mysteries will be understood clearly.
The gift surcharged their hearts with a benevolence so full, so deep, so far-reaching that it impelled them to go to the ends of the earth testifying and glorying only in the cross of Christ. Penitence and confession of sin were mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven, thanksgiving, and prophecy, with intense longing to add to the church such as should be saved. As the disciples then went forth to proclaim the gospel filled with the power of the Spirit, so God's servants today are to go forth to reap fields white unto the harvest until all nations hear the truth and the earth is filled with the glory of the Lord. Those baptized with the Holy Spirit who let their light shine in witness to God receive still more of the Spirit's power.
Effect on Early Church
The divided tongues resting on each one came with being filled with the Holy Ghost and speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance, after ten days of prayerful heart-searching, putting away differences, and drawing close in Christian fellowship in obedience to the commission to preach the gospel to all the world following Christ's ascension. The same day about three thousand souls were added, and they continued steadfastly in doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayers, unity, gladness, and daily growth. The preaching that brought the thousands to conversion displayed heaven's power poured out on the infant church in fulfillment of God's promise, with the believers sealed by the Holy Spirit. The great subject of that wondrous sermon in demonstration of the Spirit and with power was the Spirit unfolding Jesus and glorifying Him before eyes that before saw no beauty in Him, lifting Him up as exalted by God to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of sins, so that by that lifting up three thousand were brought to repentance and converted in one day. It was the harvest of Christ's sowing and of seeds sown by patriarchs, prophets, and holy people before them, for beholding the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world brings repentance, the glorious inner beauties of Christ's work and character being discerned not with natural eyes but because it is the Spirit that quickens.
In one account the Spirit came only after ten days spent before God in prayer, fasting, confession of sin, ceasing criticism and faultfinding, settling difficulties, and coming into unity, when the heavens were opened and the glory of God was revealed, and filled with the Spirit they went forth to proclaim the gospel with power so that under the Spirit's influence five thousand were converted in one day. The Spirit's coming marked the beginning of the church's witness with five thousand converted in one day. After the Spirit came the disciples went out to proclaim the risen Saviour and seek the salvation of souls. The outpouring transformed them from a helpless, discouraged company into Spirit-equipped witnesses who went out with God's word and Spirit to tell of Christ and overcome opposition. That heavenly power in remarkable coming upon the apostles restrained opponents from violence but did not soften hearts or change bitterness and malice, and it made the Jewish priests and elders fear violence against them.
The truth convicted hearts and brought people under Christ's control, converts joined the church, and the Spirit of Christ animated believers uniting them in heart and purpose. Believers were made one in heart and soul through the Spirit of Christ, for unity is the fruit of abiding in Christ, and they showed tender, self-denying love for one another displaying Christ's commanded love that drew others toward salvation. They loved one another and their shared life and witness drew people to God. No man said that anything he possessed was his own, but all they owned was held for the advancement of the gospel and the wonderful reformation, with thousands converted in a day, and when the same Spirit moves believers today they give back to God of His own with the same liberality for a wide and far-reaching work.
John was with the other disciples in the outpouring on the day of Pentecost after the ascension, and it gave him fresh zeal and power to continue speaking the words of life to the people and seeking to lead their thoughts to the Unseen. Peter entered busy years of ministry in which he put forth untiring efforts to reach the Jews who came to Jerusalem to worship at the annual festivals and to strengthen believers. The same kind of visible manifestation marked the Spirit's later descent on Gentile believers, who spoke in tongues and magnified and praised God, as at the beginning. The descent on Cornelius's household showed that God accepted Gentiles and granted them repentance and life, proving the equality of the gift with that to Jewish believers and opening the way for work among the Gentiles by breaking down prejudice. That descent was not a substitute for baptism, since conversion involved faith, repentance, and baptism.
The work and the three thousand conversions came through God's Spirit, not human ability or influence. The Holy Spirit's power accompanied gospel preaching and was given for the conversion of souls, bringing evidence that God had accepted the disciples and would answer prayers of faith, and that power comes from Christ, not from human numbers or merit. The Pentecostal outpouring revealed truth and gave the gospel message power to bring people to conversion, showing the work depends on the Spirit's power, not on human learning, eloquence, or strength. Christ, having ascended to take His position as Advocate and reached His throne, sent the Holy Spirit as promised in response to the disciples' prayers, and Christ Himself is the efficiency in the work, with right impressions on the human heart made by this Spirit, for no human art can do the soul-work of convincing of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment and converting souls.
Prophecy of Former Latter Rain
The outpouring at Pentecost was the former or early rain that opened the gospel work and caused the spiritual seed to spring up, while a more abundant latter rain is promised for the last days to ripen the harvest at the close of the gospel work. After putting away differences, meeting in unity, and praying in faith for the promised blessing and power to save souls, the disciples received power from above and preached with power so that thousands were converted in a day. That former outpouring will be repeated in the latter rain with greater abundance and power, and the latter rain will fall on God's people in the same way the early rain fell on the disciples. No one will receive the seal of God while character retains one spot or stain, so each person must remedy defects of character and cleanse the soul temple of every defilement, and then the latter rain will fall as the early rain fell at Pentecost.
As at Pentecost, God's servants in the final worldwide proclamation of the third message will be filled with the Spirit and consecrated to their work, with shining faces hurrying from place to place proclaiming heaven's warning. The Spirit will empower preaching about Jesus and His crucifixion, bringing many to conversion and preparing a people to stand the final test. The coming ingathering of souls will be similar to that witnessed on the day of Pentecost when an angel comes down from heaven and the earth is lightened with his glory. Filled with the Spirit, they proclaimed Jesus and His crucifixion and resurrection with power, and the Spirit opened hearers' minds to recognize Jesus as the exalted Prince and Saviour, leading them to believe, and this work is the pattern for a similar, more abundant outpouring in the latter rain and the closing proclamation. The heavenly endowment Christ longs to bestow in large measure now in answer to prayers put up in faith for the fulfillment of the promise flooded the church with light whose source was Christ, glorifying God by so revealing His character that He became the object of supreme affections and His character was made manifest in them, making them see clearly that there was never any righteousness in the world but His and no excellence but that derived from Him, so that His name was on every tongue and His love filled every heart, and the same will happen when the angel having great power lightens the whole earth with his glory.
On the day of Pentecost the disciples were all with one accord in one place waiting for the promise of the Father, when suddenly a sound as of a rushing mighty wind from heaven filled the house, and divided tongues like fire sat upon each of them, meaning each one was filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance. Devout Jews out of every nation then heard them speak in his own language wherein he was born the wonderful works, which caused amazement and inquiry. This was the baptism with the Holy Ghost promised to give power to be witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth, and it was that which was spoken by the prophet Joel about God pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh with prophecy, visions, dreams, and wonders before the great and notable day of the Lord, when whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Some onlookers mistook the Spirit-filled behavior for drunkenness, but Peter identified the event as the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, whose manifestation came through prayer and humility and accompanied Spirit-given speech. The Pentecost outpouring partially fulfilled Joel's prophecy and began its fulfillment, and the prophecy will be fully accomplished through a special manifestation of divine grace and power in the closing work of the gospel. The verse has a special bearing upon God's people at this time, because salvation has been purchased at infinite cost and solemn responsibility rests upon all to receive this power and do this witnessing work.
Pentecost marked the opening of the Christian age and dispensation, when the Christian age commenced and some spiritual gifts were manifested in a remarkable way. That descent fulfilled one of the springtime types in its appointed order and time, alongside Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. The outpouring brought a great variety and wide abundance of spiritual gifts among believers, with the manifestation of the Spirit given to each person in the church for the common good and to profit withal, not to every person in the world. The waiting in Jerusalem with heavenly illumination on the day of Pentecost is to be looked back upon with pleasure and profit by all Christians, whether present on the occasion or believing afterward, and it is the pattern for the waiting, consecration, and outpouring of the Holy Spirit enjoyed in the autumn of 1844, which those who have since embraced the doctrine of the Second Advent can look back upon with the same reviving interest. That Pentecost experience preceded by a spirit of intercession will be repeated in a great reformatory movement among God's people like the reformation witnessed in 1844, when many will praise God, the sick will be healed and other miracles wrought, hundreds and thousands will visit families and open before them the Word of God, hearts will be convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, genuine conversion will be manifest, doors will be thrown open on every side to the proclamation of the truth, the world will be lightened with a heavenly influence, and great blessings will be received by the true and humble people of God with thanksgiving and praise, while those who refuse to be converted and cling selfishly to earthly possessions when calls are made for liberal free-will offerings will become separated from believers.
Call for Today
The same Spirit who fell at Pentecost will fall on those whose hearts are united with Christ and whose lives are in harmony with His work, bringing revival, converting power, and the conversion of souls. Heaven and God's workers will then work harmoniously together to open understanding and hearts when believers pray, believe, keep humble, draw close to Christ as Teacher, and come into harmony with one another and the Word. As the disciples went forth filled with the Spirit's power to reap fields white to the harvest, giving mercy to those in darkness of error and unbelief until all nations hear and the earth is filled with the Lord's glory, so God's servants today are to go forth with hearts surcharged with deep, far-reaching benevolence impelling them to the ends of the earth to testify and glory only in the cross, with penitence, confession, praise for sins forgiven, thanksgiving, prophecy, and longing to add to the church such as should be saved. That same promised power is for all who receive the gospel commission, to make them true missionary workers who will not colonize in one place but will leave crowded centers, go everywhere preaching the Word, plant truth in towns and cities that have not heard it, make the wilderness sacred by establishing centers including sanitariums and schools, and bring the conversion of thousands in preparation for Christ's coming.
Believers are to pray earnestly together for the baptism and descent of the Spirit as the disciples did, for the gathered disciples received the Spirit together and their experience is the example of the baptism to be sought. The Spirit they needed then is needed even more today, and the same earnest prayer for the Holy Spirit and power of God to present truth is required now because moral darkness like a funeral pall covers the earth and all manner of false doctrines, heresies, and Satanic deceptions are misleading minds. Without the Spirit and God's power, labor to present truth is in vain and fruitless, and His aid is needed to resist false teaching and deception and to present divine truth effectively.
The blessings of that day may be claimed by meeting the conditions of consecration and harmony with God's Word, by coming to God wholeheartedly and putting away prejudice, doubt, and unbelief. Receiving greater blessing requires the same preparation the disciples made by confessing and forsaking sin, praying earnestly, consecrating themselves to God, and continuing to grow in light already given, with hearts prepared to receive when the Spirit is given abundantly to fill the place of gathering. Being ready requires denying self as Christ denied Himself, studying the Scriptures with all might in order to carry them out, putting self away from church members lest backward movement replace forward movement, and cleansing the soul temple of self and defilement. The verse means sinners are to be converted and believers have something to do in it, requiring the self-denying life of Christ, taking the Bible from house to house and reading to people to bring souls to truth, waking from stupor and indifference because there is a world to save and no sleeping in this judgment hour.
The Spirit's power and grace are available not only to the first disciples but to all today who need them and trust His word, for God endows men and women with power from above and gives His gift to all who take Him at His word and need His grace and Spirit. From Pentecost onward the Spirit is not limited to any age or race but has come to those who fully yield themselves to God and His service and to those who accept Christ as personal Saviour, serving them as Counselor, Sanctifier, Guide, and Witness. Christ is willing and longs to give the church a continuing supply of the Spirit's life-giving power with abundant gifts as at Pentecost. The gift makes every receptive person able to become a fellow laborer with God, yielding all capabilities to the Spirit's control, with sufficient power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil and to impress God's character on the agent, guided by His Word within his own sphere while through cooperation in mercy, goodness, and love God impresses His character on others within the sphere of influence.
The Spirit's presence kindles a missionary spirit in the hearts of those upon whom it comes, so that those who receive its blessings carry the light everywhere and preach the Word as the scattered believers went everywhere sharing the word. That baptism equips believers to discern distant mission fields, work more unselfishly, and recognize that the whole world is the field, carrying the influence of spiritual refreshment and strengthening through the love of Jesus, the truths of God's word, and divine grace out to the world in good works reflecting divine light. The same power promised then is promised now to send workers from crowded centers to plant the standard of truth in unreached towns and cities and to establish centers including sanitariums and schools, bringing the conversion of thousands.
The results to be seen again include softened hard hearts, joy, transformation into channels of blessing, bold witness, thousands converted in a day, unity in voice and understanding with wisdom to place the work on vantage ground, liberality in giving, healing, and praise. The signs accompanying the gift confirmed the preaching of Christ so that thousands in Jerusalem declared faith in Jesus as the promised Messiah, and the outpouring filled the place of meeting after lives had been permeated and actions directed by the Spirit through individual preparation before the general outpouring. The second chapter of Acts is to be read, received, and shared as a lesson calling for deeper piety, meekness, humility, and daily conversion, and the Pentecostal energy comes as God's people pray and confess sin, for the Spirit is God's all-conquering power.
On the day of Pentecost divided tongues resembling fire appeared and rested individually on each believer gathered in one place. They were an emblem of the gift of speaking fluently in languages not previously known, and the fire signified the fervent zeal and power that would attend their words. The sign came suddenly with a rushing wind after ten days of unity, confession, prayer and putting away sin, as the fulfillment of Christ's promise sent from heaven after His ascension, enthronement and intercession. Filled with the Spirit the disciples preached Christ as risen and exalted Prince and Saviour with boldness and illumination, and about three thousand souls were added that same day. That outpouring was the former rain opening the gospel work, to be followed by a more abundant latter rain and the same Spirit for consecrated believers today who pray, unite and witness to the ends of the earth.
Visible Tongues of Fire
What appeared was divided or cloven tongues resembling fire, with the division at the tips, and one tongue sat and rested individually on each believer gathered. It was a visible sign accompanying the coming of God's power, given after obedience to remain in Jerusalem and continuance together in prayer, followed by being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking as the Spirit enabled. The resting on each disciple enabled people of many different nationalities present to hear in his own language wherein he was born, which was meant to carry conviction to them and to spread the message broadcast everywhere, and the same kind of manifestation will happen again when God's people follow on to know the Lord. This visible sign accompanied the empowering to bear powerful evidence that Jesus was God's Son, had risen from the dead, and had ascended to heaven, and it moved those who had feared to acknowledge conviction to act fearlessly.
The tongues were an emblem of the gift of speaking fluently in several languages the disciples had not known before. The fire signified the fervent zeal with which they would work and the power that would attend their words. The tongues like fire are linked with lips touched by holy fire, for the Spirit sanctified and empowered the disciples to proclaim saving truth, convince the world of sin, convert sinners, and bring them the righteousness of Christ. This holy fire is the Spirit's inspiration to be used in God's work, and the Spirit's leading and guidance make a person a safe counsellor.
The sign was a public manifestation of the Lord's power to His people so that people outside would also know the power of Jesus Christ. It was heaven manifesting the power that comes upon God's people in their emergency, in answer to days of prayer and seeking the Lord, and it was not done in private. After praying for ten days and remaining in Jerusalem as instructed to wait to be clothed with power from above so they could bear witness, the disciples received the Holy Spirit in large measure as an answer to prayer, the glory of God came among them, heavenly powers worked with them bringing about wonderful things and wonder among the people, testifying to Christ's divine power and glory and showing that God's power can prevail over earthly powers. This public demonstration in Jerusalem was meant to show the Jews and others gathered there that Jesus Christ had ascended to heaven and to reveal Him as the one they had crucified.
The true fire God gives is the Holy Spirit that molds workers after the right likeness and moves them to firmly establish and build up the work God has entrusted, especially in destitute new places like Nashville as a center for the South, working without selfishly binding about, hindering, criticizing, or discouraging those doing a special work they have not helped establish. Using strange fire is the opposite spirit of unreasonable, unjust, unwise zeal that finds fault, tears down, and leaves suffering people to perish, and it is not led of God and must be quenched at once. The endowment resembles that of the seventy elders around the tabernacle, for when the Spirit rested upon them they prophesied, foretold the work and mission of Christ, and spoke with wisdom and fluency of speech that evidenced to all that the power of God was upon them. This prepared them for their work and honored them in the presence of the people, so that confidence would be established in them as men chosen of God to unite their authority with appointed leadership in restraining and governing, paralleling the disciples being given power from on high at Pentecost.
Setting at Pentecost
The tongues of fire appeared on the day of Pentecost, when the disciples were all with one accord in one place in Jerusalem. They were gathered in unity in the upper room and house where they were sitting, at a great religious festival with devout Jews out of every nation dwelling at Jerusalem and devout Jews from every nation under heaven present. The early believers were together in unity and harmony, and the Spirit worked mightily among and through those thus united.
It came suddenly with a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind that filled the house where they were sitting and the whole place where they were assembled. The cloven tongues like as of fire sitting upon each of them meant each one was filled with the Holy Ghost. All were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance.
It came after obedience to Christ's commission to remain in Jerusalem and not depart until they received the promise of the Father, at the end of ten days spent together without His personal presence. Those days were spent in unity and in prayer and supplication for the fulfillment of God's promise, with deep heart-searching, earnest searching of heart to remove what would hinder the promise, confession of sins and putting away of sin, fasting, humbling of hearts, putting away all differences, envy and struggles for position, and drawing close together in Christian fellowship. They remembered their privilege of close association with Christ, their slowness to understand Him and His lessons, and their sadness for having grieved Him by failure to understand.
Those of many nationalities then heard them speak in his own language wherein he was born the wonderful works of God. That hearing in their own tongue caused amazement and inquiry, was meant to carry conviction to them, and was to spread the message broadcast everywhere and give the assembled multitudes the message of the risen Saviour. Mockers who said the men were full of new wine showed that those who do not come under the influence of the Holy Spirit do not know it or recognize God's working in His own way, and the same mocking would occur if such a manifestation happened now. It took place shortly before Peter and John went to the temple and healed the cripple.
Promise Fulfilled in Christ
The divided tongues resting on each one fulfilled the promise of the Father and of Christ that after the Holy Ghost came upon them they would receive power to be witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Only after receiving this fuller gift could they fulfill the commission to preach the gospel to all the world. It came when they were all with one accord in one place, at the end of ten days of obedience to Christ's direction not to depart from Jerusalem until they received the promise, days spent together in prayer and supplication, deep heart-searching, confession of sin, putting away all differences, drawing close together in Christian fellowship, remembering their privilege of close association with Christ and their slowness to understand His lessons. Suddenly a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind filled the house where they were sitting, cloven tongues like as of fire sat upon each of them, each one was filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance, and devout Jews out of every nation then dwelling at Jerusalem heard them speak in his own language wherein he was born the wonderful works of God to amazement and inquiry. This has a special bearing upon God's people now, because salvation has been purchased at infinite cost and solemn responsibility rests upon all to receive this power and do this witnessing work.
It came after Christ's crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, glorification, and enthronement, when He had taken His position as Advocate in the heavenly courts and His sacrifice had been accepted. His first act in heaven was to send the Spirit in rich abundance as a heavenly endowment, in answer to His own intercession and to the disciples' prayers. The gift came with a fullness and power that had not been seen before, was to remain with the church, and was to be communicated through the church to the world. Those who did not come under its influence did not recognize God's working, as the mockers who said the men were full of new wine showed.
The divided tongues resting on each disciple was heaven's communication to them that Christ had been received in the heavenly courts with the angels who accompanied Him, that all heavenly intelligences had joined in His coronation service, and that His inauguration was complete. The Spirit's coming represented Christ's presence with His followers and the conscious presence of their ascended Lord as they began their gospel ministry. By the Spirit's presence Christ was enabled to dwell continually in their hearts, making their union with Him closer than when He was physically with them, with His indwelling light and love and power shining through them. The Spirit who had abode in Christ became their source of intelligence and power for continuing Christ's work and bearing witness to Him. It came to disciples who knew Jesus was in heaven with sympathies still toward them as a friend at the throne of God, who in solemn awe bowed in prayer to the Father in the name of Jesus, extending the hand of faith with the plea of Christ dead, risen again, at the right hand of God interceding for them, bringing fulness of joy in the presence of the Comforter just as Christ had promised.
The blessing turned their minds from the earthly sanctuary to the heavenly sanctuary, where Jesus had entered by His own blood to give them the benefits of His atonement. Those who rejected John's testimony and Jesus could not receive this blessing or learn the way into the heavenly sanctuary.
Pentecost was the plentiful shower of the Spirit, greater than Christ's earlier breathing of the Spirit upon the disciples and impartation of peace as a few drops before the shower. That later, plentiful outpouring equipped the disciples for their entrusted work as witnesses of the resurrection and as teachers of His words, character, precepts, and example. The disciples received the Spirit's gift in its fullness only after they had surrendered themselves fully to His work through faith and prayer. The event marks the giving of heaven's gifts to Christ's followers; those gifts are theirs in Christ, but they possess them in practice through receiving the Spirit.
Empowering for Witness
Each was filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance, with cloven flame-like tongues resting individually upon each one gathered in unity and prayer in obedience to remaining in Jerusalem. The visible sign came after ten days of earnest prayer and searching of heart, displaying heaven's power poured out on the church to enable speech in other languages. It gave marvelous power to preach among other nations in pure, simple, and accurate word and accent though unlettered, including prophesying, and the Spirit-empowered preaching that followed brought three thousand to conversion in one day. The gathering together to receive the Spirit is an example for believers praying together to plead for the Spirit to descend upon them.
The Spirit empowered them to bear powerful evidence that Jesus is God's Son, who had risen from the dead, had ascended, and was exalted by God to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of sins. The great demonstration was a revelation that Jesus Christ was the one they had crucified, glorifying the risen Saviour before eyes that before saw no beauty in Him to desire Him. The wondrous sermon in the demonstration of the Spirit and with power lifted Jesus up, and by that lifting up three thousand souls were brought to repentance and converted in one day. Its power opened minds deceived by false teaching to conviction of sin and faith in Him as Redeemer, answered false reports about His resurrection, renewed backsliders, and turned former opponents into champions who carried repentance and forgiveness to people from many nations to spread to their homes. Beholding the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world brings repentance, for the glorious inner beauties of Christ's work and character are not discerned with natural eyes, but it is the Spirit that quickens.
It gave holy boldness with assurance that Jesus would be with them always as a Friend at court, so that those who had feared to acknowledge conviction acted fearlessly. Fear of persecution and fear of the Jews was taken away, and those who receive the Spirit see that God will deliver if He wills deliverance and are ready to suffer if not, as when prison doors were opened with direction to go out. In Jerusalem as a great center of influence light from heaven shone in its most powerful rays upon the Lord's witnesses to bear the gospel message, and many who had been afraid to confess Jesus acknowledged Him as the Son of God before hostile religious rulers. The vivifying influence filled them to speak the word of God with boldness, gave the apostles great power to witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and brought great grace upon them all, a need believers today must feel.
It brought heavenly illumination in which truths Christ had spoken in parables and teachings formerly mysterious were unfolded, and they gained assurance He was the Messiah with confidence to testify to the world. Light made clear what had been mystery, exposed former theories and interpretations as foolish, and cleared away confused ideas and fanciful theories to bring light to understanding of heavenly things. Forgotten words were brought back to mind, helping them understand His life and teaching and speak of Him with assurance and with eloquent words that brought light to hearers and converted many, showing they had been with Jesus. The gift gave all the knowledge of God they could bear, but it was not the complete fulfillment of Christ's promise to show plainly of the Father, for full plain knowledge is yet to come when the conflict is ended and mysteries will be understood clearly.
The gift surcharged their hearts with a benevolence so full, so deep, so far-reaching that it impelled them to go to the ends of the earth testifying and glorying only in the cross of Christ. Penitence and confession of sin were mingled with songs of praise for sins forgiven, thanksgiving, and prophecy, with intense longing to add to the church such as should be saved. As the disciples then went forth to proclaim the gospel filled with the power of the Spirit, so God's servants today are to go forth to reap fields white unto the harvest until all nations hear the truth and the earth is filled with the glory of the Lord. Those baptized with the Holy Spirit who let their light shine in witness to God receive still more of the Spirit's power.
Effect on Early Church
The divided tongues resting on each one came with being filled with the Holy Ghost and speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance, after ten days of prayerful heart-searching, putting away differences, and drawing close in Christian fellowship in obedience to the commission to preach the gospel to all the world following Christ's ascension. The same day about three thousand souls were added, and they continued steadfastly in doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, prayers, unity, gladness, and daily growth. The preaching that brought the thousands to conversion displayed heaven's power poured out on the infant church in fulfillment of God's promise, with the believers sealed by the Holy Spirit. The great subject of that wondrous sermon in demonstration of the Spirit and with power was the Spirit unfolding Jesus and glorifying Him before eyes that before saw no beauty in Him, lifting Him up as exalted by God to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of sins, so that by that lifting up three thousand were brought to repentance and converted in one day. It was the harvest of Christ's sowing and of seeds sown by patriarchs, prophets, and holy people before them, for beholding the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world brings repentance, the glorious inner beauties of Christ's work and character being discerned not with natural eyes but because it is the Spirit that quickens.
In one account the Spirit came only after ten days spent before God in prayer, fasting, confession of sin, ceasing criticism and faultfinding, settling difficulties, and coming into unity, when the heavens were opened and the glory of God was revealed, and filled with the Spirit they went forth to proclaim the gospel with power so that under the Spirit's influence five thousand were converted in one day. The Spirit's coming marked the beginning of the church's witness with five thousand converted in one day. After the Spirit came the disciples went out to proclaim the risen Saviour and seek the salvation of souls. The outpouring transformed them from a helpless, discouraged company into Spirit-equipped witnesses who went out with God's word and Spirit to tell of Christ and overcome opposition. That heavenly power in remarkable coming upon the apostles restrained opponents from violence but did not soften hearts or change bitterness and malice, and it made the Jewish priests and elders fear violence against them.
The truth convicted hearts and brought people under Christ's control, converts joined the church, and the Spirit of Christ animated believers uniting them in heart and purpose. Believers were made one in heart and soul through the Spirit of Christ, for unity is the fruit of abiding in Christ, and they showed tender, self-denying love for one another displaying Christ's commanded love that drew others toward salvation. They loved one another and their shared life and witness drew people to God. No man said that anything he possessed was his own, but all they owned was held for the advancement of the gospel and the wonderful reformation, with thousands converted in a day, and when the same Spirit moves believers today they give back to God of His own with the same liberality for a wide and far-reaching work.
John was with the other disciples in the outpouring on the day of Pentecost after the ascension, and it gave him fresh zeal and power to continue speaking the words of life to the people and seeking to lead their thoughts to the Unseen. Peter entered busy years of ministry in which he put forth untiring efforts to reach the Jews who came to Jerusalem to worship at the annual festivals and to strengthen believers. The same kind of visible manifestation marked the Spirit's later descent on Gentile believers, who spoke in tongues and magnified and praised God, as at the beginning. The descent on Cornelius's household showed that God accepted Gentiles and granted them repentance and life, proving the equality of the gift with that to Jewish believers and opening the way for work among the Gentiles by breaking down prejudice. That descent was not a substitute for baptism, since conversion involved faith, repentance, and baptism.
The work and the three thousand conversions came through God's Spirit, not human ability or influence. The Holy Spirit's power accompanied gospel preaching and was given for the conversion of souls, bringing evidence that God had accepted the disciples and would answer prayers of faith, and that power comes from Christ, not from human numbers or merit. The Pentecostal outpouring revealed truth and gave the gospel message power to bring people to conversion, showing the work depends on the Spirit's power, not on human learning, eloquence, or strength. Christ, having ascended to take His position as Advocate and reached His throne, sent the Holy Spirit as promised in response to the disciples' prayers, and Christ Himself is the efficiency in the work, with right impressions on the human heart made by this Spirit, for no human art can do the soul-work of convincing of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment and converting souls.
Prophecy of Former Latter Rain
The outpouring at Pentecost was the former or early rain that opened the gospel work and caused the spiritual seed to spring up, while a more abundant latter rain is promised for the last days to ripen the harvest at the close of the gospel work. After putting away differences, meeting in unity, and praying in faith for the promised blessing and power to save souls, the disciples received power from above and preached with power so that thousands were converted in a day. That former outpouring will be repeated in the latter rain with greater abundance and power, and the latter rain will fall on God's people in the same way the early rain fell on the disciples. No one will receive the seal of God while character retains one spot or stain, so each person must remedy defects of character and cleanse the soul temple of every defilement, and then the latter rain will fall as the early rain fell at Pentecost.
As at Pentecost, God's servants in the final worldwide proclamation of the third message will be filled with the Spirit and consecrated to their work, with shining faces hurrying from place to place proclaiming heaven's warning. The Spirit will empower preaching about Jesus and His crucifixion, bringing many to conversion and preparing a people to stand the final test. The coming ingathering of souls will be similar to that witnessed on the day of Pentecost when an angel comes down from heaven and the earth is lightened with his glory. Filled with the Spirit, they proclaimed Jesus and His crucifixion and resurrection with power, and the Spirit opened hearers' minds to recognize Jesus as the exalted Prince and Saviour, leading them to believe, and this work is the pattern for a similar, more abundant outpouring in the latter rain and the closing proclamation. The heavenly endowment Christ longs to bestow in large measure now in answer to prayers put up in faith for the fulfillment of the promise flooded the church with light whose source was Christ, glorifying God by so revealing His character that He became the object of supreme affections and His character was made manifest in them, making them see clearly that there was never any righteousness in the world but His and no excellence but that derived from Him, so that His name was on every tongue and His love filled every heart, and the same will happen when the angel having great power lightens the whole earth with his glory.
On the day of Pentecost the disciples were all with one accord in one place waiting for the promise of the Father, when suddenly a sound as of a rushing mighty wind from heaven filled the house, and divided tongues like fire sat upon each of them, meaning each one was filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance. Devout Jews out of every nation then heard them speak in his own language wherein he was born the wonderful works, which caused amazement and inquiry. This was the baptism with the Holy Ghost promised to give power to be witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and unto the uttermost parts of the earth, and it was that which was spoken by the prophet Joel about God pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh with prophecy, visions, dreams, and wonders before the great and notable day of the Lord, when whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Some onlookers mistook the Spirit-filled behavior for drunkenness, but Peter identified the event as the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy, whose manifestation came through prayer and humility and accompanied Spirit-given speech. The Pentecost outpouring partially fulfilled Joel's prophecy and began its fulfillment, and the prophecy will be fully accomplished through a special manifestation of divine grace and power in the closing work of the gospel. The verse has a special bearing upon God's people at this time, because salvation has been purchased at infinite cost and solemn responsibility rests upon all to receive this power and do this witnessing work.
Pentecost marked the opening of the Christian age and dispensation, when the Christian age commenced and some spiritual gifts were manifested in a remarkable way. That descent fulfilled one of the springtime types in its appointed order and time, alongside Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. The outpouring brought a great variety and wide abundance of spiritual gifts among believers, with the manifestation of the Spirit given to each person in the church for the common good and to profit withal, not to every person in the world. The waiting in Jerusalem with heavenly illumination on the day of Pentecost is to be looked back upon with pleasure and profit by all Christians, whether present on the occasion or believing afterward, and it is the pattern for the waiting, consecration, and outpouring of the Holy Spirit enjoyed in the autumn of 1844, which those who have since embraced the doctrine of the Second Advent can look back upon with the same reviving interest. That Pentecost experience preceded by a spirit of intercession will be repeated in a great reformatory movement among God's people like the reformation witnessed in 1844, when many will praise God, the sick will be healed and other miracles wrought, hundreds and thousands will visit families and open before them the Word of God, hearts will be convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, genuine conversion will be manifest, doors will be thrown open on every side to the proclamation of the truth, the world will be lightened with a heavenly influence, and great blessings will be received by the true and humble people of God with thanksgiving and praise, while those who refuse to be converted and cling selfishly to earthly possessions when calls are made for liberal free-will offerings will become separated from believers.
Call for Today
The same Spirit who fell at Pentecost will fall on those whose hearts are united with Christ and whose lives are in harmony with His work, bringing revival, converting power, and the conversion of souls. Heaven and God's workers will then work harmoniously together to open understanding and hearts when believers pray, believe, keep humble, draw close to Christ as Teacher, and come into harmony with one another and the Word. As the disciples went forth filled with the Spirit's power to reap fields white to the harvest, giving mercy to those in darkness of error and unbelief until all nations hear and the earth is filled with the Lord's glory, so God's servants today are to go forth with hearts surcharged with deep, far-reaching benevolence impelling them to the ends of the earth to testify and glory only in the cross, with penitence, confession, praise for sins forgiven, thanksgiving, prophecy, and longing to add to the church such as should be saved. That same promised power is for all who receive the gospel commission, to make them true missionary workers who will not colonize in one place but will leave crowded centers, go everywhere preaching the Word, plant truth in towns and cities that have not heard it, make the wilderness sacred by establishing centers including sanitariums and schools, and bring the conversion of thousands in preparation for Christ's coming.
Believers are to pray earnestly together for the baptism and descent of the Spirit as the disciples did, for the gathered disciples received the Spirit together and their experience is the example of the baptism to be sought. The Spirit they needed then is needed even more today, and the same earnest prayer for the Holy Spirit and power of God to present truth is required now because moral darkness like a funeral pall covers the earth and all manner of false doctrines, heresies, and Satanic deceptions are misleading minds. Without the Spirit and God's power, labor to present truth is in vain and fruitless, and His aid is needed to resist false teaching and deception and to present divine truth effectively.
The blessings of that day may be claimed by meeting the conditions of consecration and harmony with God's Word, by coming to God wholeheartedly and putting away prejudice, doubt, and unbelief. Receiving greater blessing requires the same preparation the disciples made by confessing and forsaking sin, praying earnestly, consecrating themselves to God, and continuing to grow in light already given, with hearts prepared to receive when the Spirit is given abundantly to fill the place of gathering. Being ready requires denying self as Christ denied Himself, studying the Scriptures with all might in order to carry them out, putting self away from church members lest backward movement replace forward movement, and cleansing the soul temple of self and defilement. The verse means sinners are to be converted and believers have something to do in it, requiring the self-denying life of Christ, taking the Bible from house to house and reading to people to bring souls to truth, waking from stupor and indifference because there is a world to save and no sleeping in this judgment hour.
The Spirit's power and grace are available not only to the first disciples but to all today who need them and trust His word, for God endows men and women with power from above and gives His gift to all who take Him at His word and need His grace and Spirit. From Pentecost onward the Spirit is not limited to any age or race but has come to those who fully yield themselves to God and His service and to those who accept Christ as personal Saviour, serving them as Counselor, Sanctifier, Guide, and Witness. Christ is willing and longs to give the church a continuing supply of the Spirit's life-giving power with abundant gifts as at Pentecost. The gift makes every receptive person able to become a fellow laborer with God, yielding all capabilities to the Spirit's control, with sufficient power to overcome all hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil and to impress God's character on the agent, guided by His Word within his own sphere while through cooperation in mercy, goodness, and love God impresses His character on others within the sphere of influence.
The Spirit's presence kindles a missionary spirit in the hearts of those upon whom it comes, so that those who receive its blessings carry the light everywhere and preach the Word as the scattered believers went everywhere sharing the word. That baptism equips believers to discern distant mission fields, work more unselfishly, and recognize that the whole world is the field, carrying the influence of spiritual refreshment and strengthening through the love of Jesus, the truths of God's word, and divine grace out to the world in good works reflecting divine light. The same power promised then is promised now to send workers from crowded centers to plant the standard of truth in unreached towns and cities and to establish centers including sanitariums and schools, bringing the conversion of thousands.
The results to be seen again include softened hard hearts, joy, transformation into channels of blessing, bold witness, thousands converted in a day, unity in voice and understanding with wisdom to place the work on vantage ground, liberality in giving, healing, and praise. The signs accompanying the gift confirmed the preaching of Christ so that thousands in Jerusalem declared faith in Jesus as the promised Messiah, and the outpouring filled the place of meeting after lives had been permeated and actions directed by the Spirit through individual preparation before the general outpouring. The second chapter of Acts is to be read, received, and shared as a lesson calling for deeper piety, meekness, humility, and daily conversion, and the Pentecostal energy comes as God's people pray and confess sin, for the Spirit is God's all-conquering power.