And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Devout Jews from every nation were dwelling temporarily in Jerusalem to observe the feasts and worship at the temple, so that nearly every known language was represented among those gathered. They formed the diverse multitude that came together when the sound from heaven was noised abroad and were confounded because every man heard in his own birth language. Their diversity of languages would have hindered proclaiming the gospel, so the Holy Spirit miraculously enabled the Galilean disciples to speak accurately and understandably in languages they had not learned, showing their commission came from heaven. God made the gathering an occasion for powerful public evidence that Jesus was the Son of God whom they had crucified, who had risen and ascended, and the unfolding of Him brought three thousand souls to repentance, baptism and joining the believers in one day. Hearing in their own tongue carried conviction to them, and through them the truth would go broadcast everywhere as they carried it home to different parts, nations and classes, making Jerusalem a strategic center where light shone in its most powerful rays upon witnesses to reach the whole world.
Setting and Audience
Devout Jews from every nation were dwelling temporarily in Jerusalem to observe the religious festivals and worship at the temple during the appointed feasts. They had come from far away for the feast and were living there for the season, forming the diverse audience that heard the disciples speak at Pentecost. Because the dispersion had spread Jews throughout the inhabited world, many spoke different languages, and nearly every known language was represented among those gathered.
Parthians and Medes and Elamites and dwellers in Mesopotamia and in Judea and Cappadocia and Pontus and Asia and Phrygia and Pamphylia and Egypt and parts of Libya about Cyrene and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians each heard Galilean disciples speaking in his own birth language the wonderful works of God, so that all were amazed and asked what it meant. Among those gathered were Hebrew believers known as Grecians and Jews of Palestine, groups with a history of distrust and antagonism.
The verse provides the setting for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the Christian age, when some spiritual gifts were manifested in a remarkable way. It belongs to the account of Pentecost in Jerusalem, including the Holy Spirit's descent and Peter's witness to the risen Christ, after which many hearers repented, were baptized, and joined the believers. This came very soon after the ascension of Christ to heaven, when prayers ascended to God and the disciples were of one accord and one mind, and thousands were converted in a day as the people took hold of the Word that had been declared during Christ's ministry.
These dwellers formed the diverse multitude that came together when the sound from heaven was noised abroad. A great religious festival had gathered multitudes at Jerusalem, and God used His disciples on this occasion to give to the multitudes so assembled the message of the risen Saviour. They formed the multitude that came together when the disciples, filled with the Holy Ghost, began to speak in other tongues, and they were confounded because every man heard them speak in his own language. Their presence and amazement set the occasion for Peter's witness that this was the pouring out of God's Spirit spoken of by Joel.
Gift of Tongues
Devout Jews from many nations had settled temporarily in Jerusalem to observe the religious festivals, and because the dispersion had spread Jews throughout the inhabited world nearly every known language was represented among those gathered. This diversity of languages would have hindered proclaiming the gospel to the world, so the Holy Spirit miraculously enabled the disciples to speak accurately in languages they had not learned. It was a gift they could not have gained in a lifetime, and it showed that their commission came from heaven and confirmed their witness.
The missionaries were miraculously given knowledge of the languages in which they were called to preach, so that people from far away who spoke many different tongues formed a diverse audience able to understand the proclamation. They spoke clearly and understandably in each hearer's own birth language about the wonderful works of God and about Jesus and salvation. The languages could be understood by those who spoke them, and the experience of speaking in understandable languages is presented as a blessing that may also be given to later believers.
The Spirit's manifestation was public, not private, with people outside the gathered disciples present to witness God's power. The great gathering of Jews and others assembled there to learn of Jesus Christ made it possible for the disciples' experience to be publicly witnessed. In this way the demonstration showed that Jesus was the one they had crucified and that He had ascended to heaven.
They formed the multitude that came together when the disciples, filled with the Holy Ghost, began to speak in other tongues, and they were confounded because every man heard in his own language. Peter explained the event as the pouring out of God's Spirit spoken of by Joel about the last days, with salvation for whoever calls on the Lord. God still sends men to carry truth to people of a strange tongue, sometimes opening missionaries' minds so they quickly learn the language with the spiritual help of the very people they came to help, and by this relation the natives are prepared to hear the message in their own tongue.
Witness to Christ
God turned the presence in Jerusalem of devout Jews out of every nation at Pentecost into an occasion for powerful evidence that Jesus is the Son of God. The demonstration witnessed by the Jews and others assembled there declared that He was the One they had crucified, that He had risen from the dead, and that He had ascended to heaven. Their presence at that special gathering made it possible for the disciples' experience of the Holy Spirit to be publicly seen and understood as proof of His exaltation. Among them were some who had seen and heard Jesus and had become convinced of His divine mission yet had been afraid to acknowledge Him openly. The Spirit moved those fearful convinced ones to act fearlessly upon their convictions.
It was the Spirit's unfolding of Jesus and glorifying of Him before eyes that before had seen no beauty in Him to desire Him that brought three thousand souls to repentance in one day. That wondrous sermon was preached in demonstration of the Spirit and with power. Then Jesus was lifted up, exalted by God to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of sins. The glorious inner beauties of His work and character are not discerned with natural eyes, for it is the Spirit that quickeneth.
Very soon after Christ's ascension to heaven, when prayers ascended to God and the disciples were of one accord and one mind, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they went out and preached the Word everywhere. With signs and wonders confirming the message, thousands openly accepted Jesus as the promised Messiah in a day. They took hold of the Word that had been declared during Christ's ministry, then repented, were baptized, and joined the believers as Peter witnessed to the risen Christ.
Worldwide Spread of Gospel
Hearing the message in their own birth tongue was fitted to carry conviction to the devout Jews gathered from every nation, and through those hearers the truth would go broadcast everywhere. Without leaving Jerusalem the disciples could reach the world, because those who received the truths carried them home and shared them with their own people in different parts and nations. Converts returning to their homes spread the light to many nations and to all classes of society, so that people from across the inhabited world heard clearly of the wonderful works of God and of Jesus and salvation. Among them were those who around the time of the crucifixion had heard false reports about the Messiah, who then heard testimony to His resurrection and carried the gospel message back to their homes.
The gathering shows that God's field is the whole world and the gospel is not limited to any country or region. It reveals His interest that all His people in all languages shall receive grace, and that in the last days a large work is to be done among people of all languages. Therefore every soul who believes present truth, whatever his country or speech, should gain an intelligent knowledge of the truths of the third angel's message so he can do intelligent work for God, and the Lord will open the understanding of all who come into right relation to Him and walk humbly searching the Scriptures, giving power to work with heaven's cooperation in the mighty power at work in the world. Because devout Jews out of every nation were dwelling there, Jerusalem was a great center of influence and a strategic place where light from heaven was to shine in its most powerful rays upon the Lord's witnesses bearing the gospel message to reach people from many lands.
During the busy years of ministry that followed the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, Peter put forth untiring efforts to reach the festival worshippers dwelling at Jerusalem. A similar gathering for the Passover gave Paul an opportunity to meet people from across the world and seek to remove their prejudice against the gospel.
Example for Today
The Spirit worked with mighty power through believers who were harmoniously united, all with one accord in one place, and that united position under the moving of the Holy Spirit's power is the position God's people are to occupy now. The same kind of international representation seen when devout Jews from every nation gathered at Jerusalem to hear in their own tongue will happen again when God's people follow on to know the Lord. In the last days a large work is to be done among people of all languages, showing God's interest that all His people in all languages shall receive grace.
The gathering of all nations at Jerusalem has special bearing for God's people at this time in witnessing in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth in the power of the Holy Ghost. The same converting work seen when the Spirit came upon the believers and thousands were converted in a day is to be seen now. Sinners will be converted through believers who share in that work by receiving the self-denying life of Christ, taking the Bible from house to house and reading to people, and shaking off stupor and indifference to wake up and give the message to save a world in this judgment hour.
Because devout Jews from every nation were dwelling at Jerusalem, the city was a great center of influence where light from heaven was to shine in its most powerful rays upon witnesses bearing the gospel message to reach people from many lands. That example teaches that the gospel should be represented prominently in influential centers. One of the first duties now is therefore to make at the nation's capital a special representation of present truth, establishing a signal memorial in Washington instead of passing it by, and faithfulness as stewards of that part of the Lord's vineyard requires it.
The same blessings belong to those who consecrate themselves to God, deny self as Christ denied Himself, study the Scriptures with all their might to know and carry them out, and put away rising self that causes backward movement instead of forward movement. They belong to those who work in harmony with the Word, exalt it, honor its precepts by a consistent course of action, comply with the conditions, shake off stupor and indifference, take the Bible from house to house, and look for the wonders to be shown. Every soul who believes the truth for this time, whatever his country or speech, should gain an intelligent knowledge of the truths of the third angel's message so he can do an intelligent work for God. The Lord will open the understanding of all who come into right relation to Him and walk humbly searching the Scriptures, giving understanding of the Word and power to work with heaven's cooperation amid the mighty power at work in the world, and the experience of speaking in understandable languages as the apostles did is a blessing that may also be given to later believers.
Devout Jews from every nation were dwelling temporarily in Jerusalem to observe the feasts and worship at the temple, so that nearly every known language was represented among those gathered. They formed the diverse multitude that came together when the sound from heaven was noised abroad and were confounded because every man heard in his own birth language. Their diversity of languages would have hindered proclaiming the gospel, so the Holy Spirit miraculously enabled the Galilean disciples to speak accurately and understandably in languages they had not learned, showing their commission came from heaven. God made the gathering an occasion for powerful public evidence that Jesus was the Son of God whom they had crucified, who had risen and ascended, and the unfolding of Him brought three thousand souls to repentance, baptism and joining the believers in one day. Hearing in their own tongue carried conviction to them, and through them the truth would go broadcast everywhere as they carried it home to different parts, nations and classes, making Jerusalem a strategic center where light shone in its most powerful rays upon witnesses to reach the whole world.
Setting and Audience
Devout Jews from every nation were dwelling temporarily in Jerusalem to observe the religious festivals and worship at the temple during the appointed feasts. They had come from far away for the feast and were living there for the season, forming the diverse audience that heard the disciples speak at Pentecost. Because the dispersion had spread Jews throughout the inhabited world, many spoke different languages, and nearly every known language was represented among those gathered.
Parthians and Medes and Elamites and dwellers in Mesopotamia and in Judea and Cappadocia and Pontus and Asia and Phrygia and Pamphylia and Egypt and parts of Libya about Cyrene and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians each heard Galilean disciples speaking in his own birth language the wonderful works of God, so that all were amazed and asked what it meant. Among those gathered were Hebrew believers known as Grecians and Jews of Palestine, groups with a history of distrust and antagonism.
The verse provides the setting for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the Christian age, when some spiritual gifts were manifested in a remarkable way. It belongs to the account of Pentecost in Jerusalem, including the Holy Spirit's descent and Peter's witness to the risen Christ, after which many hearers repented, were baptized, and joined the believers. This came very soon after the ascension of Christ to heaven, when prayers ascended to God and the disciples were of one accord and one mind, and thousands were converted in a day as the people took hold of the Word that had been declared during Christ's ministry.
These dwellers formed the diverse multitude that came together when the sound from heaven was noised abroad. A great religious festival had gathered multitudes at Jerusalem, and God used His disciples on this occasion to give to the multitudes so assembled the message of the risen Saviour. They formed the multitude that came together when the disciples, filled with the Holy Ghost, began to speak in other tongues, and they were confounded because every man heard them speak in his own language. Their presence and amazement set the occasion for Peter's witness that this was the pouring out of God's Spirit spoken of by Joel.
Gift of Tongues
Devout Jews from many nations had settled temporarily in Jerusalem to observe the religious festivals, and because the dispersion had spread Jews throughout the inhabited world nearly every known language was represented among those gathered. This diversity of languages would have hindered proclaiming the gospel to the world, so the Holy Spirit miraculously enabled the disciples to speak accurately in languages they had not learned. It was a gift they could not have gained in a lifetime, and it showed that their commission came from heaven and confirmed their witness.
The missionaries were miraculously given knowledge of the languages in which they were called to preach, so that people from far away who spoke many different tongues formed a diverse audience able to understand the proclamation. They spoke clearly and understandably in each hearer's own birth language about the wonderful works of God and about Jesus and salvation. The languages could be understood by those who spoke them, and the experience of speaking in understandable languages is presented as a blessing that may also be given to later believers.
The Spirit's manifestation was public, not private, with people outside the gathered disciples present to witness God's power. The great gathering of Jews and others assembled there to learn of Jesus Christ made it possible for the disciples' experience to be publicly witnessed. In this way the demonstration showed that Jesus was the one they had crucified and that He had ascended to heaven.
They formed the multitude that came together when the disciples, filled with the Holy Ghost, began to speak in other tongues, and they were confounded because every man heard in his own language. Peter explained the event as the pouring out of God's Spirit spoken of by Joel about the last days, with salvation for whoever calls on the Lord. God still sends men to carry truth to people of a strange tongue, sometimes opening missionaries' minds so they quickly learn the language with the spiritual help of the very people they came to help, and by this relation the natives are prepared to hear the message in their own tongue.
Witness to Christ
God turned the presence in Jerusalem of devout Jews out of every nation at Pentecost into an occasion for powerful evidence that Jesus is the Son of God. The demonstration witnessed by the Jews and others assembled there declared that He was the One they had crucified, that He had risen from the dead, and that He had ascended to heaven. Their presence at that special gathering made it possible for the disciples' experience of the Holy Spirit to be publicly seen and understood as proof of His exaltation. Among them were some who had seen and heard Jesus and had become convinced of His divine mission yet had been afraid to acknowledge Him openly. The Spirit moved those fearful convinced ones to act fearlessly upon their convictions.
It was the Spirit's unfolding of Jesus and glorifying of Him before eyes that before had seen no beauty in Him to desire Him that brought three thousand souls to repentance in one day. That wondrous sermon was preached in demonstration of the Spirit and with power. Then Jesus was lifted up, exalted by God to be a Prince and a Saviour to give repentance and forgiveness of sins. The glorious inner beauties of His work and character are not discerned with natural eyes, for it is the Spirit that quickeneth.
Very soon after Christ's ascension to heaven, when prayers ascended to God and the disciples were of one accord and one mind, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they went out and preached the Word everywhere. With signs and wonders confirming the message, thousands openly accepted Jesus as the promised Messiah in a day. They took hold of the Word that had been declared during Christ's ministry, then repented, were baptized, and joined the believers as Peter witnessed to the risen Christ.
Worldwide Spread of Gospel
Hearing the message in their own birth tongue was fitted to carry conviction to the devout Jews gathered from every nation, and through those hearers the truth would go broadcast everywhere. Without leaving Jerusalem the disciples could reach the world, because those who received the truths carried them home and shared them with their own people in different parts and nations. Converts returning to their homes spread the light to many nations and to all classes of society, so that people from across the inhabited world heard clearly of the wonderful works of God and of Jesus and salvation. Among them were those who around the time of the crucifixion had heard false reports about the Messiah, who then heard testimony to His resurrection and carried the gospel message back to their homes.
The gathering shows that God's field is the whole world and the gospel is not limited to any country or region. It reveals His interest that all His people in all languages shall receive grace, and that in the last days a large work is to be done among people of all languages. Therefore every soul who believes present truth, whatever his country or speech, should gain an intelligent knowledge of the truths of the third angel's message so he can do intelligent work for God, and the Lord will open the understanding of all who come into right relation to Him and walk humbly searching the Scriptures, giving power to work with heaven's cooperation in the mighty power at work in the world. Because devout Jews out of every nation were dwelling there, Jerusalem was a great center of influence and a strategic place where light from heaven was to shine in its most powerful rays upon the Lord's witnesses bearing the gospel message to reach people from many lands.
During the busy years of ministry that followed the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, Peter put forth untiring efforts to reach the festival worshippers dwelling at Jerusalem. A similar gathering for the Passover gave Paul an opportunity to meet people from across the world and seek to remove their prejudice against the gospel.
Example for Today
The Spirit worked with mighty power through believers who were harmoniously united, all with one accord in one place, and that united position under the moving of the Holy Spirit's power is the position God's people are to occupy now. The same kind of international representation seen when devout Jews from every nation gathered at Jerusalem to hear in their own tongue will happen again when God's people follow on to know the Lord. In the last days a large work is to be done among people of all languages, showing God's interest that all His people in all languages shall receive grace.
The gathering of all nations at Jerusalem has special bearing for God's people at this time in witnessing in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth in the power of the Holy Ghost. The same converting work seen when the Spirit came upon the believers and thousands were converted in a day is to be seen now. Sinners will be converted through believers who share in that work by receiving the self-denying life of Christ, taking the Bible from house to house and reading to people, and shaking off stupor and indifference to wake up and give the message to save a world in this judgment hour.
Because devout Jews from every nation were dwelling at Jerusalem, the city was a great center of influence where light from heaven was to shine in its most powerful rays upon witnesses bearing the gospel message to reach people from many lands. That example teaches that the gospel should be represented prominently in influential centers. One of the first duties now is therefore to make at the nation's capital a special representation of present truth, establishing a signal memorial in Washington instead of passing it by, and faithfulness as stewards of that part of the Lord's vineyard requires it.
The same blessings belong to those who consecrate themselves to God, deny self as Christ denied Himself, study the Scriptures with all their might to know and carry them out, and put away rising self that causes backward movement instead of forward movement. They belong to those who work in harmony with the Word, exalt it, honor its precepts by a consistent course of action, comply with the conditions, shake off stupor and indifference, take the Bible from house to house, and look for the wonders to be shown. Every soul who believes the truth for this time, whatever his country or speech, should gain an intelligent knowledge of the truths of the third angel's message so he can do an intelligent work for God. The Lord will open the understanding of all who come into right relation to Him and walk humbly searching the Scriptures, giving understanding of the Word and power to work with heaven's cooperation amid the mighty power at work in the world, and the experience of speaking in understandable languages as the apostles did is a blessing that may also be given to later believers.