Acts 2:4–13 (ESV)
The Coming of the Holy Spirit (Part 2)
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under
heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is
it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,
11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They
are filled with new wine.”
I repeated verse 4 from yesterday, because it fits in with today’s reading. So many people want to speak in tongues... but look and read what is going on here.
They are speaking in different languages, not some prayer language. Its as if today, they would be speaking French, Spanish, German, English, Farsi, etc... actual languages. Verse 4 says they spoke in other tongues. Read 5-11 makes it very
clear that these are languages from different countries. You cannot get any more clear than verse 11: “we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” I think verse 12 explains their confusion over this: 12 “And
all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’” They were baffled! The only way some could explain it was that they were drunk, but that was not the case.
I pray: O Lord, help me to be bold and to share the message to all people, of all colors, of all cultures, of all income levels, of all languages... so that they may be saved through the power of the Holy Spirit. Use me Lord! Amen.