Watch This Episode on Acts 2:1-13

This Dwell in the Word episode focuses on Acts 2:1–13 and the remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Pastor Mark explains how the Spirit’s coming brought clarity and life—not confusion—and how the gospel was proclaimed in every language for the salvation of many. The episode highlights how this moment fulfills Old Testament prophecy, reverses the judgment at Babel, and reveals God’s intent to build a people from every tribe and tongue. This is the story of how the church begins—and why it continues.

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Welcome to Dwell in the Word. Today is Friday, October 29. We’re starting off with another prayer from Hughes Oliphant Old, a prayer for illumination. Let us pray: Blessed you are, Lord, great God, everlasting sovereign, God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, God, whom we long to know, oh, burning fire within our souls, grant us the tongues of fire, the sound of rushing wind, your descending Holy Spirit, that in knowing your word, we might know your presence, that in following your ways, we might live in your light. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

That was a very fitting prayer for what we are reading today because we are at Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit. We’re reading from Acts 2, verses 1 through 13. Hear the word of the Lord: When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly, there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. At this sound, the multitude came together, and they were bewildered because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

This is a substantial story, marking the beginning of the church when the Holy Spirit comes in power. It’s significant because it announces that the gospel is going out. Jesus declared that His disciples would be His witnesses to the ends of the earth, and here we see it on display. The disciples, gathered together as they were praying just days before, experience a mighty rushing wind and divided tongues of fire. As Acts 2:4 states, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Importantly, these were not ecstatic utterances or babble but clear, known languages, as verse 8 confirms: “How is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?”

The context is key. All these people had gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost, a Jewish festival, not yet a Christian event. People came from across the Roman Empire for this feast, and now they hear the gospel in their own languages. They will return to their homes, proclaiming the wondrous works of God. This event functionally undoes the Tower of Babel. At Babel, humanity was scattered, and the promise of the seed of the woman who would crush the serpent’s head was carried through one family, one language group. Now, with Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and ascension, the gospel is no longer for one people group but for every language and nation.

God used the Feast of Pentecost, with its diverse crowd, to expand the gospel’s reach, uniting people through the gospel rather than dividing them as at Babel. Verse 11 captures this: “We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” This was an amazing moment, as the gospel began to spread worldwide. For us, this is good news. Most of us are not Hebrew, yet this event ensures the gospel reaches every tribe, tongue, and nation, including us.

This also teaches us about the proliferation of the gospel. The Holy Spirit empowers God’s people, bringing them to faith. We proclaim this good news to everyone, trusting the Spirit uses our proclamation to bring others to faith. With joy, we share the mighty works of God, knowing we’re part of His diverse family, regardless of ethnicity. This is essentially the birth of the church, a people from every tribe, tongue, and language, united by the gospel.

May we recognize that this work continues today. Let us faithfully proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, that others may hear and believe, not because of our efforts, but because God brings people to faith through the gospel’s proclamation and the Holy Spirit’s work. Let us pray: Merciful Father, we praise you for calling out a people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Regardless of ethnicity, by your Holy Spirit, you call people to faith through the power of that same Holy Spirit. Grant us the courage to proclaim your word, that more may hear and the Spirit might bring them to faith and trust in Christ alone for their salvation.

On this Friday, we lift up our prayers for those among us receiving treatments or recovering from surgery. We ask that you grant them healing and bless them with the peace of your presence as they rest and recover. May they have confidence in your healing hand and your love. As we head into another day and weekend, we ask that your Spirit guide us in paths of righteousness. May we have opportunities to serve you in obedience, living in gratitude for the work Christ has done for us. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

I hope you have a very good Friday and an excellent, relaxing weekend. Take care.