Wednesday, October 6, 2021

POWER TO BE WITNESSES

Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the Father in heaven sends his gift, to be baptized in the Holy Spirit.  So that his disciples may have power to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Samaria, Judea, and to the ends of the earth.

"On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.  Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.  Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.  And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability."  ACTS 2:1-4 NLT

Everyone baptized in the Holy Spirit began praising God, in languages they have never learned.  This was a sign to the unbelievers, hearing praises in their own languages.

"At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.

They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!  Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!”  They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.

But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”

ACTS 2:5-13 NLT  New Living Translation

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