Welcome
Prayer
Word to Music
Silence
When we come back, Acts 2 at verse 12.
Okay last week we covered the various lands and languages the devout Jewish men came from and who heard the wonderful works of God in their own tongue.
Let’s continue reading at verse 12:
Acts 2.21
Milk
September 6th 2015
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, “What meaneth this?”
13 Others mocking said, “These men are full of new wine.”
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, “Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
This is the first part of Peter’s speech to those gathered there – let’s talk about it.
Act 2:12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, “What meaneth this?-
Luke writes that they were “all amazed” and were “in doubt.”
There are a number of words in Greek that are translated into the English word doubt and the one here – “dee-aporeo” means very perplexed as opposed to outright disbelieved.
They were in a state of anxiety and possibly hesitancy over the whole thing.
In antiquity the term is used to describe people who are travelling and are not sure about the way and so they are in a state of hesitancy as they travel.
It was an amazing scene and we have to believe they were astonished, did not know how to explain it, and so some of them associated what they were seeing with something they had seen before – the actions of people who had been drinking. (verse 13)
13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
Because of the wording it seems that those who came up with this explanation did so to ridicule the event.
It is used in only one other place in the New Testament, Acts 17:32, which says:
“And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked.”
This is a tough call because we tend to mock things we don’t understand – and when it comes to religious expression it can be hard to tell what is real and what is not.
Cynicism is often the result of having been burned in the past – especially in relationships and religious matters. AS a means to thwart such painful experiences scripture tells us to “test all things and hold fast to what is good,” and to be “harmless as doves but wise as serpents.”
I would suppose that here at this scene it was pride and cynicism that motivated the mockery. If we allow these attitudes to grow we can become jaded and refuse some things of God that are meant for our benefit.
The safeguard we all possess is the ability to test things, challenge them, investigate them by the Word and with the Spirit and see if they hold water.
I’ve read a number of books by atheists, men who were once believers and/or pastors who become so jaded and cynical they not only abandon the faith all together they become enemies of the cross.
David says something interesting about God in Psalm 18:26:
“With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the torturous thou wilt shew thyself torturous.”
Later we read in Proverbs 1:24-26:
Proverbs 1:24-26 “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh.”
Here, instead of seeing that the event was the design of God (after all, they were understanding what was being said in their own language) some suggested that those involved were “full of new wine.”
One commentator writes of their view:
“To escape the absurdity of acknowledging their own ignorance, they adopted the theory that strong drink can teach languages.”
Why new wine?
In the Greek it is called glucose which means sweet wine and it describes the juice of grapes that distils before any pressure is applied to is, today we call it, Must – means young wine.
It is the product in the first stage in wine making and is full of sugar.
Must was a fermented juice (hence the claim these people had been drinking it and this was the cause of their behavior) but the juice was fermented by a natural yeast that was on the fruit and not by yeast that is added later to increase fermentation.
If you have ever had an abundance of the Holy Spirit upon you the effects can quite frankly feel like intoxication from alcohol or a narcotic.
There is warmth, peace, a total feeling of security and indomitability. These are the very same feelings substances give and it is one reason why I think Paul said:
Ephesians 5:18 “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”
Notice that Paul likens the two states – drunk with wine and filled with the Spirit. And the word filled that Paul uses here is the same word Luke uses here to say that those who were gathered at Pentecost were filled with the Spirit.
Other interesting parallels to the two are we often desire more of each – wine and the Spirit and there is a longing for more of the intoxicated state as each of them fade.
Their differences, however, are obvious. Drunkenness typically opens us up to the ways and wiles of uninhibited flesh where Spirit intoxication opens us up to the uninhibited Spirit.
I would imagine – and this is certainly conjecture on my part – but I would imagine that part of the heavenly experience will include euphoria, otherworldly peace, warmth, security, unity, and the reality of having overcome all things in Him.
Apparently hearing this charge (verse 14)
14 Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, “Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:”
If we are to look at a reasonable flow of consistency through the Gospel accounts what Peter does here makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? Who else but Peter would stand up and speak to this crowd, right?
Prior it seems the people were observing the believers bask in the Holy Spirit but when some started maligning the event, Peter stepped up to the plate.
Instead of appealing to a sword of steel to lop off the ears of those mocking them, Peter uses the Sword of the Spirit, which Paul calls the Word of God.
We also note that all the other apostles – eleven of them – also stood with Peter. Maybe they were echoing what Peter said in the other languages? It doesn’t say this but we are left to wonder how everyone there understood Peter alone – unless it’s what Steve mentioned and one language was being spoken but the Holy Spirit had each of these men hear what was being said in their own tongue.
And so Peter says, “Ye men of Judea.”
Instead of this meaning only those from Judea it seems that Peter was saying, you Man Jews – those whose heritage spiritually resides here.
“And all ye that dwell – all of you who are in Jerusalem – native-born Jews, proselytes, strangers.
“Be this known,”
They were being mocked by some and now filled with the Holy Spirit Peter stepped right into the shoes God had cobbled for his feet of clay.
From his words and the content and apparent tone it seem Peter was reaching out to them in love. He was seeking to help all in this crowd understand what they were observing.
Later, in his epistle, 1st Peter 3:15, Peter delivered this advice to believers:
“Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”
It is great advice for all of us. But note what Peter had with Him before he stood before this enormous crowd of devout men – some of whom were now mocking:
He was called by Christ to leave his former profession.
He entered a life of full time ministry with Him, walking with Christ, learning of Him.
He experienced ample successes under this tutelage and some epic failures.
He believed in Jesus, He professed Him as Christ, He watched Him die, He saw His resurrected, He witnessed Him ascend into the heavens.
Now, finally, he was full of the Holy Spirit and able to . . .
“always be ready to give an answer to every man that asked him for a reason of the hope that is in him with meekness and fear.”
His purpose was to preach to this gathering so that they too might see, and hear, and believe, and know, and be converted, and be saved.
How does he do it? He first clears up the negative, saying (verse 15):
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
The Jews divided their day into twelve equal parts, reckoning from sunrise to sunset. Of course the hours were longer in the summer than in the winter. The third hour would correspond to our nine o’clock in the morning.
So he reasons with the accusation that they were drunk saying that “it’s pretty darn early in the morning for us to be drunk, don’t you think?”
I love this response. It’s the kind of response a man without guile, a fisherman would use.
Religious men would probably say something to the effect of: “Why alcohol has never touched our lips so how could we be drunk?”
But Peter reasoned with them in a much more down to earth fashion – “It’s nine o’clock in the morning! Do you really think we’re drunk?”
Another reason the mention of nine in the morning could have been mentioned is the fresh must would not have been highly fermented – it was too early in the day.
Additionally, it was a very regular practice with the Jews to not to eat or drink anything until after the third hour of the day, especially on the Sabbath, and on all festival occasions and sometimes this was carried out until noon.
Jewish Historian Maimonides wrote the following on the subject:
“This was the custom of pious people in ancient times, that each one should offer his morning prayers with additions in the synagogue, and then return home and take refreshment.” (Maimonides, Shabb.chap. 30.)
“They remained in the synagogue until the sixth hour and a half, and then each one offered the prayer of the Mincha, before he returned home, and then he ate.”
OR
“The fourth is the hour of repast, when all eat.”
So, Peter says, “we’re not drunk” (verse 16)
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
But “this is that.”
But this event you are witnessing is THAT which was foretold – spoken of – by the prophet Joel.
So first, he appeals to reason, then he quotes from scripture.
Now remember, when the New Testament writers spoke of scripture in every case except one they were speaking of the Old Testament.
Why?
First, the New Testament had not been written yet.
And second, the New Testament contents would not be agreed upon after they were composed for hundreds of years.
Peter appeals to the Old Testament which these devout Jews would have understood. Devout Jews – especially in a day without all the modern distractions – knew their scripture.
And anciently their prophets spoke and wrote about things that these devout Jews understood as prophecy – as events that were yet to happen.
So here’s the situation – they are drunk with the Spirit, they are speaking in foreign tongues, and some are saying they are drunk.
Peter, prepared now, stand and says we’re not drunk “but this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.
And Peter proceeds to cite the reference of Joel from Joel chapter 2 verses 28-32.
Now, if we read the Hebrew of these verses or the Greek translation from the Septuagint we cannot justify what Luke has Peter saying here word for word.
But the substance of the passages are preserved.
Joel wrote somewhere between 900 years to 500 years before the birth of Christ. So Peter, quoting Joel, said was happening there at Pentecost. Please note the language used. Note the period of time to which Peter applies these words of Joel – in other words, note that Peter says that WHAT THESE MEN WERE SEEING WAS THE FULFILLMENT OF JOELS WORDS. And this is what he says
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, “I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
In the Old Testament when the term “last days,” was used it referred to a time in the future and at the end (or last days) of Israel’s age.
When Jacob called his sons he told them what should happen to them (their people) in “the last days.”
In Micah 4:1, we read:
“In the last days, the mountain of the house of the Lord.”
In Isaiah 2:2 we read,
“In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains.”
The last days stood in opposition to the denomination of earlier times. It was a phrase in contrast with the days of the patriarchs, the kings, the prophets with their ages “last days,” or the closing period of their world, they days when the King of Kings, where the Messiah would appear.
They did NOT believe the world was going to end, so the last days and end of the age was all relative to their world of prophets, priests, patriarches and kings all replaced by the Messiah who would then CONTINUE on forever leading and protecting the House of Israel and the world, whose Kingdom would last forever and ever.
Guess what? Their Messiah did come. The end of their world of earthly kings did end, and the Messiah does reign over His Kingdom from the right hand of the Father.
The New Testament apostles, when writing to the believers (who were in many cases just converted Jews) appealed to this Old Testament phrase frequently to let them know that all the things of their former lives under the law were about to end.
Remember Hebrews 1:2, which says, “
“God in the past spoke to us by prophets has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.”
Peter in his 1st epistle says, speaking of Jesus Christ, that He . . . was manifest in these last times for you.”
John wrote in his epistle, “Little children, it is the last time.”
So Peter, appealing to the writings of Joel to explain what they were seeing right then and there, says that God said in those last days He would – “at that time” “right then,” “during that age”) do the following.
Again, Peter says, “were not drunk but “this is that” which was spoken of by the Prophet Joel
(This is that – ready? There is 15 of them, and I’m gonna list them in an order.)
God said:
“I will pour out of my Spirit.”
“Upon all flesh”
“and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,”
“and your young men shall see visions,”
“and your old men shall dream dreams”
“And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
and I will shew wonders in heaven
above
and signs in the earth beneath
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:
the sun shall be turned into darkness
and the moon into blood
before that great and notable day of the Lord come
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
And I will pour my Spirit”
Throughout scripture good things from God are described as being poured down upon us, or raining down on us –
“Blessings, water, blood, oil and Spirit.”
Conversely punishment is described in the same manner – fire, brimstone, punishment, etc.
The idea is it comes from above and therefore whatever it is falls, pours-down, rains, shines, is shed down upon us.
Because of what was actually happening there it was a fulfillment of Joel’s prophesy which specifically says that God, in the last days, would “pour out His Spirit.”
God refers to what He is pouring as, “My Spirit.” We can think of His Spirit being poured as “the third actual person of the Holy Trinity” or you can think of the Holy Spirit as being the Spirit of God which, coming to us is experienced as light and love and through whom God blesses and guides the world.
Up to you.
But for believers this Spirit is the conveyor of all truth, light, and love. It testifies of the life and work of Christ Jesus, and is the means by which we not only live and relate to God but the means He teaches us all things, is the conveyor of all blessings in the Christian dispensation and the sanctifier of our souls.
It’s fruit? Love, peace, joy, patience, longsuffering.
Interestingly enough, the Holy Spirit is what brings us humans of flesh and blood and will and passion into the light and life and love of God.
When we are “in the Spirit” overflowing with the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, the manifestations, the end-results are THINGS OF THE SPIRIT – and not the things of the flesh.
The Holy Spirit was poured out on all flesh because of the finished work of Christ. It is working on all people all the time to bring them to God by convincing them to accept Him, receive Him, call upon Him.
Those who do it fills, bringing us into relation with God and the place He dwells.
In the Christian dispensation the Holy Spirit is what blesses our lives – of course its God through Christ by the Holy Spirit, but this is the means God communicates, warms, warns, loves, relates, instructs, directs, guides, assures those who are His.
Now listen – if all this is true, and the Work of God among us is by the Holy Spirit, and we know by the name alone it is SPIRIT (as God is Spirit) . . . SPIRIT, then we know that God operates and relates and conveys what KIND of blessings to believers today?
Spiritual.
In the former coventant of Law the blessings were material and related to laws of obedience and rebellion.
Do well and you will receive blessings. Do badly and you will receive a curse.
But in the Christian economy God has poured His SPIRIT out upon those who are His.
And we relate best, most clearly to Him by and through Spiritual things . . . and not the things of this world.
I am not saying this to say God does not care for all of us and bless us with shelter and food. But in the Christian life the focus of both the Spirit and those who seek to walk by the Spirit is the things OF the Spirit.
I am personally convinced that God allows all of us to decide where our focus will be in this life – on the things here in the flesh here or the things of the Spirit there.
My greater the priority the things of the Spirit have in our life here, the greater the assimilation of ourselves into His Kingdom there.
The Spirit therefore, is seeking to draw all of us closer and closer into proximity to God through Christ.
For those who believe it is to help sanctify us in our flesh. For those who don’t believe it is to get them to receive Christ.
We can think all manner of things about Christ. We can criticize and question and fail Him – all such things will be forgiven.
But blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not forgivable in this world or in the world to come. What is it? The Holy Spirit is calling us to believe on Christ. To blaspheme this work is to refuse to believe on Christ.
Until a person does, there is no forgiveness – their refusal is unforgiveable – here and in the world to come.
When would this sin be wiped away? When a person receives what the Holy Spirit is offering and accepts Christ. And when this happens, their specific sin against the Holy Spirit is over – and they are forgiven.
So Peter tells these men that there, in those last days, God has poured out His Holy Spirit. Upon whom?
Number 2. “Upon all flesh.”
The word flesh here means persons, or men. We could, I suppose, believe that it is speaking of all things that have flesh, dogs and cats, fish and the like.
This has been hypothecated by some animal lovers and certain religions.
I disagree with it because I do not believe that creations other than human beings have an ability to relate to God through the Spirit. And I think this because I believe that Man was made in the image of God and has the capacity to consider spiritual things over fleshly.
If animals had the capacity to receive the Holy Spirit then we would have to believe that animals could learn to be monogamous, exercise ethics, etc.
Very problematic.
But the use of the general term, “all flesh” here makes some think it could be all flesh because flesh IS used in the Old Testament to describe animals.
Additionally, because Joel said that God would pour His spirit out on all flesh does not mean individually but of Man generally.
All types, all ranks, all types of human beings. Proving this Peter quotes the next point Joel prophesies of and says:
3. “And your sons and your daughters shall prophecy.”
When it says, your sons and daughters is it speaking of the children of the Children of Men.
We have a fulfillment of this very prophecy in Acts 21:9 where the believer Philip had four daughters who scripture says, “did prophesy.”
Some believe the women of Corinth had the same gift but Paul instructed them to not share their gift in the church as a means to keep order.
But this was nothing new to the Jews. The devout men standing there would not have been like, “What? Females prophesying?”
Exodus 15:20 tells us that, “Miriam, the prophetess, took a timbrel.”
Judges 4:4 says, “Deborah, a prophetess, judged Israel.”
In the Gospel of Luke (2:36) we read “There was one Anna, a prophetess.”
Now, this opens us up to a whole subject that I am going to end with today by just touching on it.
The word prophesy is used in a great number of ways in scripture and what it meant in the Old Testament is very different than what it means in the New.
Remember, the Gospels are a continuation of the Old Testament, so prophets and prophesy there and going back typically meant to foretell the future.
Joel prophesied and Peter is quoting his prophesy here, right?
But what was happening here? This was the Birth of the New Testament. It was the day when God would pour out His Spirit upon ALL flesh, and this Spirit would manifest itself in people doing all manner of things – including prophesying – in the Old Testament sense and in the New.
I don’t have the time here but in the book A to Z we lay out how in the New Testament prophecy is more often than not tied to teaching.
Declaring the things of God many people have not yet understood or known.
Think about this. In the Old Testament when the Holy Spirit rested UPON a person they could and would speak under a Divine influence, whether it meant foretelling future events, praising God with their mouths or instructing others (teaching them) what God would have them know.
So in this we can see a very close connection between prophecy and teaching – speaking under divine influence.
Now, there is a debate in the Churches today over who can teach. Right here the debate is solved.
Who did God send His Holy Spirit upon?
ALL FLESH.
And who would Prophesy? Sons and Daughters.
Is there a difference between males and females in Christ (and we are in Christ by the Spirit)? None.
The only reason women were instructed by Paul to stay silent and not teach men back in THAT day was because it was the culture.
That day, those last days are over. And with all things governed by the Spirit, all people filled with the Spirit have every equal right to teach by that Spirit.
Let’s end here for today.
Q and A
Announce Don K Preston this coming Friday from 7-9 and Saturday from 9-11.
Challenge your prejudices, ask your questions, get free from the traditions of men relative to end-time fears.
PRAYER
