Welcome to the Birth of the New Testament Church

The Word Sung
Silence

When we come back we will pick it up at verse 5! Alright, we covered the birth of the New Testament Church.

Have you ever witnessed a birth? An amazing event, right? A brand new life coming into the world. Well, we can right here read of the actual BIRTH of the New Testament Church. The believers in Jesus were there and waiting. And?

“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit . . . gave them utterance.”

Jesus' Discussion with Peter

Now before we go on and read our text for today I want to speak on something I frankly have not heard taught before but am convinced of it from my heart and according to scripture. It’s not a hill to die on and if you disagree that’s fine – you may be right – but consider this.

When Jesus walked the earth, He and Peter had a discussion and Jesus told Peter:
Matthew 16:18-19 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Later, Jesus speaks of the power being placed in the hands of all of the Apostles who took what Jesus called MY CHURCH out to the House of Israel (and beyond). In my estimation, what Jesus said to Matthew was true and the gates of hell did not prevail against it. And then He, as promised, came and took that Church in 70AD and that the body of believers were saved as the apostles thoroughly promised that they would be saved.

The Gates of Hell and the Church

Again, in the New Testament the believers were His Church and the gates of hell did not prevail against it. And when things got really, really ugly He came and took it when the rest of Jerusalem was utterly wasted. This was their reward for remaining Christians in the face of all that persecution and trial. From that point forward in time, I would humbly suggest that the gates of Hell have certainly prevailed against what people have tried to say is His Church.

The examples are so heinous and vast it's impossible to articulate them all if we talked non-stop for a year – partly because they continue to occur as we speak. But what has continues on from this day of Pentecost – unfettered, unaltered, unchanged, unaffected and pure which the gates of hell have not touched is His Body – made up of members from the heart, constructed and put together by the Spirit and not by the hands and ways of Man.

Take notice of what has happened here. There was a gathering of people who, touched by the Holy Spirit outwardly chose to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. They gathered together and then, SUDDENLY and due to nothing that they had done, the Holy Spirit fell upon them and filled them.

The Physical Institution's Failures

This exact same thing is happening today. And in every case the Holy Spirit is the one calling the shots moving into people who have received the Holy Spirits invitation to believe on Jesus Christ. Attempts at continuing a physical brick and mortar institution since this occasion have been a remarkable FAIL since 70 AD. We can begin with Constantine and flow all the way down to the LDS claims at restoring the true brick and mortar physical institution (and beyond).

None of them represent the Body perfectly but at best a small part of it. But believers, who from the heart serve the true and living God in and out of the physical religions are what continue to thrive and shine light into the dark world. When we allow ourselves to believe that Jesus has a brick and mortar on earth that has continued since this day of Pentecost we are forced to fabricate material evidences to support the claim – “Look how much good our church has done!” is one. “Look how many people belong to our church,” is another. “Look at the lifestyle of the members of our church.

Origins of Christianity and Identity

"Compared to yours" is a third, and "Look at how wealthy our church is," is a fourth. All of these things appeal to a physical church – they are the only way to quantify them.

But look at the first Christian church – all they were doing was surviving – and barely so – waiting for Him to save them from destruction. In the meanwhile they grew in faith and love for each other. This model is not one bit different for us believers today. But since the end of the physical economy of His Church in 70AD, Christ has reigned in the hearts of believers, has written his laws upon our hearts, has certainly used attempts to gather and produce the faith but in the end, God does not live in a temple made with hands, but in those with a truly contrite heart and broken Spirit. Here at Pentecost we are witnessing the birth of the New Testament Church which physically contained members of the Body of Christ that lives on today – and will continue to live on forever and ever. So these people were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign tongues, as we said last week. (verse 5)

The Day of Pentecost

Acts 2:11 Milk August 30th 2015 Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

The Identity of Jews, Hebrews, and Israelites

Okay, back to verse 5: Filled with the Holy Spirit and now speaking in foreign tongues, Luke adds Acts 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. As we stated earlier, there were millions of devout men – Jews – dwelling or residing in Jerusalem at this time of the celebration of Pentecost.

What is a Jew, actually what is a Jew, a Hebrew, and an Israelite? Are they different? The name Hebrew is first used in scripture in Genesis 14:13 which says: "And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew…" Why Abram is called, "the Hebrew" is not entirely clear. However, many believe that the word means "to cross over," (so I suppose Bruce Jenner could be considered a true Hebrew too) or…one who has been separated, or one who has come out, and refers to Abraham leaving his home of Ur and "crossing over the Euphrates" to wander with God. Anyone who is a descendant of Abraham would therefore be considered a Hebrew. Quite literally, we would have to consider not only the Nation of Israel but also all of Islam Hebrew as both the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael came out of Abraham.

I’m sure this is debated. So we have Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel) and Israel had twelve sons which became the twelve tribes of Israel or Israelites, as they are called in Exodus 9:7). When the Nation of Israel (or the Israelites) divided, ten of the tribes (from the North) took the name Israelite and shortened it to Israel and assigned it to themselves.

So the ten northern kingdoms were known as Israel. Well, there were two southern tribes that split with the Northern – Judah and Benjamin. Because Judah was bigger they became known as Jews – the first time in 2nd Kings 16:6. So what happened? The Nation of Israel (the northern tribes) were taken captive by the Assyrians and later Judah was taken captive by the Babylonians. When the Babylonian captivity ended both the Northern and Southern kingdoms were united and called Israelites (or Israel) again. It is believed that one the two kingdoms were united after the captivity that the number of Jews outweighed the others and so all the Israelites were also known by the general term Jew – especially to distinguish themselves from outsider nations like the dirty, mongrel Samaritans, Gentiles, and others. All three

The Use of Language in Acts 2

Terms are used synonymously in the New Testament – Jew, Israelites, and Hebrews so we know that when the term Jews is used here in Acts 2 it speaks not specifically to those of the Southern Kingdom but to any true descendant from the House of Israel. Additionally, New Testament writers use the term Jew to describe anyone from the line of Israel and Greek to describe all others – whether Greek or not.

“And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.” Those who had gathered here at the scene are described as “devout men,” men who took the word and law of God seriously. This is interesting insight because of something we will read later.

7 And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, “Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

“Out of every Nation under Heaven.” This is an interesting line because literally translated it means of every culture or group under the sky who were Israelites. Being a former BOM believing Latter-day Saint, I especially like this line because what it intimates is every Israelite that resided under the skies was present there at Pentecost. And since the BOM claims to be a history of a group that left Jerusalem in 600 BC, this would have to include some of them there too. Don’t think so. In any case, we get the picture. Devout Jews from under all the Nations under the sky that contained Jews or people from the Twelve Tribes.

The Event at Pentecost

6 Now when this (the commotion caused by the scene) was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded because every man heard them speak in his own language. So when news traveled (it was noised abroad) that something was happening in that area of the city, the multitude came together and they were “confounded,” the scripture says, “because that every man heard them speak in his own language.” The word confounded in the Greek means they were moved greatly and astonished at the remarkable scene.

I think it's interesting that the same word – confounded – was used at the tower of Babel narrative – except this time it is applied to those who were looking on the scene. What confounded them? Luke says it was the fact that it was because, “every man heard them speak in his own language.” Though the multitude spoke different tongues, yet they now heard Galilaeans use the language which they had learned in foreign nations. The Greek words used here are idios and dialectos – which relate to both idiom and dialect so this line could be saying that they heard their own foreign language being spoken or a modification of Hebrew due to geographical location.

In the range of language and how it adopts and commingles, we could be talking about everything from a truly unique foreign tongue to an amalgamated language consisting of Hebrew and other dialects. Don’t know. In either hearing their own language spoken by the Holy Spirit OR hearing their own language spoken by the Holy Spirit, verse seven says:

The Galileans' Remarkable Speech

7 And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, “Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

As mentioned earlier, it would have been a remarkable scene that Galilaeans would speak in this manner, because they were better known to be rather ignorant, crude, and uncivilized and therefore speaking some foreign dialect would have been counter to their general reputation. Additionally, the Galilean dialect was known to be barbarous and corrupt as they were regarded as an outlandish people who were unacquainted with other nations and languages. (We might think of it like we would a Hillbilly speaking Mandarin Chinese fluently or perfect French). And then they added:

8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Now last week Steven mentioned the possibility that these Apostles were actually just speaking in their regular language and those there heard them in their native language – as if the Holy Spirit took the words of the Apostles and translated them mid-air and when they reached the visiting Jews' ears, they heard the message in their own dialect or language.

I've thought about this and while do not discount it in the least, it seems, when we read in 1st Corinthians 14 Paul’s descriptions of how speaking in tongues works there are two participants involved – the speaker and the hearer (or the interpreter). When we look at these passages here in Acts closely, we see both represented in the language that Luke uses. Look at verse 6. There we read:

6 Now when this was noised

The Miracle of Languages at Pentecost

Abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. Then look at verse eight:

8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

To me, this could still mean that the way people heard was key to all of this, but the two passages also convey the idea that there was the fact that

1 every Man heard them Speak in His own Language, (and)
2 they heard every man in their own tongue.

Nations Witnessing the Miracle

What tongues were heard? It seems that the enumeration of these nations begins at the east, and proceeds to the west. I’m going to combine the contents of verses 9-11 and make a list:

Nations from Verse 9

• Parthians
• Medes
• Elamites
• Dwellers in Mesopotamia
• Judaea
• Cappadocia
• Pontus
• Asia

Nations from Verse 10

• Phrygia
• Pamphylia
• In Egypt
• In the parts of Libya about Cyrene
• Strangers of Rome
• Jews
• Proselytes

Nations from Verse 11

• Cretes
• Arabians
  . . . we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Let’s run through the laundry list beginning with Parthians: Amazingly enough Parthians came from . . . Parthi. This country was a part of Persia and rested between the Persian Gulf and the Tigris River on the west, and the river Indus on the east. Their empire lasted about four hundred years and they were known for their ability to fight on horseback and shoot arrows while doing it. They spoke the language of Persia and in ancient writings Parthi and Persia are often spoken of synonymously. Now as we read about these men who, being Jews, came from these areas, note that first of all they were all getting first dibs (as it were) on the Gospel Jesus brought to earth. God gathered in the members of the House of Israel from all over the world, every nation under the sky, so that “His brethren would have the opportunity to hear of Him. For those who remained in places like Parthi these men would return there, after the holy days, and share the Word. This is one way, besides the apostles sharing, that the Gospel got out to the world.

And “Medes,” who were the inhabitants of Media which was a country to the north of Parthis and south of the Caspian Sea. It was about the size of Spain, and was one of the richest parts of Asia. All the way back in Genesis 10:2 it is referred to as “Madai” and the Medes are often mentioned in the Old Testament and frequently in connection with the Persians, with whom it seems they shared in the same government.

The Spread of the Gospel

How did these Jews, these Hebrews, these Children of Israel get to these places? When the Jews were put in captivity and were then released it appears that many of them did not return with their brethren to the land of their fathers. Here, at this commanded gathering for Pentecost they were gathered as commanded by the Law.

The Elamites. Elam is mentioned a number of times in the Old Testament. It was a nation that descended from Elam who, according to Genesis 10:22 was the son of Shem. We also know that a man named Chedorlaomer (and this was pre-Abraham days) was once the chief of Elam. According to Daniel 8:2 Daniel is said to have resided "at Shushan, which is in the province of Elam." The Greeks and Romans called Elam “Elymais, which is now called Kusistan. And so there were Jews who came out from there.

Mesopotamia is a Greek name and it means “between the rivers,” or between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris. You probably recognize the word Potomas (meaning water, river, stream) and its association to “hippopotamas,” or which means a really cool-cat that dwells in the water (a hip-oh) or an animal with a wide set of haunches. (just checking to see if you’re awake). No in the Greek Hippo means “add that with “potomas” and . . . anyway . . . Mesopotamia.

It plays a very important role in biblical history. Within its regions we find: Ur of the Chaldees the birthplace of Abraham, Ge 11:27,28; Haran (where Terah stopped on his journey and died), Charchemish, and Sepharvaim,

“In Judea.” This is a strange place to mention in some ways because they were from Judea! So why is it here? I could think of a bunch of possibilities all of which could be wrong.

First, maybe the Galileans language was so bad it took the gift of tongues for some of the more refined religionists to understand.

Historical Context of Early Christianity

them!

Or maybe there was an error in the manuscripts and it should read Armenia, India, Lydia, or Idumea. But perhaps the best explanation is Luke wrote as any historian would have written and included everyone who was there and witnessed what was happening. In running over the languages which were represented there he added it in because they were there. That’s good enough for me.

Cappadocia. This was a region of Asia Minor, bordered on the east by Armenia, on the north by Pontus and the Euxine Sea, west by Lycaonia, and south by Cilicia. The language which was spoken here is uncertain, but scholars suppose it was a mixed dialect made up of Greek and Syriac. Cappadocia was one of the famous the “C” locations known for being places of iniquity. We have Las Vegas, San Francisco, and New Orleans and they had Crete, Cilicia, and Cappadocia. But once the Gospel made its way into the cities, Cappadocia produced a number of Christians renowned for their devotions to Christ including Gregory Nyssen and Basil the Great (who was cousin to Parslet the Wonderful). Cappadocia was also one of the places that Peter addressed his first Epistle.

Early Christian Leaders and Regions

“Pontus.” Also of Asia Minor, situated north of Cappadocia. Under the Romans, Pontus and Cappadocia were one province and it is why Peter also directed his epistle to it as well. Pontus was also the hometown of one of Paul’s missionary companions, Aquila. Who knows – maybe Aquila was once of the men standing here. Stranger things have happened. Luke adds, “And Asia.” Pontus and Cappadocia were all parts of Asia so the word “Asia” must be used here to mean those other places not mentioned. The capital of the region was Ephesus and the region was also known as Iona. Later it became the seat of the Seven Churches in Asia that Jesus addresses in Revelation through John.

“Phrygia” and “Pamphylia.” More places that were part of Asia Minor. Probably Greek speaking. Luke adds, “In Egypt.” A land watered by the Nile it was an extensive country on the south of the Mediterranean. Extending 600 miles from north to south, and from 100 to 120 east and west. The language used there was Coptic. Today Arabic is spoken in Egypt. At that time in history there were a lot of Jews living in Egypt and so a vast number of them must have been there during Pentecost. It is noteworthy that the first translation of the Old Testament was made in Egypt which is now called the Septuagint, the Old Testament translated into Greek.

“In the parts of Libya,” which is probably referring to Africa. The language – unknown. “About Cyrene.” This was a region about 500 miles west of Alexandria in Egypt. It was also called “Pentapolis,” because there were five celebrated cities within it. It’s now part of Tripoli. Great numbers of Jews resided here. Remember, it was a Cyrenian that helped Jesus bear His cross and scholars say that some of the earliest Christians came from there. Language, unknown. But whatever it was they understood what was being said here.

Jewish Diaspora

In the King James Luke adds, “Strangers of Rome,” but it literally means, "Romans dwelling” at Jerusalem. So it means they either had a fixed residence there in Jerusalem or they were visiting from Rome or they were just there for the celebration, visiting from Italy. What did they speak? Latin. A great number of Jews were at that time living in Rome. Josephus says that there were eight synagogues there and the Jews are often mentioned by the Roman writers. How did they get there? When Judea was conquered by Rome about sixty years before Jesus was born a large number of them were taken captive and carried there. But they made terrible slaves. They relentlessly adhered to their religious traditions, observed the Sabbath, and refused to join in Roman idolatry. The Romans got fed up with dealing with them and they were freed and lived by themselves across the Tiber River.

“Jews,” Luke says, meaning native born Jews or descendants of Jewish families. “Proselytes,” or those who had been converted to the Jewish religion from among the Gentiles. From the words of Jesus it appears that there was some real zeal on the part of the Pharisees to convert (or make proselytes of others) and some think these proselytes were there with those converting them. “Cretes” mentioned in verse 11. One of the three C cities of iniquity. Crete is an island in the

The Miracle of Languages

Mediterranean, about 200 miles in length and 50 in breadth. The natives, even according to Paul, were famous for their ability to prevaricate and they probably spoke Greek. And last of all:

“Arabians,”

They spoke Arabic and the place is often mentioned in Scripture. Of all those places and people from them, Luke says they said:

“we do hear them (the apostles and/or those with them) speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”

The Languages Spoken

The languages spoken (or heard) could not have been less than seven or eight, besides different dialects of the same languages. This would be a tough miracle to fake in my estimation. Fill a room with people of different countries who speak different languages and have twelve men or more standing and speaking and the language – in whatever way it occurred – was one that all could understand.

In addition to what was happening here at that time, an added miracle was the fact that from here the Gospel was taken out to so many different places, different cultures, using different languages. It is not by mistake that most of these places mentioned afterwards became celebrated for having established churches.

Hearing the Wonderful Works of God

What was it exactly that these men from all over were hearing? Verse 11 tells us:

“The wonderful works of God.”

“ta megaleia tou yeou.”

“the great things” “the mighty works” “Of God.”

These were faithful, devout Jews. They knew the wonderful works of God. So what were they hearing about?

Jesus – someone seekers of every language can understand.

God with us. That He was sent, the Messiah. He lived and He lives.

Let’s end here.

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