Sunday School Lesson

1. Acts 2:1-21
Empowered
The Holy Spirit at Pentecost
The Church is Born
March 13, 2016
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

2. What’s the number one thing?
http://kwhite75.com/websites/fbcodenville/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/glory.jpg

3. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to
the glory of God.

4. March Memory Verse
Isaiah 6:8
8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
"Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"
Then I said, "Here I am! Send me.“

5. REFERENCES
•The ESV Study Bible, Crossway Publishing, 2008.
•The NIV Study Bible, Zondervan Corporation, 1985.
•Missler, Dr. Chuck: The Book of Acts. Chapter 2.
YouTube Video.

6. Introduction to The Book of Acts
•Acts is considered to be a continuation of the Gospel
of Luke.
•Mostly about Peter and Paul, not the acts of apostles.
•Acts ends with Paul’s appeal to Rome:
•Acts thought to be documents prepared for Paul’s
defense in Rome.
•Documents had to precede your case presentation.

7. Introduction to Acts 2
•Both Luke and Acts addressed to “Theophilus”.
•Theophilus means “one who loves God”.
•May be a title for a Roman official instead of a name.
•Could be symbolic name for a Christian convert.

8. Setting for Acts 2
•Acts 1:1-5 Apostles told to stay in Jerusalem after
resurrection and Jesus ministers to them.
•Acts 1:6-11 Jesus promises the Holy Spirit and then
ascends into heaven.
•Acts 1:12-26 The apostles elect Matthias to replace
Judas as the 12th apostle.

9. The condition for the arrival of the Holy Spirit
John 7:37-39
37 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus
stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come
to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the
Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of
living water.'" 39 Now this he said about the Spirit,
whom those who believed in him were to receive, for
as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was
not yet glorified.

10. Promise of the Holy Spirit and the
Commissioning of the Apostles
Acts 1:8-9
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the
end of the earth." 9 And when he had said these
things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and
a cloud took him out of their sight.

11. Acts 2:1-4 ESV
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all
together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from
heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled
the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided
tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each
one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit
gave them utterance.

12. When the day of Pentecost arrived, …
•Pentecost – Annual harvest festival held 50 days after
Passover.
•Pentecost is Greek for 50.
•Called the “Feast of Harvest” or “Feast of the Weeks”
in Old Testament.

13. Jewish Festivals Leviticus 23
•Every Jewish Festival has a correlation to Jesus.
•Some relate to events “yet to come”.
•“The New is in the Old concealed, the Old is in the
New revealed”. St. Augustine (354-430 AD).

15. “… they were all together in one place.”
•They = Apostles and all believers.
•Acts 1:15 says there were 120 people in the room.
•Place is debatable –
- Listed as the “upper room” in Acts 1:13.
- Some believe they were in the Temple.
- Location was close to the Temple.

16. “… suddenly there came from heaven a sound
like a mighty rushing wind …”
•Wind or breath is the symbol of the presence of God.
•Ezekiel 37:9
9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath;
prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus
says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O
breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may
live."
•The coming of the Spirit is marked by audible wind.

17. “It sounded like a freight train!”

18. Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as wind …
John 3:7-8
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.
So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."
• “Wind” and “Spirit” translate the same Greek and Hebrew
words.

19. “And divided tongues of fire appeared to them
and rested on each one of them.”
•Fire in the OT represents the presence of God.
•“Tongues of fire” may portray the purity and power of
the speech of these disciples as they portrayed “the
mighty works of God”.

21. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit …
•This is the fulfillment of a promise of Jesus.
•The Holy Spirit had been active in the past, but now
was coming to people in a new, more powerful way.
•This signified the beginning of the new covenant age
(Church Age) that will last until Jesus’ return.

23. “… and began to speak in other tongues as the
Spirit gave them utterance.”
•The word translated “tongues” (Greek is glossa) can
also be translated “languages”.
•This is a miracle of speaking in a foreign language, not
of hearing by the unbeliever.
•The Holy Spirit was directing the syllables they spoke.

24. Is this a reversal of the event
at Tower of Babel?
Genesis 11:6-7
6 And the Lord said, "Behold, they are one people, and
they have all one language, and this is only the
beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they
propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7 Come,
let us go down and there confuse their language, so
that they may not understand one another's speech."

25. Acts 2:5-8
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?

26. Acts 2:9-11
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."

28. “…we hear them telling (in our own language)
the mighty works of God.”
•Those speaking in tongues (languages) are praising
God.
•The hearers understood what was being said.

29. Acts 2:12-13
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."
•Peter uses this as an opening to present the coming of
the Holy Spirit as fulfillment of OT prophecy.

30. Acts 2:14-16
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice
and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell
in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to
my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you
suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But
this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

31. Acts 2:17 (Joel 2:28)
17 "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I
will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and
your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men
shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

32. Interpretation of Joel 2:28 (Acts2:17)
•…last days = Church Age that began that day.
•…pour out my Spirit = Send the Holy Spirit.
•…on all flesh = Jews and even the Gentiles.
•…sons and daughters will prophecy = not just the
prophets will prophecy.

33. Acts 2:18 (Joel 2:29)
18 even on my male servants and female servants in
those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall
prophesy.
•Everyone includes men and women and slaves.
•The Spirit will be poured out in the Church Age (now).

34. Acts 2:19-20 (Joel 2:30-31)
The prophecy shifts to the future – end times
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and
signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of
smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the
moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the
great and magnificent day.

35. Acts 2:21 (Joel 2:32)
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the
name of the Lord shall be saved.‘
• Paul quotes this OT scripture from Joel 2:32 in Romans
10:12-13.
Romans 10:12-13
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for
the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who
call on him. 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the
Lord will be saved."

36. A Closer Look
Should Christians speak in tongues today?

37. Guideline for Opinions on
“speaking in tongues”
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one
approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed,
rightly handling the word of truth.
•A Christian should study the scripture and let the Holy
Spirit guide you on this subject.

38. How frequently did believers speak in
tongues?
•Only recorded 3 times in The Book of Acts.
•Acts 2:4
•Acts 10:46 (Peter was present)
•Acts 19:6 (Paul was present)

39. An incident of speaking in tongues – Peter in
Caesarea
Acts 10:44-46
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy
Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the
believers from among the circumcised who had come
with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy
Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they
(Peter and Jewish converts) were hearing them
(Gentiles) speaking in tongues and extolling God.

40. An incident of speaking in tongues – Paul in
Ephesus
Acts 19:1-4 Paul asked new converts if they received the
Holy Spirit when they first believed. They replied “No” and
they were baptized “into John’s baptism” (John the Baptist).
Acts 19:5-6
5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the
Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the
Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in
tongues and prophesying.

41. The religious climate in Corinth in
the 1st century AD
•Speaking in tongues (Ecstatic language) was not
uncommon in the pagan churches in that day.
•Plato (429-347 BC) mentions it during his life.
•Virgil (70-19 BC) mentions a priestess healing and
speaking in strange tongues.
•Believers in Christ were using the speaking in tongues
in a prideful way (show off!).

42. Paul addresses speaking in tongues in
1 Corinthians 12-14. (Summary)
•It is one of 9 spiritual gifts.
•Spiritual gifts are a manifestation of the Holy Spirit
enabling one to minister to the needs of the church.

43. Spiritual Gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10
1. The word of wisdom.
2. The word of knowledge.
3. The gift of faith.
4. The gift of healing.
5. Then working of miracles.
6. The gift of prophecy (insight from God).
7. The gift to discern spirits.
8. The gift of tongues.
9. The interpretation of tongues.

44. The Source of Spiritual Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 11
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and
there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and
there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who
empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the
manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. … 11 All
these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who
apportions to each one individually as he wills.

45. The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts
•1 Corinthians 12:12-31 says spiritual gifts were for the
benefit of the whole church and were designed to
produce faith and not division.
•Ephesians 4:12 says they are: (1) For the perfecting of
the saints, (2) For the work of the ministry, and (3) For
the edifying of the body of Christ.

46. 1 Corinthians 14 – Guidelines for Tongues
1 Corinthians 14:27-28
27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at
most three, and each in turn, and let someone
interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each
of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and
to God.
•Speaking in tongues without an interpreter is
meaningless and distracting in worship.

47. Guidelines for Speaking in Tongues
1 Corinthians 14:39-40
39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not
forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done
decently and in order.
• Speaking in tongues is not forbidden.
• Some scholars believe that these spiritual gifts were never
intended to be permanent, but served a purpose for the
early church.
• Ephesians 4:13 & 1 Corinthians 13:9-10

48. Can you be filled with the Holy Spirit and not
be speaking in tongues?
• YES.
• When you accept Christ as your Savior, the Holy Spirit is within you. (Galatians
4:6)
• Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
• All these (spiritual gifts) are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who
apportions to each one individually as he wills. (1 Corinthians 12:11)
• Speaking in tongues is just one of the spiritual gifts.

49. What is the importance of the Holy Spirit
Coming at Pentecost?
1. After the crucifixion , resurrection and ascension of
Jesus, the Holy Spirit can enter ever person who
accepts Jesus as their Savior.
2. In order to initiate the “Great Commission”, the
spiritual gift of tongues was given to spread the
Gospel to every language.
3. The gift of tongues is for overcoming language
barriers to share Jesus and a sign of confirmation.

50. 1 Corinthians 13 – The Love Chapter and
Speaking in Tongues
1 Corinthians 13:1
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but
have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
•If I use my spiritual gift and I am not acting out of
Love, my gift is useless.
•The spiritual gift that all believers should have is Love!

51. What’s love got to do with it?
1 Corinthians 13:13
13 So now faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the
greatest of these is love.
John 13:35
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if
you have love for one another.
• Love is the true test of the Spirit within you!

52. Next Sunday – Palm Sunday
Acts 2:22-47
Getting Ready for Easter Sunday

53. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting
life.”
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through Me.”

54. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay
the penalty for our sins.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in
Revelation 21:8.

55. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually
immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the
lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we
were still sinners, Christ died for us.

56. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and
he shall be My son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be an overcomer.

57. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in
your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

58. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
If you have questions or would like to know more, Please, contact First
Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/