The Good Story Continues 2
2
FESTIVAL OF WEEKS
The tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel) celebrated another great feast called the Festival of Weeks or Pentecost, meaning “fifty,” because it was celebrated seven weeks after the Passover festival, on the fiftieth day. This was a harvest festival when the people would bring the firstfruits of the harvest to Creator’s lodge in the Sacred Village of Peace (Jerusalem) and give thanks for his provision. Creator was about to send the Holy Spirit, promised by Creator Sets Free (Jesus), to begin the time of the great harvest and gather people from all nations who would represent the Great Spirit.
1The time for the full meaning of the ancient festival had now arrived.
The followers of Creator Sets Free (Jesus), numbering about one hundred and twenty, were waiting and praying in the upstairs room where they were lodging. It had now been fifty days since the Passover festival.
WIND AND FLAMES OF FIRE
They had all gathered together in one place, 2when suddenly the sound of a great windstorm came from the spirit-world above and could be heard throughout the house where they were sitting. 3They saw flames of fire coming down from above, separating and resting on each of their heads. 4The Holy Spirit had come down upon them and began to fill them with his life and power. New languages began to flow out from their mouths, languages they had never learned, given from the Holy Spirit.
5The Sacred Village of Peace (Jerusalem) was filled with devoted members of the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel), who had come for the festival from every nation under the sun. 6A crowd began to gather when they heard the loud noise.
7In wonder and amazement the crowd began to ask, “How is it that these people from Circle of Nations (Galilee) are speaking in our many languages? 8For we all can understand them in the languages of the places we have come from! 9-11There are people here for the festival from nations and places close by and far away who are members of the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel), and those from Outside Nations who have been taken into the tribes.
“They come from Land of Victory (Parthia), Land in the Middle (Media), and Land of the Ancient Ones (Elam). Many come from Land Between Rivers (Mesopotamia), Land of Promise (Judea), Land of Handsome Horses (Cappadocia), Land of Black Waters (Pontus), and Land of the Rising Sun (Asia). Some come from Dry Wood (Phrygia) and Many Tribes (Pamphylia), and the territory of Land of Tears (Libya) near the village of Strong Wall (Cyrene). There are travelers from Village of Iron (Rome), both Tribal Members and Outsiders who have become Tribal Members, along with those who come from Flesh Eater Island (Crete) and Land of Wanderers (Arabia).
“We can hear them, in the languages of these nations, telling about the great and powerful things done by the Great Spirit!” 12Many were amazed and confused and began to ask each other, “What can this mean?” 13But others in the crowd just laughed and said, “They are drunk on new wine!”
STANDS ON THE ROCK SPEAKS OUT
14Stands on the Rock (Peter), along with the other eleven message bearers, stood up to the crowd, and with a loud voice said, “Tribal members from far away and all who live in Village of Peace (Jerusalem), listen closely to me. I will tell you what this means!”
The crowd became quiet and turned to hear Stands on the Rock (Peter).
15“No one among us is drunk on wine, for it is still the middle of the morning. This is not what you think it is. 16This is what the prophet Creator Is the Great Spirit (Joel) spoke of long ago when he said, 17‘“In the last days,” says Creator, “I will rain down my Spirit upon all human beings from every nation. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Young warriors will see visions and elders will have dreams. 18When that time comes, my Spirit will rain down on all who serve me, both men and women, and they will boldly speak my words. 19There will be powerful signs and omens in the spirit-world above and on the earth below—blood and fire with clouds of smoke. 20The sun will grow dark and the moon will be red like blood, as the great and dreadful day of Creator shines like the sun. 21Then the ones who cry out to the Great Spirit will be made whole and set free.”’”#2:21 Joel 2:28-32
22 Stands on the Rock (Peter) cried out, “Listen to me, you men of the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel)! You already know about Creator Sets Free (Jesus) from Seed Planter Village (Nazareth) and about the powerful signs and the wonders he performed among the people that proved Creator was with him. 23-24Creator knew, before it happened, that the tribes would use the power of the People of Iron (Romans)#2:23-24 Lit. those outside the law to have him violently killed by nailing him to a tree-pole—the cross. But the Maker of Life let you have your way with him, because he had made a plan, long ago, to bring him back to life. Creator Sets Free (Jesus) was released from the painful grip of death, for even death itself could not hold him captive.
ANCIENT PROPHECIES FULFILLED
25“When the great chief Much Loved One (David) spoke these words long ago, he was telling us about Creator Sets Free (Jesus). Listen to what he said, ‘The Great Spirit will never leave me. I will not tremble with fear, for he is close by my side, and guides me on the pathways of life. 26My heart is glad and my mouth sings! I have hope that 27even after my body is dead, I will not be left alone in the ground to return to dust. You will not leave your Holy One in the Dark Underworld of Death (Hades). 28For you have given me a clear path to your life of beauty and harmony. When I stand before you face to face, my heart will leap for joy!’”#2:28 Psalm 16:8-11
Stands on the Rock (Peter) waited while the crowd thought about his words.
29 Then he said, “My fellow Tribal Members, there is no doubt that our ancestor, Much Loved One (David), died and was buried long ago. His burial cave is with us to this very day. 30-31The Great Spirit gave him a sacred promise that one of his descendants would be a Great Chief to rule over all the tribes. Much Loved One (David) was a prophet and saw, ahead of time, that the Chosen One would rise from the dead and that he would not be left alone in the Dark Underworld of Death (Hades), nor would his body return to the dust of the earth.
32“Creator Sets Free (Jesus) is this Chosen One who has been raised to life from death! We have seen him with our own eyes. 33He has now returned to his seat of honor at the right hand of the Great Spirit. The Father above has gifted him with the Holy Spirit whom he promised to send. This Spirit has now been poured out upon us like the rain. This is the meaning of what you now see and hear.
34“Much Loved One (David) did not go up into the spirit-world above, so when he says, ‘The Great Chief said to my Great Chief, “Sit down beside me at my right hand, my place of greatest honor, 35until I defeat and humble all your enemies,”’#2:35 Psalm 110:1 he was not talking about himself. He was talking about the Chosen One.
36“So let all the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel) have no doubt about what the Great Spirit has done. He has made Creator Sets Free (Jesus), the one you put to death on a tree-pole—the cross—to be both Chief of all the tribes and the Chosen One, the one he promised to send long ago.”
THE CROWD RESPONDS
37When they heard this, the words pierced their hearts like a long knife. With troubled hearts they lifted their voices to Stands on the Rock (Peter) and all the message bearers.
“Fellow Tribal Members,” they said, “tell us what we must do.”
38“Change your thinking,” Stands on the Rock (Peter) instructed them, “and participate in the purification ceremony#2:38, 41 Baptism that is done in the name of Creator Sets Free (Jesus), the Chosen One, representing him and initiating you into his right ways. You will then be healed from your bad hearts, released from your broken ways, and gifted with the Holy Spirit, who will give you the strength to walk the good road with him. 39He has promised this to all generations of the tribes of Wrestles with Creator (Israel), and to all the Nations who live far away. For the Great Spirit, our Creator, is calling out to all who will, to share in this life of beauty and harmony.”
40Stands on the Rock (Peter) said many more things to the ones who were listening. With strong words he kept telling them, “This is how you will be set free and rescued from the bent and twisted ways of this generation.”
41The ones who believed the words of Stands on the Rock (Peter) became a part of Creator’s new sacred family and participated in the purification ceremony. About three thousand people were added to the family on that day!
A NEW FAMILY IS FORMED
42This newly formed family continued daily to learn from the twelve message bearers. They lived together in harmony, ate ceremonial meals, and prayed with one another. 43Great respect and awe came down upon all, and the message bearers performed many powerful signs. 44As these new followers lived together in peace, their harmony grew stronger, and they shared all things. 45Many of them had a giveaway to provide for all who were in need.
46Each day they gathered at the sacred lodge. With good and pure hearts they feasted together in their homes and shared the ceremonial meal of frybread and wine given to them by Creator Sets Free (Jesus). 47They gave honor and thanks to the Great Spirit and were respected by the people. Each day Creator sent more people who were being set free to join with them.
Currently Selected:
The Good Story Continues 2: FNVNT
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Copyright ©2023 InterVarsity Press