BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

Acts picks up where Luke left off, with Jesus promising his disciples power from the Holy Spirit. Before ascending into the sky, Jesus invites them to follow his life-giving instruction: Be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth. Watch today’s video to see how this commission becomes the roadmap for the entire book of Acts—Jesus leading his people through the Spirit to go out into the world with God’s blessing.

This “going” begins at the Festival of Weeks, also called Pentecost, one of the three major Jewish festivals that brought pilgrims from all over the world to Jerusalem. Jesus’ disciples meet with these travelers, but they speak foreign languages. How are these people going to communicate with one another?

As the group gathers, a divine wind rushes into their meeting space. Then fire appears over their heads. This image should activate a hyperlink—this is not the first time God’s presence has appeared mysteriously with fire to a group of people (Exod. 19:18, Exod. 40:38; 2 Chron. 7:1-3). The Spirit of God fills this space and does something unthinkable—the disciples are now able to communicate in the travelers’ native tongues. God, who once scattered the nations at Babel, now appears to be bringing them back together in Jesus.

As the disciples speak in foreign languages, making unfamiliar sounds, many begin to ridicule them, assuming they’ve been drinking. Peter rejects the accusation and explains how the Scriptures were always pointing to Jesus and even foretelling this moment. The new community of Jesus followers welcomed 3,000 people that day, all choosing to depart from enslavement to the old ways of life and operate instead under the rule and reign of God.

Reflection Questions

• Take a moment to reread Daniel 7:9-14. What hyperlinks to that passage do you notice in today’s reading? What might these phrases and images reveal about the significance of Jesus’ ascension?
• Compare the story of God’s Spirit descending on the disciples at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) to the story of God’s presence descending on Mount Sinai, the tabernacle, and the temple (Exod. 19:18, Exod. 40:38; 2 Chron. 7:1-3). Where do you see Pentecost fulfilling God’s promise about his glorious presence and the new temple from Ezekiel 43:1-9?