Working Preacher’s Narrative Commentary for Pentecost Sunday, 8 June 2015

Working Preacher’s Narrative Commentary for Pentecost Sunday, 8 June 2015
Lectionary Scriptures:
Acts 2:1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. 6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? 8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!” 12 They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. 15 For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.[a] 16 But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘It will be in the last days, says God,
    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
    Your young men will see visions.
    Your old men will dream dreams.
18 Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,
    I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the sky above,
    and signs on the earth beneath;
    blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned into darkness,
    and the moon into blood,
    before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21     It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’[b]
Footnotes:
a. Acts 2:15 about 9:00 AM
b. Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32
Philippians 4: 4 Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!” 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
John 14: 16 I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor,[a] that he may be with you forever,— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive; for it doesn’t see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you.
Footnotes:
a. John 14:16 Greek παρακλητον: Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, and Comforter.
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Commentary on Acts 2:1-21; Philippians 4:4-7 by Audrey West
Divided tongues like fire!? Violent, howling wind!? It is one thing to receive a promise, quite another to be thrust into the midst of its fulfillment. 
There they are that small band of believers who constitute the earliest community of Jesus. With a head count of 120 (Acts 1:15), they comprise ten times the number of the original Apostles, but still not a large assembly whether by ancient or modern standards. (Small churches, take heart!).
They are in Jerusalem for Pentecost, the Jewish Feast of Weeks (Shavuot). Falling fifty days after Passover, this is a festival of thanksgiving for the grain harvest (e.g., Exodus 34:22; Leviticus 23:15-21; Deuteronomy 16:9-12) as well as a celebration of God’s covenant handed down at Sinai. It is a day for recalling the powerful, gracious, life-giving presence of God
Gathered “all together in one place” (Acts 2:1), those first followers have no clue what is about to happen among them. To be sure, there is Jesus’ promise that they will testify about him “in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8; cf. Luke 11:13; 24:4). But that promise is short on details, lacking specificity. Besides, easy communication is not exactly the way of the first-century world. There is no email or Twitter, no online language translators, no printers nor the power grid that brings all that technology to today’s fingertips.
In addition, the disciples have seen Jesus’ body hanging on a Roman cross -- a deterrent to bold speech if ever there were one. Still adjusting to the idea that Jesus has been raised from the dead, they are not entirely certain what his resurrection means or how it will impact their lives (Acts 1:6, 10). How in the world can this small band with so few resources and lacking a strategic plan testify “to the ends of the earth” in a culture that is likely to reject its message?
How? By the power of the Spirit of God, from which they learn the following:
1. God’s Spirit is not ours to control.
At the first Pentecost after Jesus, the Spirit appeared as divided tongues of fire, a manifestation different from its appearance as a dove at Jesus’ baptism (Luke 3:22). The howling of a wind that filled the room was a new form of the breath of God blowing warmth and life into Creation (Genesis 1:2, 2:7; cf. Job 33:4; Isaiah 42:5; Acts 17:25).
God’s Spirit is not restricted by human will or desire. We cannot drive its wind or stop its force, any more than we can control a hurricane’s squall. We cannot catch it, contain it, control it, or confine it.
Like the burning pillar of fire by night that accompanies the Israelites through the wilderness, this fire-like Spirit resting on the heads (and tongues) of the disciples guides them into God’s mission, taking them places they could never imagine and giving confidence to speak about God known to them in Jesus Christ.
2. God’s Spirit is active where we least expect it.
Festival pilgrims and residents of Jerusalem hear their native languages being spoken by this group of [mostly uneducated] Galileans. Not surprisingly, the experience leaves them feeling bewildered, amazed, astonished and perplexed (Acts 2:6, 12). Some even sneer about it, accusing the speakers of being drunk (2:13).
A similar reaction occurs soon after in Acts when Peter and John are hauled before the leading authorities in Jerusalem to answer charges about their preaching. Peter, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” responds with his testimony about Jesus. When the authorities saw “the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed … ” (Acts 4:1-13; cf. 9:21; 10:44-46).
On that first Pentecost, Joel’s prophecy is fulfilled right before their eyes (Acts 2:17-21). They see and hear God’s spirit being poured out on all sorts of people -- sons and daughters, old and young, even servants -- but they need Peter’s help to make sense of it. Do we notice where the Spirit is being poured out today?
Could it be on the young persons we fear we cannot reach, the older persons we fear will not try something new, the marginalized persons we too often do not even notice? If we watch and listen for the Spirit moving among them, perhaps we will hear them speaking, dreaming, envisioning, being caught up in the power of the living God.  
3. God’s Spirit empowers proclamation
Surprisingly, perhaps, the gift of tongues at Pentecost is not poured out for the disciples’ own sakes. It is not given so that they might say, “Look at us! We learned a foreign language without going to class!” The purpose of the gift is not to brag about their cutting-edge ministry nor to praise their growing church, but rather to praise God.
There are no bonus points for being a recipient of the Spirit’s movement. As Peter’s speech makes clear (Acts 2:14-21), the purpose of the gift is so that its recipients might speak out about what God has done.
The disciples speak in languages familiar to their hearers; in this case, immigrants from a variety of places. The disciples do not manufacture this power, they receive it from God. The ability to speak the Gospel in words that others will understand does not rest on a new marketing plan for potential members. It rests on the power of God and the believers’ openness to be moved to proclaim what God has done through the centuries and is doing now in the lives of God’s people.
4. God’s Spirit is poured out for the sake of God’s world.
Pentecost is not only a celebration of the birth of the church. It is also a celebration of the certain and sure promise that wherever the fire burns, wherever the wind blows, wherever chaos and life intersect, the Spirit of God is there, blowing where it will and driving God’s people into the heart of God’s mission.
As many North American churches agonize over declining membership and what to do about a millennial generation of “nones,” perhaps we might take a page from this first-century playbook. Where do we see God at work in our midst? What has God been doing in our churches, our homes, our work-places, our communities, our everyday lives, and even in places we do not expect?
What might it look like for preachers and churches to trust that the blowing, swirling, burning, life-giving power of the Spirit is present among us, dancing upon our heads, and stirring up a new thing in our midst?
PRAYER OF THE DAY:
God of Spirit,
In awe and gratitude we stand before you, your son, Jesus Christ, and the fiery Holy Spirit, who has breathed new life into all your children. Amen.
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HYMNS:
“Lord, dismiss us with your blessing” by (attributed to): John Fawcett (1786)
1. Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing;
Fill our hearts with joy and peace;
Let us each, thy love possessing,
Triumph in redeeming grace:
O refresh us, O refresh us,
Traveling through this wilderness.
2. Thanks we give, and adoration
For thy gospel's joyful sound:
May the fruits of thy salvation
In our hearts and lives abound!
Ever faithful, ever faithful
To the truth may we be found!
3. So whene'er the signal's given
Us from earth to call away,
Born on angel's wings to heaven,
Glad the summons to obey
May we ever, may we ever
Reign with Christ in endless day!
“O day of rest and gladness” by Christopher Wordsworth (1862)
1. O day of rest and gladness,
O day of joy and light,
O balm of care and sadness,
Most beautiful, most bright;
On thee the high and lowly,
Before th'eternal throne,
Sing, "Holy, holy, holy,"
To the great Three in One.
2. On thee at the Creation
The light first had its birth;
On thee for our salvation
Christ rose from depth of earth;
On thee our Lord victorious
The Spirit sent from heav'n;
And thus on thee, most glorious,
A three-fold light was giv'n.
3. Thou art a cooling fountain
In life's dry, dreary sand;
From thee, like Nebo's mountain,
We view our Promised Land;
A day of sweet reflection,
A day of holy love,
A day of resurrection
From earth to things above.
4. Today on weary nations
The heav'nly manna falls;
To holy convocations
The silver trumpet calls,
Where Gospel-light is glowing
With pure and radiant beams
And living water flowing
With soul-refreshing streams.
5. New graces ever gaining
From this our day of rest,
We reach the rest remaining
To spirits of the blest.
To Holy Ghost be praises,
To Father, and to Son;
The Church her voice upraises
To Thee, blest Three in One.
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CHORAL:
“Go where I send thee” by Caldwell/Ivory 
1. Children, go where I send thee 
How shall I send thee? 
I'm gonna send thee one by one 
One for the little bitty baby 
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.
2. Children, go where I send thee 
How shall I send thee? 
I'm gonna send thee two by two 
Two for Paul and Silas 
One for the little bitty baby 
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.
3. Children, go where I send thee 
How shall I send thee? 
I'm gonna send thee three by three 
Three for the Hebrew children 
Two for Paul and Silas 
One for the little bitty baby 
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.
4. Children, go where I send thee 
How shall I send thee? 
I'm gonna send thee four by four 
Four for the four that stood at the door 
Three for the Hebrew children 
Two for Paul and Silas 
One for the little bitty baby 
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.
5. Children, go where I send thee 
How shall I send thee? 
I'm gonna send thee five by five 
Five for the gospel preachers 
Four for the four that stood at the door 
Three for the Hebrew children 
Two for Paul and Silas 
One for the little bitty baby 
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.
6. Children, go where I send thee 
How shall I send thee? 
I'm gonna send thee six by six 
Six for the six that never got fixed 
Five for the gospel preachers 
Four for the four that stood at the door 
Three for the Hebrew children 
Two for Paul and Silas 
One for the little bitty baby 
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.
7. Children, go where I send thee 
How shall I send thee? 
I'm gonna send thee seven by seven 
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven 
Six for the six that never got fixed 
Five for the gospel preachers 
Four for the four that stood at the door 
Three for the Hebrew children 
Two for Paul and Silas 
One for the little bitty baby 
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.
8. Children, go where I send thee 
How shall I send thee? 
I'm gonna send thee eight by eight 
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate 
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven 
Six for the six that never got fixed 
Five for the gospel preachers 
Four for the four that stood at the door 
Three for the Hebrew children 
Two for Paul and Silas 
One for the little bitty baby 
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.
9. Children, go where I send thee 
How shall I send thee? 
I'm gonna send thee nine by nine 
Nine for the nine all dressed so fine 
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate 
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven 
Six for the six that never got fixed 
Five for the gospel preachers 
Four for the four that stood at the door 
Three for the Hebrew children 
Two for Paul and Silas 
One for the little bitty baby 
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.
10. Children, go where I send thee 
How shall I send thee? 
I'm gonna send thee ten by ten 
Ten for the ten commandments 
Nine for the nine all dressed so fine 
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate 
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven 
Six for the six that never got fixed 
Five for the gospel preachers 
Four for the four that stood at the door 
Three for the Hebrew children 
Two for Paul and Silas 
One for the little bitty baby 
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.
11. Children, go where I send thee 
How shall I send thee? 
I'm gonna send thee eleven by eleven 
Eleven for the eleven deriders 
Ten for the ten commandments 
Nine for the nine all dressed so fine 
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate 
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven 
Six for the six that never got fixed 
Five for the gospel preachers 
Four for the four that stood at the door 
Three for the Hebrew children 
Two for Paul and Silas 
One for the little bitty baby 
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.
12. Children, go where I send thee 
How shall I send thee? 
I'm gonna send thee twelve by twelve 
Twelve for the twelve Apostles 
Eleven for the eleven deriders 
Ten for the ten commandments 
Nine for the nine all dressed so fine 
Eight for the eight that stood at the gate 
Seven for the seven that never got to heaven 
Six for the six that never got fixed 
Five for the gospel preachers 
Four for the four that stood at the door 
Three for the Hebrew children 
Two for Paul and Silas 
One for the little bitty baby 
Born, born, born in Bethlehem.
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John Wesley’s Notes-Commentary:
Acts 2:1-21
Verse 2
[2] 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 suddenly there came a sound from heaven — So will the Son of man come to judgment.
And it filled all the house — That is, all that part of the temple where they were sitting.
Verse 3
[3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And there appeared distinct tongues, as of fire — That is, small flames of fire. This is all which the phrase, tongues of fire, means in the language of the seventy. Yet it might intimate God's touching their tongues as it were (together with their hearts) with Divine fire: his giving them such words as were active and penetrating, even as flaming fire.
Verse 4
[4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And they began to speak with other tongues — The miracle was not in the ears of the hearers, (as some have unaccountably supposed,) but in the mouth of the speakers. And this family praising God together, with the tongues of all the world, was an earnest that the whole world should in due time praise God in their various tongues.
As the Spirit gave them utterance — Moses, the type of the law, was of a slow tongue; but the Gospel speaks with a fiery and flaming one.
Verse 5
[5] And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews — Gathered from all parts by the peculiar providence of God.
Verse 6
[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.
The multitude came together, and were confounded — The motions of their minds were swift and various.
Verse 9
[9] Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Judea — The dialect of which greatly differed from that of Galilee.
Asia — The country strictly so called.
Verse 10
[10] Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Roman sojourners — Born at Rome, but now living at Jerusalem. These seem to have come to Jerusalem after those who are above mentioned. All of them were partly Jews by birth, and partly proselytes.
Verse 11
[11] Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
Cretans — One island seems to be mentioned for all.
The wonderful works of God — Probably those which related to the miracles, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, together with the effusion of his Spirit, as a fulfilment of his promises, and the glorious dispensations of Gospel grace.
Verse 12
[12] And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
They were all amazed — All the devout men.
Verse 13
[13] Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
But others mocking — The world begins with mocking, thence proceeds to cavilling, Acts 4:7; to threats, 4:17; to imprisoning, Acts 5:18; blows, 5:40; to slaughter, Acts 7:58. These mockers appear to have been some of the natives of Judea, and inhabitants of Jerusalem, (who understood only the dialect of the country,) by the apostle's immediately directing his discourse to them in the next verse.
They are full of sweet wine — So the Greek word properly signifies. There was no new wine so early in the year as pentecost. Thus natural men are wont to ascribe supernatural things to mere natural causes; and many times as impudently and unskilfully as in the present case.
Verse 14
[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:
Then Peter standing up — All the gestures, all the words of Peter, show the utmost sobriety; lifted up his voice - With cheerfulness and boldness; and said to them - This discourse has three parts; each of which, Acts 2:14,22,29, begins with the same appellation, men: only to the last part he prefixes with more familiarity the additional word brethren.
Men of Judea — That is, ye that are born in Judea. St. Peter spoke in Hebrew, which they all understood.
Verse 15
[15] For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
It is but the third hour of the day — That is, nine in the morning. And on the solemn festivals the Jews rarely ate or drank any thing till noon.
Verse 16
[16] But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
But this is that which was spoken of by the prophet — But there is another and better way of accounting for this. Joel 2:28
Verse 17
[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:
The times of the Messiah are frequently called the last days, the Gospel being the last dispensation of Divine grace.
I will pour out of my Spirit — Not on the day of pentecost only, upon all flesh - On persons of every age, sex, and rank.
And your young men shall see visions — In young men the outward sense, are most vigorous, and the bodily strength is entire, whereby they are best qualified to sustain the shock which usually attends the visions of God. In old men the internal senses are most vigorous, suited to divine dreams. Not that the old are wholly excluded from the former, nor the young from the latter.
Verse 18
[18] And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
And upon my servants — On those who are literally in a state of servitude.
Verse 19
[19] And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
And I will show prodigies in heaven above, and signs on earth beneath — Great revelations of grace are usually attended with great judgments on those who reject it.
In heaven — Treated of, Acts 2:20.
On earth — Described in this verse. Such signs were those mentioned, Acts 2:22, before the passion of Christ; which are so mentioned as to include also those at the very time of the passion and resurrection, at the destruction of Jerusalem, and at the end of the world. Terrible indeed were those prodigies in particular which preceded the destruction of Jerusalem: such as the flaming sword hanging over the city, and the fiery comet pointing down upon it for a year; the light that shone upon the temple and the altar in the night, as if it had been noon-day; the opening of the great and heavy gate of the temple without hands; the voice heard from the most holy place, Let us depart hence; the admonition of Jesus the son of Ananus, crying for seven years together, Wo, wo, wo; the vision of contending armies in the air, and of entrenchments thrown up against a city there represented; the terrible thunders and lightnings, and dreadful earthquakes, which every one considered as portending some great evil: all which, through the singular providence of God, are particularly recorded by Josephus.
Blood — War and slaughter.
Fire — Burnings of houses and towns, involving all in clouds of smoke.
Verse 20
[20] The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
The moon shall be turned into blood — A bloody colour: before the day of the Lord - Eminently the last day; though not excluding any other day or season, wherein the Lord shall manifest his glory, in taking vengeance of his adversaries.
Verse 21
[21] And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
But — whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord - This expression implies the whole of religion, and particularly prayer uttered in faith; shall be saved - From all those plagues; from sin and hell.
Philippians 4:4-7
Verse 5
[5] Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Let your gentleness — Yieldingness, sweetness of temper, the result of joy in the Lord.
Be known — By your whole behaviour.
To all men — Good and bad, gentle and froward. Those of the roughest tempers are good natured to some, from natural sympathy and various motives; a Christian, to all.
The Lord — The judge, the rewarder, the avenger.
Is at hand — Standeth at the door.
Verse 6
[6] Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Be anxiously careful for nothing - If men are not gentle towards you, yet neither on this, nor any other account, be careful, but pray. Carefulness and prayer cannot stand together.
In every thing — Great and small.
Let your requests be made known — They who by a preposterous shame or distrustful modesty, cover, stifle, or keep in their desires, as if they were either too small or too great, must be racked with care; from which they are entirely delivered, who pour them out with a free and filial confidence.
To God — It is not always proper to disclose them to men.
By supplication — Which is the enlarging upon and pressing our petition.
With thanksgiving — The surest mark of a soul free from care, and of prayer joined with true resignation. This is always followed by peace. Peace and thanksgiving are both coupled together, Colossians 3:15.
Verse 7
[7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
And the peace of God — That calm, heavenly repose, that tranquility of spirit, which God only can give.
Which surpasseth all understanding — Which none can comprehend, save he that receiveth it.
Shall keep — Shall guard, as a garrison does a city.
Your hearts — Your affections.
Your minds — Your understandings, and all the various workings of them; through the Spirit and power of Christ Jesus, in the knowledge and love of God. Without a guard set on these likewise, the purity and vigour of our affections cannot long be preserved.
John 14:16-17
Verse 16
[16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
And I will ask the Father — The 21st verse, John 14:21, shows the connection between this and the preceding verses.
And he will give you another Comforter — The Greek word signifies also an advocate, instructer, or encourager.
Another — For Christ himself was one.
To remain with you for ever — With you, and your followers in faith, to the end of the world.
Verse 17
[17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
The Spirit of truth — Who has, reveals, testifies, and defends the truth as it is in Jesus.
Whom the world — All who do not love or fear God, cannot receive, because it seeth him not - Having no spiritual senses, no internal eye to discern him; nor consequently knoweth him.
He shall be in you — As a constant guest. Your bodies and souls shall be temples of the Holy Ghost dwelling in you.
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