Acts 2: The wind of change

Captain Sian Wood explores the difference the coming of the Holy Spirit makes.

Key text

• Acts 2:1–33

I wonder: when did you last find yourself at a gathering or celebration of something or someone? They come in all shapes and sizes, don’t they! Weddings, birthday parties, christenings, anniversaries, dedications. When we go to such events – often full with lots of people we don’t really know – we go with a common purpose in mind: to share with and celebrate together. We are united through the person or the event we have come to be a part of.

This was also the case for those who travelled to share in the Feast of Weeks, which is known to us as Pentecost, meaning ‘50’. The Feast of Weeks was a celebration that took place 50 days after Passover. Along with Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles, it was a celebration of God’s provision going right back and remembering the Law of God given to Moses on Mount Sinai. It was a way of expressing gratitude and thanksgiving to God for his provision.

There is perhaps something significant here about the sense of gathering together. For it is as the people gathered together – when they were ‘all together in one place’ (Acts 2:1) – that the Holy Spirit came.

Pause and reflect

• How important is it to gather together with other believers?
• What impact could it have when we don’t take time to meet together?

The Pentecost event is really significant when you look into the detail of it. The Holy Spirit’s power came like a rushing wind (see Acts 2:2) and changed the atmosphere right in front of people’s eyes, empowering them to speak boldly in praise to God. Although their languages were different, the Spirit gave them the ability to understand one another. This demonstrates exactly what the Holy Spirit comes to do: he comes to unite people. The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost is deliberately the exact reversal of the judgement that took place when the tower of Babel was built.

Perhaps you’re familiar with the story recorded in Genesis 11:1–9. We read that the people decided to build a city, and in the city a great high tower, in order to make a name for themselves, to make their own name known. God was not at all pleased with such pride and arrogance. Because of the people’s sin and rebellion, God confused their language so they couldn’t understand each other. It was God’s way of judging them for their attitude and actions.

At Pentecost, however, we see the reversal of this: believers gathered together united by the Spirit of God. Different people, different languages, but all united in love and praise to God. What an image this is! What a picture of the Kingdom of God!

John 13:35 reminds us that the whole world will know we are Jesus’ disciples if we love one another. No ego, no promotion of self, just love, poured out by Jesus on the cross, and ignited by the power of the Spirit to bring restoration and renewal to the whole Earth.

Pause and reflect

• How concerned do we get about making a name for ourselves above promoting the name of Jesus?
• Where might God be asking you to more effectively reflect his love in your life?

As Peter stood to his feet (see Acts 2:14), something was noticeably different about him. One of Jesus’ closest disciples – who was fiercely committed but could equally be labelled brash for getting ahead of himself at times – was absolutely on point here. He speaks with clarity and conviction as he explains the fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy, the centrality of Christ crucified and resurrected, and then the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

Peter himself is a changed man. No longer afraid or unsure or hiding away from the authorities in fear of his life for being a follower of Jesus, but now speaking with boldness, passion and truth. And the result? Thousands come to follow Jesus from just one sermon!

When the Holy Spirit came, there was a shift in the atmosphere. No longer did the power of God rest on one or two in a temporary capacity; the Spirit came to reside in the hearts of those who would make him Lord of their lives. It’s a permanent thing. When Jesus speaks with Nicodemus, explaining what it means to be born of the Spirit, he says: ‘The wind blows wherever it pleases’ (John 3:8).

At Pentecost, we see the wind of the Spirit doing just that: breaking down barriers, defying expectations, cleansing, restoring and making things new. Nothing is the same for those who gathered on that glorious day. And nothing need remain the same for us as we receive afresh the power of the Spirit this Pentecost.

God longs to breathe upon us again this Pentecost. He invites us to allow the Spirit to shape us, cleanse us and renew those parts of our lives where we sometimes lose hope, or where we have learnt to settle for less than he intends for us. He seeks to revive our weary souls, to energise us, to restore hope where it has been buried and to fill us with power beyond our limits and expectations.

As the Spirit does his deep work within us, as his power lives and works in us and through us, others too will be drawn to Jesus. Let these lyrics penned by John Gowans be your prayer this Pentecost:

Holy Spirit! Promised presence fall on me. 

Holy Spirit! Make me all I long to be. 

Holy Spirit! Holy Spirit! 

Give your power to me O Holy Spirit. 

(SASB 316)