(མཛད་པ། 1:15-26)

 

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong[d] he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

“‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. (Acts 1:15-26)

 

Now it seems that there were enough men present in one place for the disciples to form a constitutional body according to the requirements of Jewish Law.

After praying and studying the scriptures it became clear to Peter what they must do; they must restore the full number of Yeshu’s represent-atives from 11 to 12. So who was it that he had chosen?

Two names were suggested; so by prayer to Yeshu and by the casting of lots they discovered which of the two was the man to share in the apostles’ work of being his witnesses, having lived with Yeshu throughout the three years of his ministry.

(མཛད་པ། 2:1-13)

 

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[a] 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.

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? 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.” 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.”

 

Yeshu’s promise fulfilled! What a memory! a sound like hurricane wind in the house, and the Spirit coming down a bit like forked lightning to fill each man. And to these simple country folk was given the power of speech to praise God. And what speech!

It seems that they burst out of the house; and so loud was the noise of 120 men speaking that a huge crowd was attracted  and among them people coming from countries as far as Rome to the west, Iran to the east, Arabia in the south, and from North Africa. What they heard was the praise of God spoken in their local languages.

But some not understanding at all thought the disciples were just drunk!

(མཛད་པ། 2:14-21)

 

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. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

“‘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;
even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

 

So Peter is now made to stand in front of the great crowd, and he speaks out boldly. This loud announcement of God’s great works in all your languages, he says, is just as Joel’s prophecy described:

1. These are the ‘last days’ of which he wrote

2. You heard ‘God’s Spirit’ giving the power of speech

3. It is not only prophets who will ‘prophesy’, but those who are ‘God’s bond-servants, both male and female’.

Then Peter continues to quote, because Joel’s sutra also says that, now ‘before’ the Last Day, the day of judgment for sin, that ‘magnificent day of the Lord’, ‘everyone’ who believes and ‘calls upon’ God will achieve liberation.