I would like to begin with short trip back to Acts 1:4-5. I wasn’t going to do this again just yet, because I posted on this point last month. The issue is the idea of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I will return to this issue at the end of the series in more depth, but I want to do this here because it was mentioned on Sunday in the context of Matthew 11. Let’s look at Acts 1:4-5 first.
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
I would say about this verse for now, to whom is Jesus
speaking? And is this passage meant to
be passed on beyond this moment in redemptive history or not? Why or why not? This is not an argument about cessation vs.
continuation of spiritual gifts. I
promise to play that card later on when we discuss 1 Corinthians. I just want to lay out the questions for
later. To whom is Jesus speaking?
Just briefly about Matthew 11, it was stated in church that
Jesus refers to kingdom people in this chapter.
I have reread this section three times and I fail to see this in my
Bible. It could have been an honest
misquotation. Since I don’t agree with
the point that he was making, and I don’t plan to bring it up here, I’ll drop
it for now so that I can refute it at the proper time. If you heard the message yesterday, just read
Matthew 11 for yourself, then let it go for now, because it does not bear
directly on our present discussion.
I want to lay out this chapter of Acts in great detail. This is one of the most important chapters in
the whole Bible. From the outset, I want
you to carry through some concepts as we read it. If it is among the most important chapters in
the whole Bible, it must be heavy on the main theme of the whole Bible. The main theme, again, is that the Bible is
the story of the Redemption of man by God, through the Son, as revealed by the
Holy Spirit. Therefore, we should expect
something about sin, something about the Law, something about Jesus, and
something about the Holy Spirit. Peter is going to refer
to an Old Testament prophet, and then explain how that prophesy if fulfilled in
Christ Jesus. Based upon the historical
facts of the case, Peter is going to prove his case. Let’s follow along.
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4 ESV)
This is a huge moment, not to be understated. Is this the Baptism of the Holy Spirit spoken
of in Acts 1? Clearly, I would say
yes. Who received this Baptism? Luke answers this for us back in Acts 1.
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:1-3 ESV)
This is clearly an Apostolic event. Does this imply that the Holy Spirit is not
active today? The short answer is clearly
NO, but I want to build up to that answer in depth. Were there disciples that are not numbered
among the Apostles in that day? Clearly
and without a doubt there were many.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 that there were at least 500
eyewitnesses who were believers. And
yet, only the twelve received the tongue of fire dancing on their heads. Why?
Was it part of their Apostolic office?
We shall see. Time to move on to
the counter argument.
Look again at Acts 2:1.
What is the true antecedent of the word all? I have suggested that this refers to the
twelve Apostles. Some would say,
however, that this next line provides the antecedent instead.
In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “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. (Acts 1:15-16 ESV)
As we can see from that whole passage, starting with verse
1:12, there were women among this number (120), and that included Mary. We are not told whether the women voted
between Justus and Matthias. We are
told about this completion of the twelve just prior to the arrival of the Holy
Spirit. The implications of this
different interpretation is far reaching.
There are compelling reasons why one would prefer each of these
versions. Let’s let each play out for a
while and see what we can deduce.
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” (Acts 2:5-13 ESV)
When the text of Acts 2 is so plain, when the description is
completely clear, when the words seem to mean what they ought to mean, how can
we mess this up? And so what is that
speaking in tongues mentioned in Acts 2:4?
Who received it? What did they do
with this gift? I’ve allowed the text to
answer the questions because it is really that plain. Speaking in tongues was a gift of the Holy
Spirit, given specifically to the Apostles on Pentecost (or the whole 120), in
order to proclaim the Gospel in every language under heaven. Show me the part where it talks about a
private prayer language in that section.
I’m waiting. I have all day. Not finding that passage? Let’s move on. I hope that you can see that the text clearly
says what it says. This is not
interpretation. This is reading
comprehension. SAT skill. You can do it.
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: (Acts 2:14-16 ESV)
First point, this line is the compelling reason in my mind
that only the Apostles received this gift and not the whole company of
120. Peter, standing with the eleven,
clearly meaning the Apostles, lifted up his voice. As much as I want to end this point now, the
key argument the other way is about to come, so we’ll let the dichotomy persist
a while longer. Let’s return to the exegesis.
With all of the Old Testament available to him, why does
Peter pick Joel? One of the things that
we have lost is that the Jews of that day had the same familiarity with
certain of the Old Testament passages as we with certain New Testament passages.
If we say Exodus 20, few now know what’s there. If we say the Ten Commandments, few now can
name them. But in the first century,
they knew that stuff cold. If we say
John 3:16, who among us can’t produce that verse? So it was with the first century Jew and many
passages of their Old Testament scripture.
Perhaps, such was the case with this passage of 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.’ (Acts 2:17-21 ESV)
My friends, this was not just a random Old Testament
passage, this eschatological passage is referring to Judgment Day. We will see as we move through the New
Testament that these images recur in the Revelation of John. They appear in other places as well. These are end times passages. The first element that I want to discuss is
the concept of the last days. My
friends, we are in these last days. The
last days are defined as the time between the first and second coming of Jesus. How can we know? God declares that He will pour out His Spirit
on all flesh. We know that the Holy
Spirit arrived at Pentecost. Therefore, the last days have begun! He was
truly poured out on all flesh at that time.
This is not to say that the gift of tongues was poured out on all
flesh. I’m pretty sure I speak my native
tongue, English, but only the most generous would concede that I speak Spanish,
or any other language. And yet I hold
that the Holy Spirit has been very active in my life. I jump ahead.
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see
visions, your old men shall dream dreams, even the servants shat receive the
Holy Spirit and prophesy.
Now, did you catch it?
The most compelling reason to believe that the whole 120 received the gift
of tongues is that, then, Acts 2 would satisfy this prophesy in Joel! If there are women with the gift of Tongues
that day, preaching and teaching the crowds along with the men, then our sons
and daughters will have indeed prophesized.
Notice, very importantly, that this argument does not extend the gift of
tongues to the present day as many would think, rather, this argument satisfies
the prophesy and aids in the cessationist argument concerning the spiritual
gifts! (I’ll bet you didn’t think I was
going in that direction!) The best defense of continuation in ANY form is that
Tongues was an Apostolic gift in Acts 2.
So, Ogre, get yourself out of the rest of the Joel
passage. What type of passage did we say
that this is? End times? I see.
So, what we are saying is that when we see men and women prophesy, young
men with visions and old men dream, that the end times are near? Once again, returning to the other
argument. During the Book of Acts, and
throughout the New Testament, we see men and women prophesy. Think of Lydia.
As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour. (Acts 16:16-18 ESV)
Forget that she wore thin on Paul and see what we get
here. Lydia is a woman and a slave girl,
or servant. Hmmm. What did Joel say about servants? Think about John and his Revelation. Old men dreaming dreams. It is quite possible to argue that by the end
of John’s life, this whole prophesy concerning the last days has already been
fulfilled.
How did we define the last days? The last days are defined
as all the days between the Ascension and Judgment Day, or the Second Coming if
you prefer. (It is not my intention to be dragged into a debate with
dispensationalists at this time.) Therefore, if the last days include all the
days from then to that point in the future, why do we assume that all parts of
this Prophesy must be completed, and in order, by the end of John’s life?
As you listen to me argue strongly against cessation, please
notice that I am not arguing for continuation in the same way that we
experience in the Pentecostal world. By
arguing for continuation in the way that I have, following scripture, I
have limited certain gifts to the Apostolic ministry, and I have allowed
scripture to define exactly what is meant.
Tongues were an apostolic gift in this context. When we come to 1 Corinthians, we will have
to reconcile this view to Paul. But, I
want to make this very clear from the outset.
In the context of Acts 2, the Apostolic gift of tongues, as clearly
defined as a gift of languages, satisfies the 3 rule test.
Tongues and rule 1.
It’s not about you, it’s not about me,
it’s about Jesus. In the next post, we
will be dealing with the rest of Peter’s sermon. It is all about Jesus, every last word. Tongues
and rule 2. The Bible never
contradicts itself. We have two very
important differences in interpretation of what is happening in this
passage. While we can see the
attractiveness of both points of view, only one viewpoint seems to obey rule 2,
at least using the most plain interpretation of the text. That view is that when Peter stands with the
eleven, it is because only the eleven are speaking in foreign languages that
day in Jerusalem. Tongues and rule 3. Nothing
that we have seen thus far violates the John 14-16 passages, where Jesus says
that the Holy Spirit will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness
and judgment, then He will declare the things that are to come concerning
Jesus. What was the last line from the Joel passage quoted by Peter? And it
shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be
saved. This passage is about Judgment
Day and Salvation. Remember that the
Bible is about the greatest rescue mission of all time. The Bible is about the Salvation of fallen
man, that Salvation accomplished by Jesus through His vicarious life, death,
resurrection and ascension. It is finished.
--Ogre--
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