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.
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? | Acts 2:1–8
Do you remember the wonderful truth we learned about God – that He is one God in three Persons? The Bible tells us about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
God the Father made us. God the Son came to die for us. God the Holy Spirit came to give us new hearts and make us like God once more.
We cannot see the Holy Spirit. But He came down to earth one day, long ago. It was after Jesus went to heaven.
Jesus’ disciples and friends stayed together, in a house in Jerusalem. Jesus had told them to stay in Jerusalem. “Wait there until the Father sends you the Comforter,” He said.
So they waited, day after day. They did not know how the Comforter would come. They prayed, and they sang hymns, and they waited.
And then, on a Sunday morning, about nine o’clock, they heard a noise – a loud noise, like a wind blowing very hard. But it wasn’t the wind. The disciples looked at each other. And then they saw little tongues, like flames of fire. But it wasn’t fire. The little tongues sat on the heads of all Jesus’ disciples and friends. And suddenly the Spirit of God was in them. The Holy Spirit filled their hearts.
Then they began to praise God more than ever. They began to talk about God, how He loved us all and sent His Son Jesus to die for us.
Other people in Jerusalem had heard the noise like a wind. They came to see what had happened. And they heard Jesus’ disciples talk about Him.
These people said, “Listen! These men are talking all kinds of languages! They talk languages of different people all over the world. They are telling everybody about the wonders of God!”
They asked each other, “What has happened?”
Then Peter stood up and said, “I will tell you what has happened. It is something that God promised long ago. You know how Jesus did great things, showing that He was the Son of God. But God let wicked men nail Him to the cross, and He died. Jesus did not stay in the grave, though! He is alive again. And He is gone to heaven. He promised to send the Holy Spirit. And now He has sent Him. What you see and hear is the work of the Holy Spirit. He has come to help us tell the wonderful story of salvation!”
This is the special work of the Holy Spirit. He makes men want to tell about Jesus. And when people hear how Jesus died to save them, the Holy Spirit helps them understand, and He gives them new hearts. And so He makes men love and praise God, as they should.
Something to talk about
- Who sent the Holy Spirit down to earth?
- What happened when He filled the hearts of the disciples?
- What is the special work of the Holy Spirit?
Memory verse
And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. | Ezekiel 36.27