When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  (2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  (3) Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  (5) And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.  (6) And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.  (7) Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?  (8) And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? (9) Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, (10) Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, (11) Cretans and Arabs – we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

The Book of Acts was written by Luke who has told the reader that those who experienced the entirely new event had been prepared by Jesus who told them that they would be baptized with the Spirit and with fire.  The disciples were told to wait in Jerusalem until they received power from on high.

There were three mandatory feast days for devout Jews and here at this particular time were gathered Jews from all over the know world for Pentacost – the feast of first fruits when a pilgrimage to Jerusalem was expected – so the scene is set for Pentecost and the gift of the Spirit.  Luke describes the unique situation here as having a sound of violent wind and the sudden appearance of tongues of fire on those present – not literal wind and not literal fire but sounds like and looks like.  This came from heaven and was the baptism of the Church in the Spirit and with power and fire which symbolized God’s presence.

Tongues spoken here are languages spoken which were unknown to the speakers but were the native language of those who heard – remember that the audience who gathered at the sound of the wind was devout Jews from every nation.  The Spirit empowered the apostles – uneducated Galileans –  who spoke the native tongues of others flawlessly.  God is identifying Himself with the Church and specifically with the apostles.  With this gift of the Spirit God is now in us – only because sins have been dealt with in the cross of Christ Jesus.  We believers are forgiven sinners with the abiding of the Spirit.  This is an act of the sovereign God Who acts in His perfect time.