Acts 2: 1-21 (NRSV)
Read Acts 2: 1-21 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 2When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. Verse 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Verse 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. Verse 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
Verse 5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. Verse 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Verse 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? Verse 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Verse 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Verse 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Verse 11Cretans and Arabs-in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." Verse 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" Verse 13But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."
Verse 14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Verse 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. Verse 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: Verse 17'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Verse 18Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. Verse 19And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. Verse 20The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. Verse 21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
Devotion
“These are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.”
Most of us who are reading these devotions might find ourselves in worship about this time—nine o’clock in the morning. There’s a pretty good chance, however, that most of us will not be accused of being drunk at that time. But how many of us anticipate being filled with new wine? Not the wine of alcohol, but the “new wine” of God’s Spirit?
I recall reading somewhere that the Holy Spirit is called the “shy” member of the Trinity. That’s too bad, but then again, I understand. While we have significant holiday celebrations for Christmas and Easter, we hardly ever mention Pentecost. “Happy Pentecost” or “Merry Pentecost” just isn’t in our lexicon. Again, that’s too bad, but it really does need to move beyond the cultural celebrations, doesn’t it?
Perhaps we could start by pondering a question Lutherans schooled in Martin Luther’s catechism might ask: “What does this mean, this being ‘filled with new wine’?”
Prayer
God of the “new wine,” we hardly know what to pray, but are thankful that your Spirit prays for us with “sighs too deep for words” when we are at a loss for what to say. Amen.