The Miracle of Pentecost

“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” Acts 2:4-8

Pentecost was a feast that the Jews observed every year, and people came from all over the world to attend. Many of them came from families that had lived in other lands for several generations and spoke other languages. Prior to the day of Pentecost, the disciples had been gathered together in prayer for many days. Jesus had promised that the Holy Spirit would come and fill the believers, but they did not know when it would happen or what to expect. As they were gathered together in prayer on the day of Pentecost, the sound of a mighty rushing wind filled the room and a flame of fire appeared to sit upon each of them. As they began to speak, the people from other countries were miraculously able to understand them; each in his own language. This caused a great stir, a huge crowd quickly gathered, and thousands were saved that day. In this miracle, we can see that the Holy Spirit wants to work through individuals to spread the Gospel to the lost.