Amazed and Astonished: The Lyrics of the Spirit

For the past two weeks, we have been traveling through the book of the Acts of the Apostles, sometimes called the Gospel of the Spirit, exploring the ways in which the early church, empowered and equipped by the Holy Spirit, offers us a vision and a model for the church we need to be.

But this morning, we will be going back near the beginning, back to the moment when the promise of the Holy Spirit was made manifest.

So friends, let us listen now for how this story of amazement and astonishment unfolds.

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.

And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a, a tongue rested on each of them.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now, there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem.

And at this sound, the, the crowd gathered and was bewildered because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.

Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it, how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?" Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, converts, Cretans and Arabs.

In our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power.

All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others, others sneered.

They gave a side-eye and said, "They are filled with new wine." Friends, this is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Let us pray.

Oh God, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable unto you, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer.

Amen.