0125. Pentecost and the Mixed Multitudes

Pentecost and the Mixed Multitudes

"And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

"Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

"Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

"Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God" (Act_2:8-11).

The saints had been gathered together in the upper room for ten days. Christ had given them the command to "tarry until they were endued with power from on high." Their waiting did not bring the "promise of the Father"; but their waiting prepared them to receive the promise. Thus, the Church was born upon her knees and baptized with the Holy Ghost as soon as she was born.

There were "dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under Heaven". When what had happened was noised abroad, the multitudes came together. The key verse shows how Jews and proselytes, from many nations were represented in that notable gathering. The wonder of it was, that every man heard them speak in his own language. It is not strange that the people all marveled and were amazed, and said, "What meaneth this"?

Perhaps even we have not been able to fully answer the meaning of that great and representative crowd. Why did God open the ministrations of His Church under such conditions? Why did the people who spoke so many dialects and who came from so many parts each hear in his own language the wonderful works of God?

Look at the multitudes baptized that very day. About three thousand were added to the Lord. Many of these had come to Jerusalem from afar: some from Italy; some from Mesopotamia; some from Asia; some from Cyrene; some from Egypt.

Look at these men, begotten again, children of God, with a wonderful story of grace, and a wonderful joy, returning homeward–and returning to "tell the wonderful things that God had done for them." Surely it is not hard to discover the missionary heart of God. From that one day’s work, the first day of the new era, God is sending forth, far and near, many hundred missionaries of His grace. Such is the meaning of Pentecost and the mixed multitudes.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR