At Pentecost, God reversed the curse placed on humanity at Babel. Because of hubris and sin at Babel, God splintered humanity into different tribes, groups and languages – making it harder, if not impossible, for humans to coordinate and fully operationalize their arrogance. But at Pentecost, God’s Holy Spirit descended upon an assembly of Galilean believers and caused them to speak in other languages that were not their own. This allowed lost men from different parts of the world who were not Galileans to hear in their own native languages Galilean Christians proclaiming the mighty works of God (Acts 2:1-13). Some, undoubtedly, would have been humbled by what they saw and heard. People from disparate national or tribal groups would now become united under the name of Jesus. This powerful miracle birthed the Christian church, a new race, and a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9).
There was more to that miracle though. And it was the provision of boldness. Peter, who had denied the Lord three times out of a fear of men prior to the crucifixion of Jesus, would now boldly face those he had once dreaded, and heroically identify himself with the friend they had brutally and publicly murdered. Peter confidently raised his voice, and spoke to “the men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem.” He quoted the prophet Joel, and explained to them how what they just witnessed with people speaking in other tongues, and what they just heard in the sound of the mighty rushing wind, was a harbinger of the last days and a fulfillment of Joel’s messianic prophecy. But the most bold thing he did, proving that he was no longer animated by fear, but instead by God’s spirit, was to point out who was responsible for the murder of the Messiah. He said to them in Acts 2:22-23, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men [emphasis mine].
Of course, Peter’s “you” is not singularly specific. But without question, it would have included the religious leaders in the Sanhedrin who leveled the charges against Jesus, the acolytes who did their bidding, and the people in the crowds who shouted ‘crucify him’ without pausing to consider the terrible blood sin with which they were entangled. The Spirit had not given Peter a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). No longer was he afraid of the opinions of men, or of the consequence of death. Instead, he had the self-discipline to preach the truth in the midst of murderers.
If you are a follower of Christ, the same power is available to you. So go into the world and preach truth with your words and with your life.
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