Blast Off

Acts 2:1-21 describes the event of Pentecost, an important moment in the early Christian church, marking the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. This passage begins with the apostles gathered together when a sound like a violent wind fills the house, and tongues of fire appear, resting on each of them. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the apostles begin to speak in various languages, enabling them to communicate with a diverse crowd of Jews from different nations who were in Jerusalem for the festival. The crowd is bewildered, as they each hear the apostles speaking in their native tongues. Some bystanders mock the apostles, suggesting they are drunk, but Peter stands up to address the crowd. He explains that this event fulfills a prophecy from the Book of Joel, where God promises to pour out His Spirit on all people, enabling them to prophesy and see visions. Peter emphasizes that this is a sign of the last days and invites everyone to call on the name of the Lord for salvation. This moment signifies the birth of the Christian church, as it empowers the apostles to spread the teachings of Jesus to a broader audience.