THEMES FROM THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS AND THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES (a) Give an account...

Explanation

(a) (Acts 2:1 -41):

(i) On the day of Pentecost, the apostles were together in the upper room,

(ii) Suddenly, a sound from heaven like that of a rushing mighty wind filled the place where they were gathered

(iii) There appeared on their heads, tongues as of fire which rested upon each of them.

(iv)They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they started speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

(v) There were many pilgrims from different nations of the world in Jerusalem that day.

(vi)They converged together to listen to the apostles but they were amazed as each heard the apostles speak in his own language,

(vi) While many of the pilgrims wondered on the incident, some mocked them saying, they were already drunk.

(viii) Peter stood up to refute the allegation of drunkenness.

(ix) He said they were not drunk as the people had thought,

(x) But they were speaking in tongues in line with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as prophesied by Joel.

(xi) That on the last days." He would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh people would prophesy and there would be signs and wonders.

(xii) Peter further recounted the signs and wonders God had accomplished through Jesus Christ and his crucifixion and resurrection.

(xiii) To support the resurrection of Jesus, Peter quoted the Psalm of David which says "for thou wilt not abandon my soul to Hades nor let thy Holy one see corruption".

(xiv) Peter said the people were Witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

(xv) Peter said David was speaking about the resurrection of Christ that he would not be abandoned to Hades that his flesh would not see corruption.

(xvi) As 'Peter concluded his speech, the Jerusalem pilgrims listening to him were touched and they inquired from him what they should do.

(xvii) Peter advised them to repent from their sins and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins.

(xviii) Three thousand people repented; they were all baptized. (xix) They joined the apostles and received the Holy Spirit

(b)(i) The receipt of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost gave the apostles the courage and boldness to preach the gospel.

(ii) Most of the Jerusalem pilgrims repented and were baptized

(iii) Speaking in tongues symbolizes the universalism of the gospel.

(iv) The incident at Pentecost marked the beginning of the church.

(v) The lives of the apostles changed; the Holy Spirit turned them into dynamic apostles.

(vi)The apostles were filled with the resurrection power of Jesus Christ.

(vi) The apostles stood up against anyone that opposed the preaching of the gospel.

(viii) The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was a fulfillment of Jesus' promise to the apostles.

(ix) The apostles were empowered to perform signs and wonders and to prophesy.