It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams. Acts 2:17 WEB
As a large number of Jews from distant places gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate Pentecost, Peter and the other apostles received the Holy Spirit. Afterwards, they each spoke in tongues. That is to say, they spoke in languages foreign to their own. These Galilean men inspired by the Holy Spirit communicated with the crowd of multilingual listeners, each in his own native language. This puzzled the crowd as they could not understand how Jesus’ followers could speak in so many foreign languages.
To explain this sign, Peter stood to address the crowd with the other eleven apostles. He explained that the miracle of their sudden ability to speak in foreign languages fulfilled the words of the prophet Joel. Peter follows by reciting scripture from Joel 2:28-32. This prophecy predicts that in the last days God will pour out his Spirit on all flesh. The manifestation of the supernatural ability to speak in languages previously unknown to them was the result of God pouring out his Holy Spirit upon the apostles.
The End of the Age
Many believers consider the last days as something yet to come. But here, in the Book of Acts, we understand that the last days began nearly two thousand years ago. In the last days the Spirit of God inspires men and women to give prophecy, see visions, and dream prophetic dreams. Our generation, like every generation since the resurrection of Christ, lives in the last days.
In the time of their discipleship with Christ, the apostles struggled to understand Old Testament prophecy. But, inspired by the Holy Spirit, Peter sees clearly the metaphor of Joel’s prophecy. In the last days, the repentant sinner receives supernatural comfort, support, and communication from our Father through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
This happens as we actively share the gospel message of Christ. As Jesus instructed and promised in Matthew 28:19-20, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. WEB”
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the last days. Thank you for your guidance and comfort. Give me strength and wisdom to share the truth of the gospel. Let your Holy Spirit be my guiding light to eternity with you. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: The Pharisees
