2. The word seems chosen to express the fact that the meeting of the disciples was either on the vigil of the Feast-day, or in the early dawn. So in Ezekiel 1:4, any form of flame might have denoted the presence of God; but the appearance actually chosen was one that was strikingly emblematical of his providence. Acts 2 must be interpreted in light of Acts 1:4-8, where the risen Lord Jesus instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit. This is an outward manifestation of what is taking place among them, as all those gathered in the room are “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4)—what Jesus promised them at his ascension now takes place. The word "tongue" occurs often in the Scriptures to denote the member which is the instrument of taste and speech, and also to denote "language" or "speech" itself. Anything long, narrow, and tending to a point is thus in the Hebrew called "a tongue." Malachi 4:1, 3 also speaks of this fire, reporting the end of the wicked: They will be ashes and smoke (see Psalm 37:20). Matthew 13:30 speaks symbolically of the wicked being gathered into bundles to be burned. Many people can sit and watch a fire in the hearth for hours, listening to the soothing crackle and pop of the wood and enjoying its warmth. System symbols are elements that allow systems to share parmlib definitions while retaining unique values in those definitions. Ed. When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Tongues - γλῶσσαι glōssai. (From Forerunner Commentary). Even then, it was only accepted as a political concession to the Roman emperor, Constantine. The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost. It is not uncommon (e.g., Acts 2:45; Matthew 27:35; Luke 22:17; and John 19:24), and is always used in the sense of dividing or distributing. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. If God’s law was … God is our Father and Christ is our Elder Brother. The idea is that they were separated or divided one from another; it was not one great flame, but was broken up, or cloven into many parts, and probably these parts were moving without order in the room. Taaniot, fol. They are to be burned in a fire so hot that no amount of water could put it out because the flames would turn the water to steam. The Classic reader will also instantly recall the beautiful description in Virgil (Aeneid, b. The rich man's last thought flashes to concern for the fate of his five brothers. ... (Acts 10:44-48). Instant PDF downloads. And it sat upon each of them - Or "rested," in the form of a lambent or gentle flame, upon the head of each one. These two ideas, jealousy and consuming fire, have something in common, as Deuteronomy 4:24 suggests: Our jealous God is a consuming fire! Acts 2:3 New International Version (NIV). Martin G. Collins The Holy Spirit appeared as tongues of fire when He came upon the disciples and God's power was displayed as thousands of people were saved on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:3–4). It is interesting to think about the possible ramifications of this verse. Refer to the external references at the end of this article for more information. Nevertheless, the Spirit is never described to have a humanlike shape. It is used in the sense of being the symbol of complete purging, so that when something passes through fire, it is then clean. Any form of fire would have denoted the presence and power of God; but a form was adopted expressive of "what was to occur." So the Churches of East and West have commemorated the day as on the eighth Sunday after Easter. The pouring forth of the Spirit upon the apostles, in this form of cloven tongues, as of fire, was indeed the means of rebuilding Jerusalem, in a spiritual sense; or of founding the Gospel church state in the world: and it sat upon each of them; the fire, or the Holy Ghost in the appearance of fire. The Holy Spirit comes as fire to work something deep into the substance of our lives that will shape things around us, rather than us taking on the shape of the world. See what over 145,000 subscribers are already receiving each day. Thus, Joshua 7:21, Joshua 7:24 (in Hebrew), "a tongue of gold," that is, a wedge of gold; Joshua 15:5; Joshua 18:19; Isaiah 11:15, "The tongue of the sea," that is, a bay or gulf. The frequent occurrence of the Greek word for “with one accord” (Acts 1:14; Acts 2:46; Acts 4:24; Acts 5:12) is significant as showing the impression made on the writer by the exceptional unity of the new society. But He is against sin and disloyalty with just as much heat as He is for those who love Him and diligently seek Him. Yet, recall the burning bush where God commissioned Moses to lead His people out of slavery (Exodus 3:2). The cakes were molded in the form of a female goddess. Numbers you can type on your keyboard's Num Pad to get special symbols. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Some eminent scholars have thought that our Whitsun-day represents it after a still more altered form, and that this is a more probable etymology of the word than those which connect it with the white garments worn on that day by newly-baptised converts, or with the gift of “wit, or wisdom.”. God may have done this because fire had previously been associated with a form of baptism by John the Baptist (Luke 3:16). What was Paul's motive for teaching and guiding the church? See Ezekiel 1:4; Psalm 18:12-14. Contains both 1 - 256 and 0128 - 0256 code ranges. Other instances of a similar prodigy are also recorded in profane writers (Pliny, H. N., 2:37; Livy, 1:39). 23. God describes idolatry as harlotry, playing around with someone else's spouse. The Spirit’s “finger” writes his law in ways both physical and spiritual. Note the singular. He was closely watching over these people with godly jealousy. He wants us to respond in like manner. After the rushing sound and the appearance of the flames, they could not doubt that here was some remarkable interposition of God. in Acts 2:1). At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit assumed the form of “tongues of fire” (Acts 2:3) to signify the miraculous power of the apostles’ message and their radically changed lives. It was totally enveloped in fire, yet it was not destroyed. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. The practice of parents' choosing their children's spouses is not common in our Western world, but many of us wish our children were so likeminded with us that they would totally trust us with their happiness for the rest of their lives. The Father and the Son are revealed to have body parts like us—they even sit on thrones—but the Spirit is described to be like wind, oil, fire, and water. With warmth, ardor, and affection? Matthew 3:12 records John's warning to the Pharisees that they would be burned up as chaff if they did not repent. God used the fire to identify those who were receiving His Spirit at that time—a form of visible "sanctification" (being set apart). 2:5 "raisin cakes" were used as a religious ritual in fertility rites. As long as God was in it, the energy never diminished! The sight was so brilliant in depicting God's glory that Moses dropped to his knees and bowed to the ground. 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