The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Acts 2:8-16, “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?
9″Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11Cretans and Arabs– we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”
12And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
“And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born?
9 ‘Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
11Cretans and Arabs– we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”
12And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’
13But others were mocking and saying, “They are full of sweet wine.”
14But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words.
15″For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day;
16but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel…”

Whenever there’s a miraculous occurrence, there is always someone who believes he knows what it’s all about, and he willingly and boldly gives his opinion. Others simply believe the occurrence is some kind of trick. On this occasion, some jokingly said that the men were drunk.

I have personally witnessed people who uttered sounds that they claimed were from the Holy Spirit; but the “language” was not at all discernable. The words themselves were not discernable words; nor were they like any language I had ever heard. Yet, they credited what was said to have been from the Holy Spirit. All I could say was that I had no idea what the “words” were or what thoughts they intended to convey.

In the passage above, Peter identified 15 or more language groups, and those in each group heard and understood the message of salvation in their own language. Clearly, this entire experience was the work of the Holy Spirit, and each language group understood the LORD’s message in their own language.

We need to understand that there are people in our world today who need the LORD. He longs to save them, and reaches out to them in ways that they are able to discern and respond to His message. What is also important is that we live for Him so that people will see Him living through us. Do you know Him? Does your life “speak” the language of salvation? Have you shared Him with someone? If this were important in Peter’s day –and it clearly was—it is exceedingly more important today!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom