Tongues of fire.

Acts 2:1–13 finds Jesus' followers waiting in a house in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit, as Jesus instructed (Acts 1:4, 12–15). The Holy Spirit comes, not only establishing His presence in each individual permanently, but equipping them as needed to spread the news that Jesus forgives sins and reconciles sinners to God.

Jews from all over the Roman Empire, in Jerusalem for Pentecost, hear the message in their own languages. Some are derisive, but others are very interested in what the apostles are saying.

Acts 2 describes the beginning of the church in three episodes. First, the Holy Spirit comes upon the Jesus-followers in Jerusalem, equipping them with the ability to teach the gospel in different languages (Acts 2:1–13).

Second, Peter gives a public declaration using Old Testament prophecy to show Jesus is the long-awaited Jewish Messiah (Acts 2:14–36).

Third, people believe. They repent, trust Jesus will forgive their sins, and agree to be baptized as a public sign that they are now Jesus-followers (Acts 2:37–47). That quickly, the church is born.

Acts 2:2-3-And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Acts 2:3 describes the pouring forth of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles in the form of cloven tongues, as of fire. The tongues appeared to them, meaning, they saw the tongues. The tongues were “divided” and they were “like fire”. The idea is that they were separated or divided one from another, and probably these parts were moving without order in the room.

Biblically, "cloven tongues" refers to the miraculous signs that accompanied the baptism of the Holy Spirit during Pentecost. In Acts 2:3, it is described as "cloven tongues like as of fire" that sat upon each person, enabling them to speak in different languages. This event empowered the diverse body of Christ to fulfill the great commission by spreading God's message to all nations.

A cloven tongue refers to a biblical phenomenon described in Acts 2:3. During the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles in the form of divided tongues like fire. These tongues rested upon each of them, signifying the presence and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

The term “cloven” suggests that the tongues were parted asunder or distributed among them, with each disciple sharing in the gift equally with others. It was a miraculous sign that accompanied the baptism of 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”

About one hundred and twenty Jesus-followers (Acts 1:15) are sitting in a house in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit comes (Acts 2:1–2). At first, they hear "a sound like a mighty rushing wind" (Acts 2:2). Now bits of fire—or something with that appearance—land on them.

Acts 2 presents the end of the age of the Mosaic law and the beginning of the church age. Ever since the Israelites escaped slavery in Egypt, God had dealt with His creation primarily through the law He gave Moses. As the Israelites abided by the law, God blessed them.

When they broke the law, God judged them. Hundreds of years of history proved the Israelites were incapable of fully keeping the law. No one can be good enough to earn God's favor. God must bridge the gap caused by sin in order to bestow His forgiveness.

This is why He sent His Son, Jesus. With His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, Jesus was the perfect, sinless sacrifice that can stand in that gap caused by sin. His death fulfilled the requirement that sin always brings death and granted an "imputed" sinlessness on whoever believes Him (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

The Mosaic law has proven it cannot save, only Jesus can and will. Now it's time to spread that good news.

Jesus provided the way of salvation. Yet His incarnation and immediate presence—one individual in one geographical region with a three-year ministry—is not the best way to spread the news to the world. For that, God chooses to rely on Jesus' followers, but they will not be alone (John 16:7–11).

The job is too big. He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell in each believer, equipping them for the job ahead. And so, as Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His followers to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4–11).

A little over a week after Jesus' ascension, about 120 Jesus-followers wait together in Jerusalem. Apparently without warning, the Holy Spirit fills the house with a sound like a great wind and lands on each believer, giving them the ability to speak different languages.

Jerusalem is filled with visitors who have come to celebrate Pentecost. They hear the different dialects and are astounded—how did Galileans get this ability? Some are curious; others are dismissive (Acts 2:1–13).

Peter, ever the spokesman but now enlightened by the Holy Spirit, addresses the crowd. The prophet Joel prophesied this moment (Joel 2:28–32). This is the "last days" when God will pour out His Spirit. This is the time of prophecies and visions and dreams.

Jesus of Nazareth is revealed as the Jewish Messiah they've been waiting for. His miracles attest to the truth. He fits David's prophecies (Psalm 16:8–11; 110:1). And these men standing with Peter are witnesses that Jesus died and rose again (Acts 2:14–36).

When the crowd realizes they are complicit in the murder of God's Messiah, their reaction is immediate. They follow Peter's guidance to repent of their sins, trust Jesus to forgive them, and agree to be baptized as a public admission of their new loyalty.

In response to their faith, the Holy Spirit comes on them. In all, about three thousand make this commitment (Acts 2:37–41).

Many of the 120 who receive the Holy Spirit that morning have known each other for years, presumably some for their whole lives (Acts 1:12–15). By nightfall, about three thousand will join them. Many of the new believers have no real idea of who Jesus is beyond Peter's quick sermon.

So the infant church provides what's needed: teaching about Jesus from the apostles, affirmation of the message through signs and wonders, community through joint meals, and a unity that extends even to personal property. In one day, the church is created

In the Old Testament, God often came as if in wind (Job 38:1; Ezekiel 1:4; 1 Kings 19:12), but He also came in the form of fire. He met Moses in a flaming bush (Exodus 3:2–5) and led the Israelites through the wilderness through a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21–22).

When God met Moses on Mt. Sinai, He "descended on it in fire" (Exodus 19:18) and "the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain" (Exodus 24:17).

John the Baptist promised that Jesus' followers would be baptized by the Spirit, but he also said they would be baptized with fire (Luke 3:16; Matthew 3:11). The Bible uses fire as a metaphorical method of purification.

Fire purified Isaiah's unclean lips (Isaiah 6:4–8) and burns away the useless chaff of the wheat (Luke 3:17). When we will be judged, our works will be tested as if they were put through fire to destroy the useless and reveal the good (1 Corinthians 3:12–15).

In this case, it appears the tongues of fire are visual manifestations of the Holy Spirit's intent. His plan is to equip the Jesus-followers with the ability to speak other languages (Acts 2:4). Jerusalem is filled with Jews from all over the Roman Empire and beyond who have come for the Feast of Pentecost.

It's possible that not all of them speak Aramaic or Greek. In order to effectively spread the message that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah who can reconcile sinners with God, the people will need to hear that message in their own language. And so, the Holy Spirit makes that possible .

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.''

In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.