Nine O'Clock is Not Wine O'Clock

Crazy stuff is going on at the house where Jesus' followers are staying. Roaring wind (Acts 2:2). Fiery tongues (Acts 2:3). Instantaneous ability to speak foreign languages (Acts 2:4). When a crowd of people from all over the known world gather to see what's going on, they are blown away to hear an uneducated group of folks from the sticks speaking in foreign languages and describing the mighty works of God (Acts 2:5-12). Surely they must be hitting the hooch (Acts 2:13).

At this point, Peter steps up (v14). He not only responds to the charge of SUI (speaking under the influence) but preaches the first great sermon of the church. This is another clear example of Pete's role as the leader of the apostles. He is the first among equals. And here we see him once again fulfilling Jesus' orders to him back in Lk 22:32, to "strengthen the brothers" once he has been restored.

It's interesting that Luke tells us that Peter was "standing with the eleven" as he began to speak. This is a reference to the apostles back at full strength after naming Matthias as Judas' replacement. The other 11 have Pete's back. They stand with him, fully supporting him as he addresses the crowd.

He reassures those gathered there that they were under the influence all right, but it wasn't wine (v15). It was "only the third hour of the day." The Jews calculated the time of day in relationship to sunrise. So if the sun came up at 6am, for heaven's sake, it's only 9 in the morning! He tells them that 9 o'clock is NOT wine o'clock. But he tells them that they are under the influence of something so much more powerful. Or should we say Someone more powerful. The Holy Spirit.

Peter says that what is going on was predicted by the prophet Joel (v16). He goes on to quote Joel 2:28-32. In these verses, the OT prophet talks about strange events in "the last days." This phrase, and others like it, are always used to describe an end times scenario. This is an eschatological term. In other words, these events will occur in those days just before Jesus comes back to judge the people of the world one last and terrible time.

He quotes God, "I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh" (v17). Jesus called the falling of the Holy Spirit as "the promise the Father" (Acts 1:4). Throughout the OT, prophets told of a day when the Spirit of God would do amazing things (Is 44:3; Ezek 11:19-20). The Spirit was strongly associated with the New Covenant.

In v17-18, Pete quotes Joel and describes how the Spirit will not discriminate. He will not simply fall on a special group of people. The Holy Spirit will not limit Himself to just priests, pastors, people in so-called "full time Christian service," and the super religious. God will pour Him out on everyone. Sons. Daughters. Young men. Old men. Even working stiffs. One day the Spirit of God will empower everyone to do incredible things.

If Peter had stopped there, then we wouldn't have as many questions about this passage. But he keeps going (v19-20). And he talks about a series of fearful astronomical events. "Wonders in the heavens." "Blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke." "The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood."

If Pete had stopped with v18, we could say that Joel's prophecy had been fulfilled that day in Jerusalem. But the inclusion of these eschatological signs in the heavens tell us something else. Peter was telling us that everything that was happening was just a foretaste of when God really and truly poured out His Spirit upon everyone.

When I was a kid, I witnessed lightning striking the light towers at my local ball field. In the seconds after the strike, every light at the diamond lit up. The power of the lightning caused all of the lights come on for just a second. I think that's what's going on here. God's Spirit fell for the first time and it was powerful. VERY powerful. And if you think this is something, wait until He does it in those last days!

Pete then quotes Joel 2:32, "And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Sound familiar? Paul also quoted this verse in Rom 10:13. There's no doubt that this ties the role of the Holy Spirit to the desire for someone to realize they need God. It is only when the Spirit acts in someone's life that their eyes are opened and they cry out to God.

When God's Spirit shows up, crazy stuff happens. When God's Spirit shows up, we are truly under the influence. But 9 o'clock is not wine o'clock.

Created 8 months ago