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.… It may be said generally that at Pentecost the reign of symbols closed; not, however, that worship was to be absolutely released from visible signs — witness the institution of Baptism and the Lord's Supper — but a great change passed over the relations of the signs and the reality. Formerly the symbols disguised the things signified, now they have either been displaced by or simply illustrate the manifested reality. I. LIGHT DIFFUSED OR CONDENSED AS FIRE HAD BEEN FROM THE BEGINNING THE ELECT TOKEN OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD. 1. A light drawn from no material source hovered over Paradise, rested on patriarchal altars, irradiated the camp, trembled over the mercy-seat and was the glory of God filling His temple. Now when the new temple is consecrated by the advent of the Spirit the emblem appears for the last time and marks by the manner of its appearance a change which carries with it the essence of the Christian privilege. (1) Over the whole company, before it was distributed into fragments, there rested for one brief moment the glory of the Lord, as the sudden token that Jehovah had transferred His dwelling place from the holiest to the upper room. But specially the Holy Ghost signified that the Trinity was no longer a mystery hidden from the people. Within the veil the glory of God had symbolised the Three-One God. The Son had come and fulfilled His part of the symbol, "We beheld His glory," etc.; and now the Spirit descends to fulfil His part also, and when the Church was "filled with the Holy Ghost" it became a temple or "habitation of God through the Spirit." We are not in the court without conscious only that there is within the curtain an awful mystery of light. The Triune God is in our midst. (2) The diffused glory presently disparted "and sat upon each of them." In ancient times this light of the Lord's was never known to rest upon any individual — it was reserved for the congregation. Now the order is inverted, and imported that God accepted, sealed and set apart for Himself every one of them without exception. (3) But the symbol went as suddenly as it came. It could not remain, otherwise the conditions of probation would be changed. Who could sin under the irradiation of that heavenly token? And how could the world go on if the elect carried about with them this signature of heaven? But the reality remains, "they were all filled," etc. What the evanescent light taught for a moment the New Testament now teaches for ever: that the penitent believer is released from condemnation and knows it, being sealed by the Spirit of consecration. (4) The sign departed, but if restored on whom would it rest now? Whom would it leave unvisited? Over whom would it waver and then retire? What melancholy separations would it make between husband and wife, brother and sister, etc. Let every one ask, Would it rest upon me? Such tokens of acceptance or rejection we cannot expect, but we may turn with confidence to the sacred reality. Never live without the thing which this symbol signifies. 2. But this light was the light of a sacred fire. This introduces another novelty. In the ancient temple the two were distinguished. The light was behind the veil or was only diffused through the courts; the fire burned continually on the altar without. But now the light is the fire, and the fire the light. The Holy Ghost sealed believers for God by an outward token, and then filled their hearts as the refiner and sanctifier from sin. (1) Throughout the symbols and prophecies of Old Testament fire was an emblem of the purifying energy of the Spirit. Wherever the light of God's accepting presence rested, hard by was the altar on which fire consumed what God could not accept. And whether by the sharp discipline of affliction, or by the sweet and gentle influences of His grace; whether by the fire that bums or the fire that melts, the Spirit's work must be wrought in us unto perfection. The fire must burn on until it is quenched through having nothing more to consume. (2) But in its other meaning it is a fire that never can be quenched. The meaning of the fire upon the altar was this — the refuse was purged out that the rich essence of every offering should ascend trembling to God with perfect acceptance. Our whole being must be for ever ascending in abiding consecration. Interior religion makes the Spirit a "whole burnt-offering," the principle of which is being "filled with the Holy Ghost."(3) Note the connection between the light and the fire; between the Divine acceptance through the atonement and our interior meetness for it through the Spirit. (4) The fire is kindled from heaven, but it must be kept burning from below. The Eternal High Priest, by His Spirit, puts the fire on your altar; you must be the Levite to bring the perpetual offering. Feed it with your vanities, idols, sins, until these being destroyed, it shall be quenched. Feed it with your best affections, words, actions, whole life, until your whole being shall be ready for the perfect sacrifice of heaven; and then it never shall be quenched. (5) And remember the awful counterpart. For all who refuse the grace there is prepared a fire which in another sense "never shall be quenched." II. THAT WHICH SAT ON EACH OF THE DISCIPLES ASSUMED THE FORM OF A TONGUE. This was its most characteristic novelty. Never before did it so appear and never again, and we must look for its interpretation to the subsequent history. 1. The Spirit gave to the Church a new utterance. The tongue signified that to the whole company was given the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. From that hour the Spirit has been the Supreme teaching authority. 2. The voice of the Church was lifted up in two ways. (1) In the utterance of praise of the wonderful works of God. The Spirit — the tongue of God to man — made known the wonders of the incarnate Saviour as they had never been made known before. And the same Spirit — the tongue of the Church to God — dictated a hymn worthy of the revelation. And the Spirit ordered that it should be a type of the great future. The worship was offered in many languages which, as heard by God, were blended into one. Hence our assemblies are above all worshipping assemblies inspired by the Spirit. (2) But in due time the new tongue was heard in preaching also. Peter was a representative of the great company of preachers in his subject, his zeal, the demonstration of the Spirit which accompanied him, and his great success. But the distributed symbol teaches that in the whole work each individual must take a part. There is a strong tendency to introduce such music, etc., as must reduce many a poor member of the congregation to a mere spectator. Remember also that you must take your part in the preaching service, if not as a professed preacher, as a faithful servant of Christ, ready to defend His name, and recommend His salvation both by voice and by life. (W. B. Pope, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. |
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