In the Shadow of Babel

Over the last month, we saw in Luke that Jesus' salvation is for everyone, not just the Jews (cf. Luke 2:30-32). This month we'll see Christ's saving work reach all kinds of people. Though this week's chapters all take place in Jerusalem, right from the start, God signals his desire to bring together a restored human race. One of the early symptoms of humanity's moral decline was God's confusion of our languages at the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1-9). In a dramatic sign inaugurating the last days (Acts 2:16-17), the disciples begin to speak to people of over a dozen homelands and languages — each hearing the words in their native language (Acts 2:8-11)!

Lost in Translation

This passage includes some phrases that might be unfamiliar, so let's get a little context.

• What's the Day of Pentecost? One of three Jewish pilgrimage feasts (Exod. 34:22), held fifty days after Passover (Lev. 23:16), celebrating the firstfruits of the wheat harvest (Exod. 34:22). Jews from across the world gathered to Jerusalem to celebrate, hence the diverse audience in Acts 2. The thousands saved that day were the firstfruits of a worldwide harvest for the Lord.
• What's the Sanhedrin? The Supreme Court of the Jews made up of 70 men plus the High Priest.
• Who were the Hellenists? A minority of the population of Jerusalem were Jews whose first language was Greek, rather than Aramaic. Some of these culturally different Jews became disciples (Acts 6:1).

Keep Talking!

Acts is a book about witnesses (Acts 1:8) who must keep speaking! The Holy Spirit empowers them to speak (Acts 2). People told them to stop talking, and they said "we cannot but speak" (Acts 4:20). And when problems arose among them, they said they could not even "give up preaching the Word" to deal with it (Acts 6:2). As you read, consider the importance of the spoken Word in your life — both hearing it and sharing it!

Life-Changing Words

Here are a few application questions to consider as you read this week:

• Something New: What signs of a different kind of community do you see in this group? How can we imitate their zeal, reverence, love, prayer-life, and boldness?
• Trouble in Paradise: What three problems do you notice develop in the readings for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (Acts 4-6)? How does the new community deal with these problems?
• Preaching's Greatest Hits: What are the main ideas in Peter's sermons this week? What do you learn about Jesus and Christianity? How should this affect the message you share?