Text: Acts 2:1-47.
This chapter has caused a lot of division among Christians. Those who call themselves “Pentecostals” have a certain understanding and application of “tongues” which may be incorrect (4-8,11b, 32-33, 42). What the Bible means by tongues is “known human languages that were not known by the speakers but were understood by the listeners” (2:7-8). Tongues are not languages of angels, nor are they private prayer languages. The purpose of tongues is to show that the message of Christ is to go out beyond the boundary of Judaism, out to all tribes, languages, nations, and people. Tongues also show the necessity of translating the Bible into other languages. Wycliffe Bible Translators estimate that there are 1,860 languages, about 180 million people that do not have any form of Bible translation (Wikipedia.org).
If you know a language that does not have a Bible nor a portion of it, perhaps the Lord is calling you to do the work of translation! Remember, salvation is found only in the message of the Bible, the message about the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Meditate on verse 38. How are you going to apply it to your life?
My heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I pray for the repentance of this nation. Forgive us for the wrongs we have committed. Amen.