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I wrote about translations a few days ago and mentioned that I’m enjoying The Passion Translation by Bruce Simmons. Often the translation brings out something I’d missed, and the notes often add additional insight. Here’s his take on the tongues of fire in Acts 2 that I wrote about yesterday.
On the day Pentecost was being fulfilled, all the disciples were gathered in one place. Suddenly they heard the sound of a violent blast of wind rushing into the house from out of the heavenly realm. The roar of the wind was so overpowering it was all anyone could bear! Then all at once a pillar of fire appeared before their eyes. It separated into tongues of fire that engulfed each one of them. (Acts 2.1-3, The Passion Translation, emphasis his)
Here’s the accompanying note:
This was the pillar of fire that led Israel from bondage into the promised land. The same pillar of fire manifested here to initiate a new beginning from dead religious structures into the powerful life of the Spirit. Each believer received an overpowering flame of fire, signified by the shaft of light that engulfed them. It was as though each one received his own personal pillar of fire that would empower him and lead him throughout his life. This was the promise Jesus gave to his disciples of “the one like me” (John 14:26), who would be sent by the Father and never leave them. Today every believer is indwelt by the Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9).
This must have been another “fun” event for the Trinity! “OK, let’s do this!” A massive attention-getter that resulted in thousands hearing Peter’s first sermon to which 3,000 responded. A jump-start to the church. An additional 3,000 indwelt by the Spirit!
[Peter continued,] “For God’s promise of the Holy Spirit is for you and your families, for those yet to be born and for everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”…Those who believed the word that day numbered three thousand. They were all baptized and added to the church. (Acts 2.39, 41, The Passion Translation)
The 3,000 received the Spirit like we do, a bit more quietly than that first 120. But we have the Spirit nevertheless. Maybe we should live like this is true!
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (Romans 8.14, ESV) or, as it reads in The Message: God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14.26, ESV)
I’m writing to encourage you to fan into a flame and rekindle the fire of the spiritual gift God imparted to you when I laid my hands upon you. 7For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control. (2 Timothy 1.6, 7, The Passion Translation)