Can you please explain Acts 2:6?
To get a proper sense of what is going on in this verse, let’s read Acts 2:1-7, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?”
In all of the Gospel accounts, we read how the Lord Jesus Christ had died, been buried, and was raised again. In Acts 1, we find the Lord with His disciples about to return to Heaven. Acts 1:4-5 says of the Lord, “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but YE SHALL BE BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY GHOST not many days hence.” We then read in verse 9, “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.” Verses 12-13, tell us the disciples returned to Jerusalem and, along with others, met together in an upper room.
Chapter two, shows us that it was on the day of Pentecost that the words of the Lord to His disciples were fulfilled. We read in verse 4, “And THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. This is the birthday of the church! 1 Corinthians 12:13 shows us, “For by one Spirit are we ALL BAPTIZED INTO ONE BODY…” On this day, the church, which is the body (Ephesians 1:22-23) was formed with the Spirit of God indwelling every believer. When the Spirit came on these disciples on the day of Pentecost, His presence was manifested as they “began to speak with other tongues.” The Greek word for tongues is ‘glossa’ which by definition is “a language (specially, one naturally unacquired)”. This unnatural phenomenon caused everyone to be confounded.
Acts 2:6 says, “Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that EVERY MAN HEARD THEM SPEAK IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE.” This is different than the instruction that is given in 1 Corinthians 14 concerning speaking in tongues (languages). Verses 13-14 show that if one spoke in tongues, there needed to be an interpreter. In our portion here in Acts 2, we can immediately see there is no need for an interpreter, everyone heard them in their own native tongue. This was an incredible manifestation of the Spirit’s presence in every believer. Can you imagine listening to someone speak to you in German, but you heard it in English? Not only that, but each one heard them speak in their very own dialect. Reading verses 9-11, we see there were at least 16 languages represented, and each one heard in their individual dialect.
We can see from this portion, that every believer is indwelt with the Holy Spirit. Are we in danger of losing the Spirit’s presence? If we offend Him, will He leave? Ephesians 4:30 tells us, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are SEALED UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION.” Until the very day we are called home to the Lord, all fellow believers are indwelt by the Spirit. (217.2)