When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. (Acts 2:6)
If you’ve been thru a big storm or stood under a jet as it passes just overhead, you can imagine the fear and awe when there’s raw power screaming above you. Imagine that terrifying sound, without actual wind, settling on one building without destroying it. Imagine the crowds that would come out to investigate. Picture the fire, descending on the men in one room, burning but not destroying and filling the men with the Holy Spirit. What would you do if you were a witness?
Country bumpkins were fluently speaking languages from the North, South, East, and West of Jerusalem – languages and dialects they had no business knowing – and the crowd heard the preaching of the wonders of God (2:11). They asked one another, “What does this mean?” What we saw is God sent His Holy Spirit to empower us to preach the gospel and the glories of God to everyone near us and everyone far. People often say, “If I see a miracle, then I’ll believe in God!” But some of the witnesses that heard the apostles walked away, mocking the miraculous, and dismissing it as drunkenness.
Preach the gospel. Tell people about Him. He will give you the words to say and don’t be discouraged if someone doesn’t care—you may just be planting a seed and someone else (who preaches the gospel!) may water the plant and see it grow (1 Cor. 3:6-7). Don’t be cynical and act on the miracle that God saved those who heard and believed in His word (Acts 4:4).