Mapping Acts 2:1-4

Photo by Heather 

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Photo by Heather 

Today I am sharing with you what I feel God spoke to my heart as I mapped/studied the following verses. As you read through this scripture reading, you may hear the Lord speak differently to you than he did to my heart. We are all in different places and seasons of life, and I believe God reveals what we need for each season of our lives as we study His word. 

The verses I am studying today come from Acts 2:1-4. We will look at these verses in more than one version.

Acts 2:1-4 NIV

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed like tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:1-4 NKJV

1 When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance.

Next, look for words or phrases that stick out.

I usually like to highlight or underline these words.

After I highlight or underline the words that stand out to me, I look them up in a dictionary. I use an online dictionary for the meaning of the word today, what it means in Hebrew, and also in Greek. Sometimes I cannot find the meaning of the word in both Hebrew and Greek. 

Pentecost-(dictionary) 1. The Christian festival celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension, held on the seventh Sunday after Easter. 2. The Jewish Festival of Shavuot.

Pentecost- comes from the Greek word (pentēkostē) meaning “fiftieth.” It refers to the Jewish Festival celebrated on the fiftieth day after First Fruits, also known as “Feast of Weeks” and the “Feast of 50 Days” in rabbinic tradition.

Holy Spirit- (dictionary) in Christianity; The third person of the Trinity; God as spiritually active in the world.

Holy Spirit- (Hebrew) refers to the divine force, quality, and influence of God over the universe or over God’s creatures 

Holy Spirit- (Greek) means advocate or helper

Accord- (dictionary) 1. Give or grant someone (power, status, or recognition) 2. (Of a concept or fact) be harmonious or consistent with.

Accord- (Hebrew) agreement, consent, pact, deal, understanding, chord, unison, unanimity

Accord- (Greek) agreement, accordance, pact, symphony, conformity, option, discretion 

Something I noticed about these two different versions is the NIV left out one accord. I am not sure why. However, I feel these words are important. When you read the definition of accord, you can see there was unity between them.

Next, look closely at what takes place in the verses. Then, write a brief summary.

In Acts 2:1-4 a huge crowd was gathered in one accord with each other in one place. Suddenly they heard a sound like a rushing wind. They saw what looked like tongues of fire. The tongues of fire divided and rested on each of them. Everyone of them was filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in other languages. This was also known as the “Feasts of Weeks.”

I feel God spoke to my heart as I read these verses. I felt he told me once we have received the Lord as our savior we have the Holy Spirit to guide us. We need to allow the the Holy Spirit to lead us. We also need to tell others about Jesus. Just as they were able to speak in different languages, I believe God will equip us with what we need in the moment.

So, in any moment you aren’t sure what to do, ask the Holy Spirit to show you the way.