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God Sends the Holy Spirit

Acts 2

Characters: Narrator, Peter, John, Crowd Member 1, Crowd Member 2, Crowd Member 3

Narrator: had ascended into heaven just 10 days earlier. It was 50 days after the first Easter, a time where the Jewish people celebrated the Feast of Weeks. The disciples were in , obeying Jesus’ command, and celebrating this holiday in a room together. Suddenly, the sound of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the entire house where the disciples were staying at. At that point, tongues of fire appeared on the disciples’ heads. The Holy Spirit had come to the disciples just as Jesus promised.

Peter: John, you have a tongue of fire sitting over your head!

John: Peter, you have one too! We must all have one. It must be the Holy Spirit that Jesus had promised to send us ten days ago!

Narrator: The disciples went outside of the house. Because it was the feast of Weeks, many Jews had come to Jerusalem to celebrate this holiday. They had also heard the sound of the mighty wind, and had come and gathered around the disciples’ house to see what it was. These Jews were from all across the world, and spoke many different languages. When the disciples came out of the house, they were speaking all of the languages in the world—everyone in the crowd was able to understand them!

Crowd member 1: Aren’t these men Galileans? How is it that each one of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesoptamians, Judeans, Cappadocians, Pontians, Asians, Libyans, Romans, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!

Crowd member 2: What does this mean?

Narrator: Even though many in the crowd were amazed at this miracle, there were some that simply thought the disciples were drunk, and made fun of them.

Crowd member 3: They have had too much wine.

Narrator: Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, and spoke to the crowd:

Peter: Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you, and listen carefully to what I say! We are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only 9 AM! No, today has fulfilled what the prophet had written: 2

‘In the Last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on earth below, and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Narrator: Peter then continued to tell the crowd about Jesus:

Peter: Men of Israel, listen to this. Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the dead, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. This has fulfilled what David wrote about in the scriptures; God has raised Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of this fact. God has also sent us the Holy Spirit, which is allowing us to teach you about Jesus right now! Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Crowd member 1: Brothers, what shall we do?

Peter: Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call. Save yourself from this corrupt generation!

Narrator: Those who accepted Peter’s message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the Christian faith that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teacher and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

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Pentecost Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS DOWN 2 Some in the crowd believed the disciples 1 This is a gift from the Holy Spirit. weren't performing a miracle, but were really 3 This is what Peter tells the Jews to do; it _____. means to ask for forgiveness. 6 Jesus escaped this fate through God's power. 4 This prophet wrote that many miracles and 9 The number of disciples after Jesus had would appear during the last days; ascended to heaven. Peter uses his words in his message to the 11 The Holy Spirit came to the disciples in the Jewish people. form of this sound. 5 Jesus promised this part of the triune God 14 The city where the disciples were staying would visit the disciples after he ascended to after Jesus ascended to heaven. heaven. 15 This is the third of the major holidays of the 7 This was the number of Jews that converted church year, which includes Christmas and to on the day of . Easter. 8 Jews in Jerusalem were celebrating this 16 He was crucified and ascended into heaven. holiday when the Holy Spirit came to the 17 This appeared over the disciples' heads, disciples. allowing them to speak in many languages. 10 He prophesied about Jesus in the Psalms. 12 Peter also tells the Jews to do this; a man named John performed many of these. 13 This is what Jesus was nailed to. 4

Pentecost Crossword Puzzle