Act 2:5 | Burkitt | STEP | The fame of the foregoing miraculous operation of the Holy Spirit being instantly spread abroad in Jerusalem, and there being present at that time great multitudes of Jews, who had come from all parts of Judea, to the feast of Pentecost, and also many other Jews and proselytes born in other nations, in Mesopotamia, Cappadocia, Phrygia, and Pamphilia, who were now come up to worship the true God at Jerusalem; when they heard the apostles speak in their own language, which they never understood before, the wonderful works of God, in the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ; some of them wondered to hear illiterate men speaking all languages; others derided the miracle, and imputed to drunkenness. Here note, 1. The wisdom and providence of Almighty God, in so ordering the first publication of the gospel, that the fame thereof, and of that convincing miracle which gave authority thereunto, might be carried unto all nations by so many eye and ear-witnesses, as were worshipping at Jerusalem at this time: For there were now sojourning at Jerusalem, men out of every nation under heaven; that is, of every nation, where any Jews were scattered at this time throughout the world, there were some particular persons come up now to Jerusalem to worship God. Note, 2. The commendatory character given of those persons, who from their several countries came up to the house of God in Jerusalem, to worship him there; they are styled devout men: And they received from God the reward of their piety and devotion. Had they staid at home, as many of their brethren no doubt did, they had not been witnesses of so wonderful and miracle for the confirmation of their faith as now they were. Yet note, 3. The different influence and effect which this miracle of the Holy Spirit's descent in fiery cloven tongues, had upon the minds of the people in Jerusalem. Some were struck into an extacy of admiration and awful wonder; others (the Scribes and Pharisees probably) scornfully deride, and impute the miracle to drunkenness, saying, These men are full of new wine. A senseless slander; for though excess of wine may give a man more tongue, yet not more tongues. O! how have the holy operations of the blessed Spirit from the beginning been slandered and blasphemed; accounted the effects of drunkenness then, of enthusiasm or melancholy now!

‏ Acts 2:5

The fame of the foregoing miraculous operation of the Holy Spirit being instantly spread abroad in Jerusalem, and there being present at that time great multitudes of Jews, who had come from all parts of Judea, to the feast of Pentecost, and also many other Jews and proselytes born in other nations, in Mesopotamia, Cappadocia, Phrygia, and Pamphilia, who were now come up to worship the true God at Jerusalem; when they heard the apostles speak in their own language, which they never understood before, the wonderful works of God, in the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ; some of them wondered to hear illiterate men speaking all languages; others derided the miracle, and imputed to drunkenness.

Here note, 1. The wisdom and providence of Almighty God, in so ordering the first publication of the gospel, that the fame thereof, and of that convincing miracle which gave authority thereunto, might be carried unto all nations by so many eye and ear-witnesses, as were worshipping at Jerusalem at this time: For there were now sojourning at Jerusalem, men out of every nation under heaven; that is, of every nation, where any Jews were scattered at this time throughout the world, there were some particular persons come up now to Jerusalem to worship God.

Note, 2. The commendatory character given of those persons, who from their several countries came up to the house of God in Jerusalem, to worship him there; they are styled devout men: And they received from God the reward of their piety and devotion. Had they staid at home, as many of their brethren no doubt did, they had not been witnesses of so wonderful and miracle for the confirmation of their faith as now they were.

Yet note, 3. The different influence and effect which this miracle of the Holy Spirit's descent in fiery cloven tongues, had upon the minds of the people in Jerusalem. Some were struck into an extacy of admiration and awful wonder; others (the Scribes and Pharisees probably) scornfully deride, and impute the miracle to drunkenness, saying, These men are full of new wine. A senseless slander; for though excess of wine may give a man more tongue, yet not more tongues.

O! how have the holy operations of the blessed Spirit from the beginning been slandered and blasphemed; accounted the effects of drunkenness then, of enthusiasm or melancholy now!