Daily View Devotions
A Source for: * Sunday School Lessons * New Testament Devotionals * Sermon Ideas * Bible Studies *
The Daily View is a five day-a-week devotion. Read one KJV chapter each day and learn something from what was read. It is also an ideal source for Sunday school lessons for adults, teens, and sermon ideas.
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Daily Devotion in Acts 2
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Daily Nugget:
Jesus told His disciples that it was essential for Him to leave so that the “Comforter” would come (John 16:7). Acts 2 related the unusual instance when the Holy Ghost came upon some disciples.
It is not the first account of the Holy Spirit working in people. We read that John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:15), Elizabeth (Luke 1:41), Zacharias (Luke 1:67), and many others also had this experience. Some disciples had the Holy Ghost descend on them earlier, as told in John 20:22.
This experience, however, differed from all other biblical accounts when one was filled with the Holy Ghost. There came a sound from Heaven as a great wind. Over each individual, “cloven tongues like as of fire… sat upon each of them.”
Those disciples then spoke in a language they had never learned to those who spoke in that tongue. Those people marveled that those filled with the Holy Ghost talked to them in their native tongue.
Soon, other foreigners came to see that miracle (Acts 2:5, 6), and they, too, heard God’s message in their tongue. They were all spoken to in their native language to understand God's "wonderful works.”
There was a purpose for these miracles. They were not performed to “wow” the Christians and prove that they were saved or had some supernatural “power.” The purpose was to teach others about the things of God. Today, many unbiblically try to duplicate this miracle, but it is never used today as it was to reach others with God’s message.
The early church’s leader, Jesus, had just left to return to His home in Heaven. Those early Christians did not have the One that gave them the truths from God. They did not have the whole compiled Word of God, which would come later. Until they had all the words God wanted them to have, God used speaking in unknown languages and other miracles to encourage them in His direction.
When we received all the Scriptures, there was no longer any need for these sign gifts (I Cor. 13:8-13). The Holy Ghost still indwells all believers, although He may be grieved at times because of our sins and may not be working in our lives. We can still have the comfort of the Holy Spirit to guide us, and we will see His workings when we live by faith.
Today’s Thought:
“The Holy Spirit makes God’s words personal.” — Author Unknown
Words to Understand:
Cloven: split; parted; divided
Devout: faithfully following God’s commandments
Sepulchre: burying chambers, often for the wealthy
Today’s Reading:
Acts 2
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 ¶ And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
14 ¶ But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 ¶ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 ¶ And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
