first fruits” to offer to God. “God has gotten us through!” “God has provided for us again!” And “To God be the Glory, Great things He has Done!” People were coming into the city of Jerusalem that entire week to give their offerings; but just as many non – Jews came, to profit from the sheer number of people who would be there. They would sell food and clothing and supplies. So there were medes, and Persians and all surrounding regions, here for the “almighty drekel.” In reading this passage for today, I noticed something I have never noticed when the Spirit fell on them. “Each man heard them (together) speaking in their native tongue.” So it does not look like there were many languages going on, but that the gift of tongues was being heard differently. So to the Persian vendor, the disciples sounded to all be speaking in Persian. To the Mede, the disciples all sound to be speaking in his language. Get it? The miracle was in the ears of the listeners, even more than the disciples speaking. The Holy Spirit let them all know that getting the gospel message to people would be the job of the Holy Spirit, through the voices of the disciples. Why bring this up? Because God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to make known. You may think you know how the Spirit will empower a person, but you may be wrong. God’s Spirit is uncontrollable, and any way we try to predict or mimic the Holy Spirit’s work, we are losing our focus. Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly. But so that we cannot stake our claim on him against others, he tells us to wait. Wait for power from on high, Then you will be my witnesses. Wait for it, Wait for it, Wait for it. Is this really a big deal? The Spirit has already fallen, the Spirit has already come, and the church has moved on, right?                     Page 3