On that first Christian Pentecost (Acts 2), the disciples were most likely preaching in the Aramaic of their native Galilee.
The book of Acts reports that the Holy Spirit, rather than enabling all in the crowd to understand that dialect, empowered them all to hear and understand what was said in the native language of each. In other words, all were accepted as who they were ethnically and nationally. They did not have to learn a new language to hear the good news, suggesting the new church’s openness to diversity and universality.
This message is an excerpt the April 2015 Bible study, “Transforming Life and Faith,” from Gather magazine, by Carol Schersten LaHurd. Today we celebrate the Day of Pentecost.
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