Studies In The Book Of Acts (Acts 2:1-4; part 2)

All Together, In One Place (Acts 2:1)

I copied some of the notes from Acts 1;3-5, on pages 3-5, again here because of their significance in our conversation. The section “A Place Of Abundance (i.e. Fullness)” is where the new begins.

Acts 1:14

14 These all with one mind [3661- “unanimously, with one mind, of one accord (see definition right below)”] were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

NASU

Accord – “Agreement; harmony of minds (see the Bible study Harmony In The Body Of Christ); consent or concurrence (“agreement of minds, union”) of opinions or wills.” To be “in one accord” is to be “in complete agreement with someone or something.” [This can only be accomplished as each of us comes under complete submission to the will of God.]

To be of “one mind” is, by definition, to be “unanimously, with one mind, of one accord.” This is the only way for God’s people to be gathered together and receive of the final outpouring of the “best wine” of the Holy Spirit, as shown in type in Acts 1:4. See the section Our Being Gathered Together (Acts 1:4) in part 1 of this study. It refers to our being gathered together in “one place,” of heart and mind, in Christ;

“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.”

(Acts 4:32/NIV)

Our Being Gathered Together (Acts 1:4)

(See Matthew 3:11-12 (Luke 3:16-17), 13:24-30, 22:1-14, 23:37-39; Acts 4:31; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2; and Hebrews 10:23-25.)

2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 – See the note below.

1          Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together [1997- “a complete collection, a gathering together in one place”] to Him,

2          that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

(NAS)

The Greek word interpreted in this passage as “gathering together” means “a complete collection, a gathering together in one place (see Genesis 1:9-10 below).” This is our coming together in complete unity, as one in Christ, that is spoken of in John 17:23 (see the Bible study Unity In The Body) where Jesus prayed, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” This is pictured, in type, in Joshua 5:8-9 through the Israelites being circumcised by Joshua, whose name is transliterated into the Greek in the New Testament as Jesus. The final circumcising of the fleshly nature of God’s people is a picture of the final outpouring/revival of the Holy Spirit so that “the world will know.”

Hebrews 10:23-25 – See the note below.

23        Let us hold fast [2722- “to hold firmly, hold down, keep secure, retain”] the confession of our hope [see Hebrews 3:1] without wavering [186- “not inclining, firm, unmoved”], for He who promised is faithful;

24        and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds [i.e. good works],

25        not forsaking [1459- “to leaven behind in, to abandon, desert, forsake”] our own assembling together [1997], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.

(NAS)

Verse 25 has been used often to control and manipulate people to come and be a part of a church. It’s interesting that the very ones who use this verse in that matter are usually the ones who will not come together with other brethren unless they are of the same denomination/division. The Greek word used here for “assembling together” is the same one used in the passage above. As we saw, it means “a complete collection.” The Israelites had been told by the Lord, in the Old Testament, to assemble 3 times per year (see Deut. 16:16). All the divisions would come together and celebrate in the Lord, as one. The “day drawing near” is the “great and dreadful Day of the Lord.” If we do not respond to the Holy Spirit’s final call to draw near, before the day of His wrath draws near, we will, to our horror, find ourselves on the outside with all the other foolish virgins who heard, but did not prepare accordingly, inwardly, retaining their “confession of hope.” (See the Bible study Outer Darkness.) We’ll talk further on about the need for the oil of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 9:1-2- A complete collection of the twelve disciples. I believe that the Lord is now gathering together His “twelve” chosen disciples, so to speak, within whom He will pour out His Spirit, in order to give them His power and authority with the intent to send them out “to proclaim the kingdom of God, and to perform healing,” thereby gathering in the final harvest of souls.

1          And He called the twelve together [4779- “to call together, assemble”], and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and to heal diseases. [This is an anointing, or enduing after they had already received the Spirit. Regarding “enduing,” see the definition for “clothed” in Luke 24:46-49 below.]

2          And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God, and to perform healing.

(NAS)

The following note is from the Bible study The Third Day Gathering.

Genesis 1:9-10 – See the note below.

9 Then God said, "Let the waters below the heavens be gathered [6960- “to bind together, to collect”; see more below] into one [259- “one (number), first, united”] place [4725], and let the dry land appear"; and it was so.

10 God called the dry land earth, and the gathering [4723- “something waited for, things hoped for, a collected mass”] of the waters He called seas [3220- “a sea or large body of water; seaward, west, westward”]; and God saw that it was good.

NASU

OT:6960 qavah (kaw-vaw')

(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)

a primitive root; to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect:

KJV - gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon).

(Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)

1)   to wait, to look for, to hope, to expect

   a)   (Qal) waiting (participle)

   b)   (Piel)

      1)   to wait or to look eagerly for

      2)   to lie in wait for

      3)   to wait for, to linger for

2)   to collect, to bind together; (Niphal) to be collected

OT:4725 maqowm (maw-kome'); or maqom (maw-kome'); also (feminine) meqowmah (mek-o-mah'); or meqomah (mek-o-mah')

(Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)

from OT:6965; properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)

KJV - country, home, open, place, room, space, whither [-soever].

(Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon)

a standing place, a place

   a)   a standing place, a station, a post, an office

   b)   a place, a place of human abode

   c)   a city, land, a region

   d)   a place, a locality, a spot

   e)   a space, a room, a distance

   f)   a region, a quarter, a direction

   g)   give place to, instead of

Dry land appearing is a picture of a firm place to cross over at. The third day of creation and the gathering of the waters into “one place.” It’s interesting that on the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out, the Bible says that His followers were “all together in one place.” (Acts 2:1) The Hebrew for “one” is defined as “one (number), first, united.” The definition of the Hebrew for “place” means, “a standing place, i.e. a spot; fig. of a condition (of body or mind).” In other words, they were standing together, united as one body in heart and mind. This united place in Christ creates a “place” for others to cross over safely. The dry ground represents a place for the Lord’s people to cross over (Exodus 14:13-22, Joshua 3:1-17).

Scripture sometimes refers to people as “waters” (Isaiah 17:12-13, Revelation 17:15). This gathering of waters, or people, to one place, in Christ, is necessary for the dry ground to appear. The dry ground represents a place of “sure footing,” so as not to slip and fall (away). In 2 Kings 2:8-14, the mantle, or “spiritual authority” given to Elijah, and then Elisha, was used to part the waters and cross over on dry ground.

While in exile, when Nehemiah heard that Jerusalem was in ruins, he wept and mourned for days, fasting and praying to the Lord, reminding Him of His promise to Moses to re-gather His people who repent;

“We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses. Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples; but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.”

(Nehemiah 1:7-9/NASU)

A repentant heart will allow God to gather Repentance brings the chosen people to Histhe chosen place of God.

A Place Of Abundance (i.e. Fullness)

Psalm 66:8-12 – This is a psalm of praise to God for His mighty deeds of deliverance. The Hebrew for “abundance” is defined as “satisfaction, saturation.” Saturation means reaching a point where something is completely filled or soaked, and no more can be added or absorbed. This refers to what Paul calls “the fullness” in Romans, chapter 11.

8 Bless our God, O peoples, and sound His praise abroad,

9 Who keeps us in life and does not allow our feet to slip.

10 For You have tried us, O God; You have refined us as silver is refined.

11 You brought us into the net; You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins.

12 You made men ride over our heads [in Egypt]; We went through fire and through water, yet You brought us out [3318- “to be brought out or forth, to lead out, to exit”] into a place of abundance [7310- “satisfaction, saturation (“to satisfy fully”)”; from 7301- “to be satiated or saturated, to have (or to drink) one's fill, to water abundantly”].

NASU

The following entry on 1-1-25 regarding His abundance is from my prayer journal I call Words Of Encouragement;

Early this morning, January 1, 2025, I heard from the Lord. I wasn’t looking for anything in particular from Him concerning the new year, but was quite unexpectedly led to the verse below. I then talked with Him regarding what stood out to me. Like the Israelites, we are coming out of the wilderness and crossing over into the place of our spiritual inheritance in Christ. What I believe I saw, and then heard from Him, was that we too, this year, would partake of the “produce/fruit of Canaan,” the new provision of the Lord, with abundance. Having been compromised, the old provision within the religious structures we have known will stop, forcing many to look elsewhere for spiritual sustenance. The old has gone, the new has come. As we look to Him to lead us in the way which we have never gone before, we are being called to consecrate ourselves, “for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” (Joshua 3:1-6)

Joshua 5:12 – See Revelation 21:1-8 for the Lord’s transitional change from the “old order of things/first things,” to that which is “new.” Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words defines the Greek for “new” in Revelation 21:5 as; “denotes ‘new,’ of that which is unaccustomed or unused, not ‘new’ in time, recent, but ‘new’ as to form or quality, of different nature from what is contrasted as old.”

12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites [i.e. the old provision of the old order], but that year they ate of the produce [“fruit, a yield, a gain, revenue”] of Canaan [i.e. a new provision of a new order in the “Promised Land” of the Lord].

NIV

(The following insight is from the Bible study Back To Jerusalem, p.23-24.)

A New Thing (Lev. 23:16); Gathering Together The Firsfruit Sheaf Of Wheat

In the book of Acts, we are given an insight into what will occur at the end of this age. Again, according to the word of God, we’ll know the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is yet to come (Isaiah 46:10). I believe, therefore, that by examining what occurred at the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, we’ll understand what will happen at the end of this age.

After His crucifixion, and before His ascension, Jesus had given His disciples specific instructions on what to do next;

“Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, ‘Which,’ He said, ‘you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’”

(Acts 1:4-5/NASU)

John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin (Luke 3:3). The water was a symbol of the inner cleansing that occurs when we confess our sins and are forgiven (1 John 1:9). This baptism prepares us for what is next; the baptism of the Spirit with fire (i.e., fiery trials). It is through both that we are allowed to enter into the kingdom of God (John 3:5-6).

For those with eyes to see and ears to hear, Jesus’ gathering together of His disciples outside of the corrupt religious system in His day on earth is happening right now, again. The worship of God at that time had become nothing more than unacceptable, useless rituals led by the will of man. It had become so bad that when the very God they supposedly worshipped stood before them, they were unable to recognize Him, and, in fact, killed Him.

In Acts, chapter two, we are given the account of the prophesied outpouring of the Holy Spirit on those who were gathered together in the upper room. In the beginning of this momentous event, we read that, “When the day of Pentecost had come [4845- “to fill completely, be fulfilled”], they were all together [3674- “with one accord, at the same place or time”] in one place.” (v.1) This gathering as “one” can only be by the Spirit of God, not in the name of a denomination or personality.

By obediently remaining in the place of God’s choosing, the promise was birthed within His disciples; “And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.” (Acts 2:2/NASU) It was at this place, outside of the religious structure of that day, that the Holy Spirit was poured out on a gathered sheaf of “nobodies” who would be used to change the world. It will happen again.

The proclamation of the Lord is going forth at this appointed time. There will be a new thing, a new grain offering of sifted disciples that will be used to do great and mighty things, one last time before the return of Jesus. As with Israel, those among God’s people who were, at one time, given eyes to see and ears to hear, will no longer see or hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. Through continued rebellion against His lordship over them, apathy has now overtaken them. Because they did not receive the love of the truth, preparing their hearts by faith at the end of this age per the instructions of the Holy Spirit so as to be saved, God has sent a deluding influence upon them that causes them to believe what is false (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12).

Who Were Filled When The Day was Fulfilled? (Acts 2:2)

“And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind [4157- “wind, breath, the breath of life (Acts 17:25)], and it filled [4137- “to render full, to fulfill, to complete, end”] the whole house where they were sitting [2521- “to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside”].

• Those disciples who heard, and then remained by faith in the place designated by the Lord were filled with the promised Holy Spirit, bringing to completion what had been prophesied.

Matthew 5:6 – The Lord fills those with a spiritual hunger and thirst for righteousness. See Matthew 14:15-20 where Jesus fed the five thousand (“They all ate and were filled…”), and Matthew 15:32-38 where the same thing happened with four thousand men, plus women and children.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled [5526- “to fill or satisfy with food; metaphorically, to fulfill or satisfy the desire of anyone”].

NIV

Luke 1:53 – This is part of Mary’s praise to God when pregnant with Jesus, after Elizabeth greeted her prophesying.

53 He has filled [1705- “to fill up, fill full”] the hungry with good things but has sent the rich [4147- “to be rich, have abundance; properly, of outward possessions”] away empty [2576- “empty, empty-handed, without a gift”]. [This verse is a quote from Psalm 107:9.]

NIV

The Promised Holy Spirit In The O.T. (Acts 2:3-4)

Jeremiah 31:31-34

31 "Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant [Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25; 2 Cor. 3:6; Hebrews 8:8-12, 10:16-17] with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah,

32 not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them," declares the Lord.

33 "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days," declares the Lord, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

34 "They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," declares the Lord, "for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."

NASU

Ezekiel 36:22-28

22 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord God, "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.

23 "I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned [2490- “to pollute, defile, profane, desecrate, to wound”] among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord," declares the Lord God, "when I prove Myself holy among you in their sight.

24 "For I will take you from the nations, gather you from all the lands and bring you into your own land.

25 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

26 "Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

27 "I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

28 "You will live in the land that I gave to your forefathers; so you will be My people, and I will be your God.

NASU

Joel 2:28-29 – This prophesy was fulfilled in this chapter. See Acts 2:14-21 where Peter in his first sermon after the outpouring, quoted this passage. The result was that three thousand souls were added to the church that day.

28 "It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

29 "Even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

NASU