Acts Chapter 2 contains much of the information that we have on the organization of the early Christian church. There are churches today that call themselves Act 2 churches because they are based on the teachings of the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. In fact, most of the Protestant Reformation was based around reforming the practices of churches to better match the Bible, which would mean, again, referencing Acts chapter 2. Now, what are these teachings...
First, verse one tells us that they were meeting together, which is of course significant. In the following verses the Holy Ghost descends on the twelve and they are able to speak in tongues. Many churches today follow a practice where they speak in tongues in their meetings, whether it be one person at a podium, or the entire congregation together speaking in tongues. It is obvious that the twelve spoke in tongues by the power of the Holy Ghost, which had just descended upon them. However, one difference between the speaking in tongues mentioned here in Acts and that seen in some places today is that it says that the people understood what was being said. More specifically, "every man heard them speak in his own language."
After the death and ascension of Jesus, and even more especially after receiving the Holy Ghost on this day of Pentecost, the disciples saw the scriptures through a new, Christian lens. In this chapter, the twelve use their new insight to teach the people—or rather, prove to the people—how the scriptures all point to Jesus as the Messiah. Tens of thousands, or maybe hundreds of thousands of Jews from all over the world were gathered at Jerusalem for the Pentecost. The twelve were on the temple mount, preaching to this innumerable gathering of the Jews. After hearing their teachings, and seeing how their scriptures prophesied of Jesus, how He was not only the prophesied Messiah but Jehovah Himself, the Great I Am. They taught the people that they must call upon the name of Jesus Christ in order to be saved. Many of the people were convinced by their words, and they were baptized in the name of Jesus. Over three thousand people became Christians on that day.
This is significant because this is a turning point in the church. Up until now, the rulers of the Jews assumed that they'd squashed Jesus' little following after He was crucified. However, on this day the disciples of Jesus showed great boldness in coming to the temple and preaching these things, and they had great success. Now, not only was the following not squashed, but it had exploded into massive proportions has never before!
This is significant because this is a turning point in the church. Up until now, the rulers of the Jews assumed that they'd squashed Jesus' little following after He was crucified. However, on this day the disciples of Jesus showed great boldness in coming to the temple and preaching these things, and they had great success. Now, not only was the following not squashed, but it had exploded into massive proportions has never before!
