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Returning to the narrative, we find there was a division of opinion among the hearers.
Some were amazed and in doubt, saying to one another, "What is the meaning of this?"
In this question there is rather unusual use made of thelo, to wish, or to will, as though
they said to one another: "What is the intention of all this?" "What purpose does it
express?" We have already demonstrated the fact that the Acts of the Apostles places
the ministry of Peter and Paul in correspondence. This correspondence is set forth not
merely in large parallel sections, but in actual repetition of words, phrases and actions,
and the peculiar usage of thelo, just noticed, is an example of this minute correspondence.
The gathered multitude at Jerusalem say, Ti an theloi touto einai. So, also, another
assembly, at the great city of wisdom, Athens, say, Ti an theloi tauta einai, "What these
things mean?" (Acts 17: 20). It is possible that the word thelo is used in a similar sense
in II Pet. 3: 5 where the phrase: "For this they willingly are ignorant of", may mean
that the scoffers missed the true meaning or intention that is to be discovered in the
record of creation, where, over and over again, it is implied that there has been an
interference with the so-called "laws of nature". Incidentally, this rules out as untenable
the objection that the second coming of Christ is "unscientific".
Many who heard the words of Peter on the day of Pentecost would afterwards read his
letter to the dispersion and realize the connection between his spoken and written word.
Not all however desired to know the purport of the miracle of Pentecost, for "Others,
mocking, said, These men are full of new wine". There were mockers also at Athens
(Acts 17: 32), and there will be mockers in the last days (II Pet. 3: 3,4), who will
ascribe the mighty acts of God to mere natural causes.
Let us draw a practical lesson from the attitude of these scoffers. If even the Saviour's
gracious miracles were attributed by His enemies to power derived from fellowship with
Beelzebub, is it not a small thing if His followers, filled with spirit, are alleged to be full
of new wine? In our own sphere we can say that there is scarcely an issue of The Berean
Expositor which does not call forth derision and criticism--and possibly with good
cause. What then? Realizing that the highest and the best have been subjected to brutal
misunderstanding, let us not fall into the weakness of turning our mole hills into
mountains.
The association in the minds of the witnesses of these happenings, of wine with the
filling of the spirit (Eph. 5: 18) indicates something of the nature of enthusiasm in the
deportment of the subjects of this outpouring, of "being beside oneself" (II Cor. 5: 13). Is
this a matter for wonder, when mortal man, the earthen vessel (II Cor. 4: 7) is filled with
power from on high?
We are now ready for Peter's inspired explanation of the meaning of the day of
Pentecost, and may grace be given us to pay heed to what Scriptures teach that we may
be delivered and kept from the error of "Pentecostalism", which is a system of teaching
utterly at variance with the inspired explanation found in Acts 2: 14-36.