Acts Chapter 2: Verses 12-16 (NIV)
Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel…”
The people in the street, outside the house where the Disciples had met to pray, did not understand what was going on because they were not directly involved. They didn’t know the full story, so some were just perplexed, whilst others made assumptions and others just laughed. To clarify matters Peter explained everything to them and he backed it up with the scriptures.
People will make assumptions as to how Christians should behave, even if they have no faith themselves. If they don’t, then they won’t really understand. Some may even be perplexed at the change in someone’s life when they have turned in the direction of Jesus and started to actively live out their faith. Others will make fun of it. Its up to us, with the direction of the Holy Spirit, to explain our belief and share our testimony, so that people can see who is behind our faith – its not based on emotion, its not through actions alone, its through the work of the Holy Spirit Himself.
Dear Lord,
May the evidence of the Holy Spirit working in me, cause people to be curious about my faith. May I be as bold as Peter in explaining Your word and Your hand in my life. And may I not take things to heart if they choose to mock. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen