Today’s passage begins in verse 14 with “Then”.  “Then” refers to Pentecost, one of the main 3 Jewish festivals, when the disciples were filled with the Spirit and spoke in many different languages. Those who heard them were surprised and some said that they had had too much wine. Therefore, Peter represented the 12 disciples and explained to the crowds what had happened.  This explanation is from verse14 to verse 36.  First, verses 14 to 21 are an explanation to those who were making fun of them.  Then verses 22 to 35 is the reason to why all these things happened.  Finally verse 36 is a summary of all that has been said. Today let’s look at 3 aspects of this summary.

I.                These people are not drunk.  (vs. 14,15)

To become a person that calls upon the Lord, we need to have go out of our way to help non Christians understand the Christian faith. The disciples explained clearly why they were speaking in other languages. They also explained that it was 9:00 in the morning which was a time of prayer.  Therefore, when the listeners heard the explanation they realized that they were wrong and that the disciples were not drunk.

There are many people around us that have doubts and questions about the Christian faith.  We need to clearly and in a way that they can understand, explain to them the answers to their questions.  Then they too will realize that they had been wrong, and that Christ is the Lord of all.

II.          In the last days   (vs.16-21)

              After Peter explains that the disciples were not drunk, he goes on to explain what happened. He explains that what happened was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32. Joel was a prophet in Jerusalem about 800 B.C. According to Joel this was to happen in the last days. In the last day, the Holy Spirit was to come upon all peoples. The last days refer to the time between the time that Jesus came and his second coming.   The fact that the disciples were talking in tongues shows that the Holy Spirit come upon them and that a new era had begun.

              Next let’s look at what it means that the young men will see dreams.  This reminds us of Joseph. Here “see dreams” does not necessarily refer to experiences like Joseph had.  All that we need to know is found in the Bible.  What is important is verse 18, “prophesy”.  Prophesy means to speak the word of God.  When we accept the Word of God as the Word of God and speak it then we have dreams or visions.

Proverbs 29:18

When we have vision then we can overcome any problems that we run into.  We receive those visions through prophesy, through the Word of God. They are received through being filled with the Spirit.

The Lord gave me a vision to plant ７ churches before 2025.  That will be fulfilled because it was given through reading the Word of God and thinking about what God was saying to us. 

In the last days we need to live by the Word of God and be given a burning spirit through the Word of God.  

III.         “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (vs.19-21)

Verse 19 and 20 tell us that in the last days that there will be a huge change in the heavens and on earth. The sun will become dark.  The moon will be like blood.  However, Joel didn’t just prophesy about these things.  He also said that in the midst of all of this there will be a way to be saved.  That is in verse 21, by calling on the name of the Lord.  Even though the earth and heavens change, those who believe in and follow Christ will be saved.  They will have grace in the midst of judgment. This is real hope.

We are living in the last days.  We are living in a generation that we don’t know what is going to happen next.  However, no matter how dark this generation is, there is hope.  Let’s be thankful for God’s grace, and call on Him, and trust in the Lord as we live each day with Him.