Acts 2:36-37 - God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ

Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Peter's famous sermon at the Pentecost had the most unusual reaction.

Whereas these Jews from around the world could have easily said, "We're out of here!", instead they were "cut to the heart".

When one looks at the history of revivals, repentance has been the initial activity that started God's renewal of a community. How do you view repentance? As a wonder of God's grace or a necessary evil?

In order to experience revolution in our lives, we must see repentance as an ally, and not a foe. The grace filled life responds to the work of the Holy Spirit with the ancient question, "What shall I do?", then is passionate to change according to God's leading.

Acts 2:5-8 - How is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?.

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

Modern readers may not get the impact of this passage from the story of Pentecost. Galileans were known as an isolated, under educated border city with Samaria. The ancient world saw them as the backwoods (or redneck) part of their nation.

To hear Galileans speaking in other languages can be compared to seeing Susan Boyle at her initial audition of "Britain's Got Talent". It was a total shock! But God has always been in the business of using people that the world ignores to change the world.

The Pentecost was God's statement to all of us that our background is no hindrance to Him and, in many cases, is the very thing He uses to bring Him glory.