Troublesome TopicPrecepts about Tongues from Acts 2:37 & 41

Acts 2:37

Translation

Then, having heard, they were pierced all the way down

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to the heart; then they said to the Peter and to the remaining apostles, “Men, brothers, what shall we do?”

Paraphrase

After hearing what Peter had said, they were deeply pained in their inner beings, and they said specifically to Peter, and to a lesser degree to the rest of the apostles, “You have gained our respect and comradery, now, what should we do about what we have just heard?”

A SECOND HINT AT THE THUMMIM

The is the second time the Thummim has been hinted at. The first time they asked, “What is the purpose of what we are witnessing here?” (v 12), and now “What should we do?” The Thummim was directed at obedient action based on the proper beliefs. Peter and the others had informed their belief system, now it was time to act.

Acts 2:41

Translation

Indeed those who heartily received the word from him were baptized and on that day about three thousand souls were added.

Paraphrase

Then those who gladly welcomed the message Peter had spoken were baptized. That very day about three thousand souls were added to the number of those that follow Jesus.

HERE WE FIND THE ACTION OF THE THUMMIM – THE CONCLUSION OF THE MATTER

Here is the completion, the application of truth to the lives of those who heard the message. They asked the apostles questions directly related to the Thummim in verse 12, “What is the purpose of what we are witnessing here?” and again in verse 37, “What shall we do?” His answer is found in verse 38 – “repent and be baptized.” Then the completion of it all was seen in their response when 3000 of them did repent and were baptized. This brought it full circle. This was the Thummim.

The fulfillment of God’s plan will be a great harvest. The harvest God desires will be a diverse harvest from many different people groups, not just the Jews.

The next lesson in the Full Series on Tongues is Precepts about Tongues from Acts 10:30-31

Footnotes

1

This is a combination of “pierce” and “down.” It can also mean “deeply stunned, deeply pained.”