Thursday, May 21, 2026

Acts 2:9-11 

9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”  

This is the verse that readers at worship never want to read! But it is a pretty cool geography lesson from the first century. Parthians, Medes and Elamites refer to people from present-day Iran. Mesopotamia is present-day Iraq. Judea is Israel. The next five all refer to regions in present-day Turkey. They we go down north Africa with Egypt and Libya. Then up to Rome in Italy. And don’t forget about the island of Crete. And, oh yeah Arabs who lived on the Arabian Peninsula which is very much in the news right now. 

These verses pretty much name all the places within a thousand-mile radius of Jerusalem in every direction. It also foreshadows all the places where the disciples would carry the message of Jesus victory over sin and death. 

This first audience were all devout Jews. But before the book of Acts is finished the Holy Spirit will show the disciples that non-Jews, Gentiles, were part of God’s inclusive vision for the kingdom of God. That was going to be a hard sell. It still can be today, which is why some churches exclude those who don’t match their requirements for God’s kingdom. But the Holy Spirit has always been about the power of God’s love reaching every single person. 

– Pr. Paul

Holy Spirit, there are those who aren’t ready to listen to you, but don’t let me be the judge of who should hear your Word and who should not. Teach me to show the love of Christ to every single person. Amen.