We travel with Christ through the four gospels, from His birth to His resurrection. When the gospels come to an end, and Christ ascends to heaven to be with the Father, we come to the phrase "the day had fully come" (the time for Pentecost was fulfilled) in Acts 2:1. What does this mean? In what sense had the day fully come?
In his book "Jerusalem: Where Empires Die", Dr. Lester Sumrall explains it this way:
" First, the Lord Jesus had lived, died, been resurrected, and ascended into heaven. All those things had to happen before the Holy Spirit could come (see John 16:7). And we know, too, that Jesus had come in "the fullness of the time" (Gal. 4:4), that is, at just the right time chosen by God.
Second, the earth was physically ready for the growth of the Church, for the gospel to spread to every corner of the known world. The reason was the worldwide Roman Empire. As the Romans conquered every part of their world, they built and maintained roads to connect the various parts of the empire. Those roads made travel and commerce much easier than they had been before, and they also facilitated the movement of the mighty Roman legions. Because those legions were so strong and were able to maintain peace and safety in the empire, travel by Christian missionaries like Peter and Paul was much safer than it would have been a century before.
Third, the world of that day had a universal language, much as English is today, and that also contributed greatly to the effectiveness of traveling missionaries. Each land still had its own native tongue, but there be many in every country and in every large city who would be able to converse in the universal language, Greek. The Greek speaking people could hear the gospel and pass it on to others; and they could also read the apostle's letters, written in Greek, to the local churches. Thus, the story of Jesus and doctrinal truths of the faith were spread rapidly to every corner of the world, regardless of the local languages.
In Acts 2:1, after it says the day "had fully come," it says "they were all... in one place." Who were those "all"? This phrase again speaks of the sovereignty of our God, because it suggests that everyone God wanted there was there. None whom He meant to be in that room was absent or even late. At the appointed time and place, they were all present and accounted for. None had slept late, and none had gone to the wrong address.
Just so, God is today calling all those He wants and needs in His service, and He is calling them to be in the place of His choosing. Those of us who are His children by spiritual rebirth must seek, find, and affirm the place He has picked for us. If we are not in that place, His work in this world will be hindered by our disobedience, and we will miss out on the fullness of the blessing He has in store for those who are in His perfect will. "
What does the phrase "the day had fully come" mean? It means the world was made ready for the spread of the gospel. It means God in His timing had put everything together. The new roads, the safety in travel, the universal language, and the fulfillment of His Sons mission on earth, all came down to one day, the Day of Pentecost. From that day on, right up to today, the gospel is being preached across the world.
By George Konig
May 15, 2005
www.georgekonig.org
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