"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly there was a sound from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And tongues as of fire appeared among them, which separated and settled on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them to speak" (Acts 2:1–4*).
Pentecost is most commonly associated with the coming of the Holy Spirit. However, it also represents God's remarkable redemptive action.
To truly understand how amazing this event is, we need to go back to Genesis 11, when everyone spoke "one language and one speech" and were "one people" (verses 1, 6*). The problem of these people was not a lack of unity, but their selfishness. God had told them to fill the earth, but instead, they built a city and a tower to "make a name for themselves" and to avoid being scattered over the earth (verse 4*). It was only when God confused their languages in Babylon that they scattered, as He had directed them.
Pentecost presents an incredible contrast. The disciples were waiting in Jerusalem, as Christ had commanded them (Acts 1:4–5). The crowd "marveled and was amazed" when they heard their own diverse languages united as one (verses 6–7). "How do we hear them speaking in our languages about the mighty works of God?" they asked each other (verse 11*).
This harmony of praise in Jerusalem restores the confusion at Babylon. Although the church was later scattered, believers accepted persecution as an opportunity to sow the seed of the Gospel. Their obedience makes it possible for us today to declare "the mighty works of God." And one day, people from "every tribe and language, people and nation" will sing of the salvation from God and the Lamb (Revelation 7:9*).
Link to the original article: https://www.intouchuk.org/read/daily-devotions/many-languages-one-god
* Bible quotes are from the Bible, New Translation from Original Languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013