The Advent Part 46
Acts 2:15, “For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.”
It is human nature to suppose, to come to various conclusions while not retaining all the requisite information concerning the topic or event, because we like to think ourselves wiser than we are, and we not only feel entitled to an opinion, but believe wholeheartedly that our opinion is the one that counts and ought to take preeminence.
The men who accused those who had been gathered in the upper room of being drunk had come to a supposition; they had supposed that because they couldn’t understand the words that the disciples were speaking they must naturally be under the influence of new wine.
As children of God however, we do not have the luxury of supposing something, but must be diligent in seeking out the truth thereof and as such come to a right and true conclusion. I am often asked what my opinion on certain Biblical issues is, and it never ceases to make me shudder, because if I had an opinion different than what the Bible presents, why would you take my word over the Scriptures anyway?
When it comes to Biblical issues, when it comes to Biblical truth, we as servants of God are not allowed a personal opinion. I realize this may irritate, and even anger some of you, because having an opinion concerning everything under the sun has become the go to hobby of young and old alike, but when it comes to what God has commanded, when it comes to God has spoken, when it comes to the Word, our one and only duty is to submit and obey. We are vessels, each and every one of us, and whether we are vessels of honor or vessels of dishonor is solely contingent on our obedience of the will and Word of God. I realize defiance and rebellion have become mainstream practices within the church, I realize it’s easier to pick and choose what we want to believe rather than believe what God commands us to believe, but though He might terry awhile, be forewarned God is not mocked and He will render unto each one according to his deeds, eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality, but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish.
When we start going down the slippery slope of supposition, of supposing certain things that are either outside the purview of Scripture or contrary to it, the shipwrecking of our faith becomes an issue of ‘when’, rather than an issue of ‘if’. Yes, I am being repetitive, but repetition is the mother of all learning and as such once again, I implore you, believe the Scriptures over the words of men, whatever the context or circumstance. Too many souls have lost their way, too many faiths have been shipwrecked because they listened to the whispers rather than the Word of God for us to take this lightly or deem it irrelevant.
What I write might seem simplistic to some, even trite to others, but it is knowing the fundamentals of Scripture, it is knowing the Word of God and not deviating from it that keeps us on the straight and narrow path of faith when we are confronted with the crossroads of doubt and indecision in our lives.
Those that live in the land of supposition have no peace, they have no balance, and they have no joy in life. Today they suppose one thing, tomorrow they suppose another that is in direct conflict with their previous supposition, and so they go from one doctrine to another, from one belief system another, never finding rest for their souls until they discover the Christ, and fall in love with the person of Him. It is the truth, and a faith which is in submission to the truth that gives man balance peace and joy. It is the truth, and nothing but the truth that casts out the fears the doubts and the uncertainties that plague so many today. As we know that Jesus is the truth, then it is logical and reasonable to say that only Christ can give us rest, only Christ can give us joy, only Christ can give us peace, only Christ can do away with the worry for tomorrow, and the fears of today.
In order to combat the suppositions of the men of Judea and those who dwelt in Jerusalem, Peter did not resort to supposition as they had, but to documented and verifiable truth. The hundred and twenty that had been speaking in tongues could not be drunk, since it was only the third hour of the day. Now to us that might not seem as relevant, or conclusive, but taking into account the historical aspects of the Jewish traditions, and realizing what it was that Peter was saying when he made this declaration, we come to understand as he claimed that they could not have been drunk.
So what does the third hour of the day mean? Well, the third hour of the day would be 9 am in our modern parlance, and to the Jews this was the time of their morning prayers. On the Sabbath, and on days of celebration it was customary for them not to eat or drink anything until the morning prayers had passed. The more devout Jews, based on a certain passage in the book of Exodus, would only eat bread in the morning during the days of celebration, and eat meat and drink wine only in the evenings.
For an entire congregation to be drunk with wine on the Day of Pentecost even before the morning prayers were finished, would have been the most shameful and sinful thing in the eyes of all the devout men who had gathered. None of the devout men who were gathered there would have dared do such a thing, and Peter rightly concludes that the hundred and twenty could not have done such a thing either since they still observed the customs of the feasts.
With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.
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