Who Was Filled?

      Have you ever seen a picture of what happened in Acts 2? Inevitably, the illustrator will show a room full of men and women with hands raised to heaven and tongues of fire on all of their heads. These pictures demonstrate a common mistake, suggesting the entire group mentioned in Acts 1:15 were filled with the Spirit and spoke in tongues.

      To figure out who is being spoken about, simply follow the pronouns. In general, if we want to know to whom a pronoun refers, we find its nearest antecedent. That is, look back for the most recent noun.

      Thus, in Acts 2:1, the text says, “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place” (ESV). But who is “they”? Simply look in the previous verse to see the most recent nouns. Acts 1:26 speaks of Matthias and the eleven apostles. Therefore, the “they” of Acts 2:1 is not the 120 of Acts 1:15, but the 12 of Acts 1:26.

      When Pentecost arrived, Matthias and the eleven were all together in one place. Divided tongues of fire appeared to and rested upon Matthias and the eleven. Matthias and the eleven were then filled with the Holy Spirit.

      Keep reading for more evidence. In Acts 2:14, the text says, “But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them…” (ESV). Peter was not standing with the 120, he was standing with the eleven apostles.

      Then in Acts 2:37, the text explains that some in the crowd responded to “Peter and the rest of the apostles” (ESV), not to the rest of the 120. This is still just the group of apostles.

      Also, consider the statement made in Acts 2:42. To whose teaching did the new followers devote themselves? The apostles. Following on the heels of the first sermon and the teaching that was just given, this also demonstrates that the teachers to follow, because they had been filled with the Holy Spirit, were simply the apostles.

      Finally, in Acts 2:43, it is the apostles that are doing wonders and signs, not the 120.

      Why are we concerned about this? Some have the idea that being filled with the Holy Spirit with an evidence of speaking in tongues is something for everyone who believes. Some even go so far as to declare that is a test of salvation. They use Acts 2 as a proof text. However, Acts 2 does not demonstrate a universal filling with the Spirit or a universal gift of tongues to all Christians. On that day, only the apostles were filled and only the apostles spoke in tongues. Let us not question our salvation because some people misunderstood what happened. Rather, let us rest in the grace of Jesus Christ and be assured of our deliverance.

Edwin L. Crozier