Peter Silences The Mockers

Peter, fuelled by the Fire of the Holy Spirit, is speaking, not any longer in another tongue, but in his own language, with a new tongue, a new voice, a new power, to people who have been witnessing the fuelling of the Holy Spirit and have totally missed it. He boldly calls out, Ye men of Judea, and all ye that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. Acts 2: 14b – 15.

In his response to the suggestion that the disciples are drunk with new wine, Peter handles it in two strategically simple ways.

• He addresses them on their own illogical explanation.

• He addresses them on their own ignorant expectations.

Who can deny the power of The Holy Spirit in a believer?

Illogical Explanation

The mockers are saying that the people of Galilee are all filled with new wine. Peter is showing up their folly. Drunk! How can you use such lame reasoning? The time alone will tell you that these people could not be drunk. What is Peter really saying? What information are we gleaning from his words? What’s he talking about? Has Peter lost his head for a bit there? Has the Holy Spirit deserted him for a brief second? We know that the time of day does not matter for people who are always drunk, to be drunk. We know that the time of day, whether morning or night, before breakfast or after dinner, has no bearing whatsoever on people being intoxicated.

All this is true, however, Peter is speaking about people who are observing strict ceremonial rites. These people are used to celebrating this Feast and they know all that must take place.

The mockers are not talking about one or two individuals, who may have been tempted to misuse the new wine and become intoxicated. No! They are making this comment about, over one hundred men and women, who have been together in one place, for the past ten days or so, praying and worshipping God. All the apostles, disciples, and women were in an upper room together as instructed by Jesus, after returning to Jerusalem from Mount Olivet. They all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Acts 1: 14 

Let’s reason this through together to get a bit of a glimpse of what Peter might have been thinking, when he hears such an illogical response to the scores of people being deemed as having too much new wine. These proposals have been submitted for our consideration. Could Peter be really saying this to those mockers? These are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

It’s just the third hour of the day and morning proceedings have not even been completed. The feasting of food takes place later in the day. How can they be drunk?

It’s just the third hour of the day. If one or two lawless people wanted to misuse the first of the firstfruits offered to God, fine, but do you think one hundred and twenty of us will openly break all our festival rules, to gorge ourselves, as if it’s the end of the festal day, and get ourselves drunk? How can we be drunk?

It’s just the third hour of the day. Am I not talking with you? My voice is one you were hearing. I am a Galilean. Look at me, do I look drunk to you? How can you surmise that I am drunk? 

Then Peter carries on to explain that they are not filled with the new wine of the gift of grapes, God has given to the people. Instead, they are filled with the New Wine of the Gift of the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them. Forthwith, in the boldness of the fire of the Holy Spirit, enabled by Him in power, Peter speaks in his language as he has never done before.

It is here that Peter addresses the ignorance of all present, all who are not acquainted with the Baptism of Jesus. These are they who certainly perhaps, had not even heard that there was a Holy Spirit, God’s Gift to His people.