Language like fire

Laura Digan May 24, 2026 2 1

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Acts 2: 1-21 (NIV-UK)

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’ 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: ‘Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘“In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
    and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood
    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

An apostle speaks:

“We had waited so long that it seemed that the silence had become its own language. We whispered prayers, shared bread, watched the door, listened for footsteps, for anything. 

Then it came all at once, rushing through the room like a storm tearing open the sky. Fire appeared above us, alive and dancing. 

Suddenly our mouths were no longer our own. Words burst from us like sparks carried on wild wind. I heard voices I had never learned, yet every sound burned with meaning. Language spread like flame; impossible to hold onto, impossible to stop. Leaping from person to person, emboldening the frightened, scorching the proud, awakening the hearts that had grown cold with waiting. 

We had prayed for heaven to speak, but I never imagined heaven would sound like this: fierce, blazing, overflowing, alive. Setting the whole world on fire with hope.”

Prayer:

Lord, let Your Spirit burn within us until our words carry light, mercy, and truth into every heart we meet.

Amen