Hearing, Seeing & the Spirit’s Work

Hearing, Seeing & the Spirit’s Work

Acts 2 Was NOT Random Noise Splitting the Crowd

Seeing vs. Hearing: Revelation in Luke–Acts

One of the most power questions that immediately arises at the birth of the new covenant community of God, the Church is...

“So we hear… everyone speaking our own language?! How is that possible?” In common, most commentators simply think the disciples were speaking all these different languages, yet as written before, I don't think that that is the most consistent way to understand the text of Acts 2. And before anyone dismisses my position out of hand, some early Church fathers also held to this or to an adapted position. Read my other blog about this. However, for consistency, individual texts must be understood within the wider text of a author. It is here where I think we see a miraculous hearing. Luke does present a miracle of Spirit-empowered speech and a miracle of Spirit-enabled hearing operating together.

What divides the crowd is not the clarity of the revelation, but the Spirit’s work in how that revelation is received.

I am not discounting the speech, what I will argue, is that every time the word of God is spoken, some hear wonders of God, others hear nothing but foolish gibberish.

Repeatedly, throughout both Gospel and Acts, Luke describes divine revelation as something that happens objectively; but is subjectively filtered through perception. God’s truth stands clearly before them, BUT IT IS STILL UNSEEN BY MANY.

It’s never the Spirit’s revelation itself that divides the crowd, but the Spirit opening eyes to receive that revelation.

Repeatedly.

There is a pattern throughout Luke–Acts, a reminder that revelation is of the Spirit

Luke spends chapters telling us stories of things that are objectively true…but not universally perceived.

Let’s look at four quick examples.

Simeon: “Others Did Not Have This Revelation”

Luke 2 tells of Simeon, in the temple that day, who perceives what others present miss:

“For my eyes have seen your salvation.” (Luke 2:30, NIV)

Jesus has come, revealed as Messiah, and Simeon has seen Him. However, Luke immediately clarifies that this isn’t intuition, or deduction.

“The Holy Spirit was on him… it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit.”

(Luke 2:25–26, NIV)

The revelation is objectively real but subjectively perceived by Simeon alone.

Luke 24: The Scriptures Opened on the Emmaus Road

Likewise, when Jesus’ two disciples are walking the Emmaus road, He opens up Scripture with authority and understanding they’d not realized before. But Luke clarifies:

“But they were kept from recognising him.” (Luke 24:16, NIV)

Jesus clearly explains Himself. But perception prevents revelation:

“Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him.” (Luke 24:31, NIV)

Knowledge without revelation.

Words without understanding.

Stephen Sees Glory; Others See Blasphemy (Acts 7)

Acts 7 provides another great example. Stephen appears before the Jewish council and recounts Israel’s story with clarity and prophetic authority.

As Stephen concludes, listen to what he SEES and hear what the crowd DOES NOT HEAR.

“I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

(Acts 7:56, NIV)

Stephen, through revelation, sees Jesus’ glory unveiled before him.

The crowd hears blasphemy. Literally.

“At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him.” (Acts 7:57, NIV)

Jesus explains the Scriptures so clearly that one of the disciples thinks they are walking with Christ. In the same moment, Stephen shares, the crowd divides rushing to kill him.

Divided, not because the Spirit’s revelation is unclear, but because it is perceived differently.

Act’s Pentecost: Divided Hearts

At this point we return to Pentecost.

Notice how Luke recounts the events.

Listen to how repeatedly Luke points not only to what the apostles SAY, but to what others are HEARING.

“How is it that each of us hears them in our native language?”

(Acts 2:8, NIV)

“We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

(Acts 2:11, NIV)

Notice the question isn’t whether they hear but how.

Some are hearing glorifying God.

Some are perplexed.

Others…

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

(Acts 2:13, NIV)

Does that naturally follow if the miracle of Pentecost was everyone speaking recognizable human languages straight into listeners ears, divided evenly across a neat collection of ethnicites in attendance that day?

I don’t think so.

But it absolutely makes sense if part of the miracle is HOW each hear.

Some hear the wonders of God, others hear nothing but babble.

This posture is talked of by Isaiah...

“You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” (Isaiah 6:9, NIV)

Jesus interprets Isaiah to disciples on the Emmaus road. One understands. The other wanders away confused.

At the start of Isaiah 6, this isn’t Jesus’ original intent. Israel will see His glory and willingly harden their hearts from hearing.

It’s important to be clear about what Isaiah is saying… and NOT saying.

Isaiah 6 isn’t saying these people will never be saved. Before even finishing Isaiah receives this commission from God and asks:

“For how long, Lord?” (Isaiah 6:11, NIV)

God’s answer makes clear that this hard-hearted blindness lasts only until judgment completes its work… through devastation, purging, and exile (Isaiah 6:11-12). Yet even in this pronouncement…

“But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”

(Isaiah 6:13, NIV)

Judgment comes. But it is not the end.

Blindness is allowed. But not forever.

Stephen quotes this verse to the council in Acts 7. Isaiah sees Jesus’ glory yet knows that not all will receive the Spirit to hear.

Why do the mocker’s hear “noise” in Acts 2:13? The same reason.

Mockers aren’t irrationally stumbling over evidence. They aren’t drunk. But in that moment, they are hearing without hearing worship of God.

The Spirit does not remove responsibility; He exposes the posture of the heart.

The miracle of Pentecost multiplies that effect.

Why Does This Matter?

If we let Pentecost teach us, three key things come together:

1. Why some hear the Spirit’s declaration of “the wonders of God” while others hear babbling nonsense.

2. Why tongues in Acts 2 fits so beautifully with Paul’s description of tongues in 1 Corinthians 14.

3. Why tongues today can (and often will) divide crowds the same way, ringing as DEEPLY meaningful to some hearers as a loved one’s voice calling their name while sounding to others NOTHING more than noise.

God speaks.

Some hear glory.

Others confusion.

“Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’”

(Acts 2:12, NIV)

Luke doesn’t try to brush this reaction aside. Pentecost divides crowds but God’s way, not ours.