Concerning the When

 

What nonsense is this?

What babblers these be?

They appear to be drunk

Was all some could see.

 

Was Peter confused?

Was he also baffled?

Was his a mere explanation

For their obvious puzzle?

 

I dare say not,

Let’s revisit the scene

And to men’s interpretations,

Please do not lean.

 

To whom was Peter speaking?

He was speaking to the Jews

On the Day of Pentecost

And they were quite bemused.

 

Of when was he speaking?

It was that very day

When the Comforter would come

As the Prophet did say.

 

Which prophet do we mean?

The answer is clear:

The Apostle referenced Joel

For all to hear.

“But this is that,” he said,

“Which was spoken by the Prophet Joel;

And it shall come to pass…”

And indeed, it did.

 

Just like Joel prophesied

It did come to pass,

It is clear as ABC!

Why make it a task?

 

Of course, the view of some

Place it at another time

Based on their interpretation

And what’s on their mind.

 

Like some time in the future

Unlike what Peter stated,

And until Jesus returns

This will always be debated.

 

Preterists believe

This prophecy has been fulfilled

 But Futurists argue

It’s to be fulfilled still.

 

More than two thousand years

Since this particular event,

Some behave as though

The Spirit is yet to be sent.

 

Joel was speaking of the future

Many still contend,

He surely was I would agree

But how far did it extend?

 

When Peter stood up

And with the eleven proclaimed,

It was the unfolding of Joel’s prophecy

As Peter back then had claimed.

 

As to when he was speaking

He made it very clear

And to what he was speaking

We still hold dear.

 

The Holy Spirit had come

Just as was prophesied

By the risen Christ and Saviour

Whom they had crucified.

Acts 1:4b-5

 

“Wait for the promise of the Father

Which ye have heard of me.”

 

“For John truly baptized with water;

And concerning the when,

“But ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost

Not many days hence.”

  

Notice Jesus referenced days;

He did not say years

Hence, the imminence of that event

To the hearers was clear.

 

Concerning the when:

It was in Peter’s time,

The future in Joel’s prophecy

Was Peter’s time, not mine.

 

Stewart Russell © August 6, 2021