Daily Thought for Thursday 21st May 2026
“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:4
Unlikely people
Colin D. Johnston
Happy birthday, Church!
Pentecost is seen to be the day the Church came into being, and that first Pentecost was certainly filled with the unexpected, surprising and electrifying, as we sometimes hope all birthdays should be.
But what would it have been like to be there in person? Our Lent study group this year used the Embrace the Middle East book. The first session was on this Acts passage, and the question was asked how we would have responded if we were one of the crowd at Pentecost. Someone immediately said that he would have run a mile – it was just too noisy and flashy, and he far preferred something quieter!
What always fascinates me in this passage, however, is the range of countries people had come from, bringing their own baggage of language, culture and custom, and yet the wind of Pentecost brought a unity and sense of common understanding to the group.
In Genesis we read the story of the Tower of Babel, when everyone on earth spoke a common language, but because of their pride in building the tower to the heavens, God scattered them and confused their language. Pentecost is seen to be a reversal of Babel and a bringing of people together. It is just a pity that we have since continued to divide ourselves and let pride hold sway again.
Yet perhaps the most astounding thing about Pentecost for me is that God continues to use the most unlikely people to spread the Kingdom, the rag-tag band of disciples, so small in number, who would subversively challenge the mighty Roman Empire with the message of the risen Christ and turn the whole world upside down. Maybe God could use us as well?!
Shall we pray?
Pentecostal Spirit, blow through us afresh, breathe in us anew, blaze in your Church that we might ever be renewed to live our lives in Christ’s service. Amen.
Colin D. Johnston is minister of Cheviot Churches. He spent 25 years working as a mission partner in Africa and the Middle East.