A MIGHTY ENTRANCE 127What a contrast to the powerful noise that accompanied the
arrival of the Holy Spirit. It created such a clamor in
Jerusalem that "When this sound occurred, the multitude
came together, and were confused" (Acts 2:6).
I used to think the phrase "When it was noised abroad"
meant that someone was running around the city saying,
"Come and see what is happening!" But that's not the case.
The pandemonium of what happened literally was heard all
over town. You see, "There were dwelling in Jerusalem
Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven" (v. 5).
Can you imagine what they thought?
The Word says that when they heard this sound they
rushed to the scene in bewilderment "because everyone
heard them speak in his own language" (v. 6).
Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these who
speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our
own native language?" (vv. 7-8). And when they heard
them declare the wonders of God in their own tongues, they
asked each other, "What could this mean?" (v. 12).
Why 120?
His thunderous coming was not scheduled for a temple
made of stone. Instead, the Holy Spirit came upon 120
believers who became the new temple of God.
Do you recall that when Solomon finished his temple he
had "one hundred and twenty priests sounding trumpets" (2
Chron. 5:12)? Scripture records that "The house of the
LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not
continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of
the LORD filled the house of God" (vv. 13-14).
It happened again in the Upper Room. One hundred and
twenty came together and the Spirit of God filled the
temple. Why 120? It is the number of the closing of the age