Today marks a “game changer” moment created by the coming of the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, 50 days after the celebration of the Passover in Jerusalem, the Spirit of God came to empower the church, just as Jesus had promised ten days earlier when he ascended into heaven (see May 13). People from many nations had come to celebrate the feast of Pentecost, so the timing was perfect for spreading the good news of God’s salvation through Jesus, the Savior.

And how did the Spirit do that? The Spirit gave Jesus’ disciples the ability to speak in other languages so that everyone could hear the good news of salvation. Out on the streets of the city people from all the surrounding nations heard about the wonders of God in their own tongues.

These disciples had not taken any language classes. The Spirit enabled them to speak in languages they had never learned. The crowds had come to Jerusalem expecting to hear the wonders of God spoken in the official language of the temple courts—even though they might not understand all that was said. But with the coming of the Holy Spirit, that changed. People could understand every word as they heard the good news about Jesus and God’s salvation!

Whatever nation you are from and no matter who you are, God speaks your language. He welcomes people from every nation to hear and understand his good news, and he gathers us together from every nation.