Meaning

Acts 2:12 (NASB)

What does this mean?

When confronted with the supernatural and inexplicable, there are typically only two responses. One is either amazed and perplexed at the otherworldly phenomena, or merely ridicules them. When the Holy Spirit descended as a violent rushing wind and rested on the twelve Apostles as tongues of fire, enabling them to speak in the languages of the world that were alien to them, but were spoken by those gathered there. The godly were fearful and perplexed at this and asked themselves, "What does this mean?" This is the first reaction of the godly, a sense of holy fear and dread when the supernatural manifests itself. Then there were the unbelieving who ridiculed it away. Such people are blasphemous as they treat prophecies with contempt. When confronted with the truth and fact of the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth in the bodily form, men either tremble with holy awe or write it off as fanciful fiction. Those who tremble and rejoice at the resurrection of the righteous are saved. Those who scoff at it are damned.