Explosive, dramatic events occur throughout Acts 2 - tongues of fire, wafts of wind, dazzling displays of language and discernment, Peter's vivid testimony, the conversion of thousands, etc. These stunning occurrences leave us breathless - for where there had been only a handful of halting believers before, there is suddenly a whole new community of enthusiastic, faithful Christians.

If we had never before read Acts, if we knew nothing of the early history of the Christian church, we might expect one of two endings to follow these events. We might expect the new believers, fired up with enthusiasm, to go on some out-of-control rampage through the streets, destroying pagan images, tearing down the shops that sell idols and talismans and revolting against the pantheistic government. Just as …