1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.

6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome

— Acts 2:1-6, 10

5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name among all the nations,

6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

— Romans 1:5-7

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

History shows us that visitors from Rome were present in Jerusalem at Pentecost and perhaps some among the three thousand people who turned to Christ on that day established Rome’s first church upon returning home. Therefore the church in Rome has existed from Christianity’s very earliest days. At that time, terrible brutality existed alongside the beauty, intellect, and power of ancient Rome. Slavery, infanticide, and dehumanizing sexual sin permeated the culture.

Yet, in the city of Rome where evil reigned, a fellowship arose of people who rejected Roman values, worshipped Christ, and lived differently. Christlike holiness marked their new lives of faith. They shared one another’s burdens as they loved and cared compassionately for the downtrodden. God had planted His new humanity atop the deteriorating carcass of deeply entrenched sin! Praise the Lord that at that time Rome’s believers partook of their everyday grace and peace from Christ Jesus!