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A Lesson On Diversity

A Lesson On Diversity

Last updated on: May 20, 2026 at 12:47 pm by Herb Montgomery

A Lesson On Diversity 2026-05-20T12:47:45-04:00 Herb Montgomery

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Our reading this week is from the book of Acts.

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

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This is Part 1 of the series Lessons from Pentecost

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days it will be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below,

blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,

before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ (Acts 2:1-21)

Our reading this week is the story of Pentecost from the book of Acts. This reading offers a powerful vision of the kind of world Jesus’ followers imagined in the wake of of his ministry. It was a world rooted in inclusion, shared humanity, and collective transformation. The gathering of diverse individuals “all together in one place” suggests the importance of community as their starting point and grounding for the kind of change they would be working toward. This holds meaning for Jesus- followers today who are working for a just world. Justice movements begin when people come together across differences, united in purpose, with hope for social transformation.

Today, we could interpret the dramatic arrival of the Spirit in our reading in multiple different ways. We’ll pick up with the first one in Part 2.

Begin each day being inspired toward love, compassion, justice and action. Free.

General Christian

Politics and Religion

About Herb Montgomery

Herb Montgomery, director of Renewed Heart Ministries, is an author and adult religious educator helping Christians explore the intersection of their faith with love, compassion, action, and societal justice. You can read more about the author here.

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May 14, 2026

The Complimentary and Competing Endings of Luke and Matthew

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May 20, 2026 Diversity Embraced Not Erased

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