Remember these men had seen their leader crucified. Yes, Jesus rose from the dead and walked among them. They watched as He ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. Yet they remained afraid and in hiding. While in hiding they continued to pray.
The words of Jesus just before his Ascension were fulfilled on Pentecost. “But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
“And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.”
The Apostles were no longer afraid. For more information read the Book of Acts to see how this action of the Holy Spirit completely changed the Apostles, empowering them to witness “to the ends of the earth” to the saving power of Jesus Christ. Their actions were no longer those of mortal men with limited power, but rather it was the Holy Spirit, it was God who worked through each of these men.
As John the Baptist says, “I must decrease and He must increase.” This is possible for each of us since the Holy Spirit dwells within each of the baptized.
