On the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem, Acts chapter 2, occurred possibly two communicative miracles. Beside the speaking in not learned languages it seems very possible that that the Spirit of God also translated the spoken words of the apostles simultaneously in the ears of some listeners in their particular language. This theory is based on Acts 2:6, where it says that ‘that the multitude was bewildered. Because each one heard them speaking in his own language.’ It seems that that there were more than 16 different countries represented amongst the listeners.

Of one thing we can be sure: The Spirit of God has also the power to translate a language simultaneously in the native language of the listener. Let me say clearly that we cannot be absolutely certain on the basis of the brief mention in verse 6, that this really happened. What we are sure of is that the disciples of Jesus spoke in languages that they themselves did not know and could not speak. The speaking in tongues as given by the Holy Spirit is a supernatural empowerment.

The miracle of a supernatural simultaneous understanding of the Gospel being preached happened more than likely several times in the history of the Church. Read below the testimony about the preaching of the English evangelist Maggie Trutter in South Africa in 1908.

A Young woman, Maggie Trutter, born in Great Britain, was there baptised in the Spirit and became full of fire to preach the Gospel. One day, in 1908, she received an invitation to preach In Doornfontein, South Africa.

A room with 500 seats was hired and evening after evening the hall was packed. Many conversions took place and people were delivered from addictions and healed, even from serious diseases. But also mockers came and one evening she got frightened. She decided first to pray in another room. After ten minutes she returned and began to preach in English, as she always did. After some time she suddenly began to speak spoke in the language of South Africa and returned later again to English. While she was speaking some  people in the back of the hall were greatly surprised for they heard her speak in their own, African tribal language. This revival also contributed much to a great Pentecostal work, that in 1910 was organized in the still existing ‘Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa.’

2. Wonderful evangelism of CfaN in Sierra Leone, Africa, 5-8 April 2012

Today I spoke to a man with an amazing story. He attended accidently our first crusade in Sierra Leone in 1991. He came from a Muslim family, but he was not religious. In fact he was a drug addict, an alcoholic and a fornicator. He had had no exposure to Christianity and had never heard the Gospel, and  he was a football fan. He used to come to the national stadium quite often to watch his favorite team play and one night, when he saw that a huge crowd had packed into the venue he decided to see what was going on. He stumbled into the meeting drunk and high, but he said the moment he entered the stadium he felt something he had never felt before. The hair on his arm stood up and he had goose bumps all over. Suddenly he became sober. He heard Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke preach the Gospel and surrendered his life to Christ.

That was 21 years ago. Today he is a pastor, and a church planter who has started 10 churches in Sierra Leone. I wonder how many thousands of stories like this we have never heard. One thing is certain; mighty things are happening here and Jesus is doing His work.

Tonight a woman testified that she came to the meeting crippled. Her right foot had been severely broken twice and she could only hobble around with a crutch and even then with pain. But during the prayer for the sick, she said it felt like someone was unscrewing something from her foot. She thought one of the ushers was doing something to her foot. She looked down, but there was no one. The unscrewing sensation continued until she realized the pain was gone and she could now walk!

The final meeting of our Gospel Campaign here in Freetown, Sierra Leone has just come to a close and we are rejoicing. The stadium bleachers were packed tonight and the stadium workers were forced to open the gates so thousands could overflow onto the grass (which they originally told us they were unwilling to do).  Miracles, salvations, healings, and deliverances took place in this campaign.

We are praising the Lord for the mighty harvest here this week and so thankful that we have been given the open door to proclaim the Gospel. After the close of the campaign were 301.790 decision cards counted.

Based on a report of CfaN.

Readers in Holland: If you want to donate to CfaN, please use the account at the Rabobank in Limburg, nr. 1529.45.326.

CfaN has announced that the Jesus festival in Rotterdam, 2 June 2012, has been postponed to 2013..

T. J. De Ruiter

3. Bibletext, Exegesis and Comments, John 21:11, The net was not torn!

From old days this Bible verse has interested many and often the question was asked whether there was a special meaning in the number of 153, the number of fish that was caught on the direction of Jesus.

It seems to me important that it is also mentioned that the net was not torn, although it contained so many large fishes. With all those fish in it the net could have weighed more than two hundred kilo and this would have been too much for a simple net of linen. This could point symbolically to the truth that how many souls are won to Jesus – the calling of Jesus for the disciples was to become fishers of men - the net of the Kingdom of God will never be torn. With other words, there can never be won too many souls for Jesus! This is an encouraging truth for soulwinners who know be called to win many souls for Jesus as e.g. the German Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, who has, since the sixties of the previous century, seen millions of souls come to Jesus in Africa. If we obey the calling and the directions of Jesus we can win many souls to the Lord!

Teun J. de Ruiter

4. Quote of C.S. Lewis