The Kingdom, Op. 51: III. Pentecost: "And Suddenly There Came from Heaven" (Mezzo-soprano)

Recitative (mezzo-soprano):

And suddenly there came from heaven

a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind,

and it filled all the house where they were sitting,

and there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire,

and it sat upon each one of them:-

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues,

as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Disciples:

He, Who walketh upon the wings of the wind, shall baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire,

He, Whose ministers are flaming fire,

shall baptize with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.

Mystic Chorus (sopranos and contraltos):

The Lord put forth His hand, and touched their mouth

God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

Recitative (mezzo-soprano):

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven,

and when this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were all amazed, and marvelled.

The People:

Behold, are not all these which speak, Galileans?

And how hear we, every man in our tongue, wherein we were born?

John:

He, Who walketh upon the wings of the wind, hath baptized with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.

The People:

We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God!

Peter:

He, Whose ministers are flaming fire, hath baptized with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.

The People:

What meaneth this?

These men are full of new wine.

They are truly full of power,

even the Spirit of the Lord.

They drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgement.

With stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people.

When they heard, they trembled,

like men whom wine hath overcome, their lips quiver.

Because of the Lord, and because of the words of His holiness.

We hear them speak in our tongues, what meaneth this?