There are several words, in Greek and Hebrew, translated as sound or noise in English Bibles. The older translators used noise more often than later translators, who tended to opt for sound. There was mingling of the two English words in the generations of scribes. The Greek meaning used in the Acts text above seldom appears. It is a different word, from which we get the English word echo. There was a special noise (echo) sounded. It was likely a sound never heard before, but accompanied by languages understood by those present. Fiery tongues introduced the Holy Spirit for the continuing ministry of Jesus Christ, and gave birth to the visible church. Noise or sound bears affirmative and negative meaning in Scripture. When negative it is commonly related to tumult, a negative occurrence. A tumult might be described as: the noise as a tumult. In our time we might say there were demonstrations which might have been distressing, but physically peaceful. Such events continue in our era. It might be tumult leading to ferocity, even death, among demonstrators – all accompanied by noise. One checks the meaning of uncertain sounds. Although I am not insistent on tongues verification, I believe in the meaning and Pentecost, the Holy Spirit, and a necessary recognition of his work in Christian life.
Noise and sound, as affirmative occurrences, were related to success in some venture such as battle, or what musicians accomplished, or joyful worship of crowds of people. When a crowd rejoiced, they made noise. When they strongly disapproved, they made noise. The sound might be relatively soft, as in the reference Samuel made to the lowing of the oxen, proving that Saul had spared the animals that were to have been slaughtered. Or the sound may be loud, and accented, even for a single voice. When Jesus spoke from the Cross, it was with a loud voice. It may have caused a temporary silence from the crowd gathered. Disciples were later referenced as having spoken with a loud voice. They were not soft-spoken. In days before the microphone, a loud voice was necessary to gain crowd attention to what one had to say. Unless fervent, no one would listen. Without modern aids for volume projection very few persons today could speak to 5,000 persons from a mountain, and be heard. We can be assured that Jesus had a stentorian voice, when he chose to use it. Self-projection was a necessity. The physical context was different.
The point is made. Sound, even to the sound of thunder, is registered for meaning. One wonders if we get it. Generations make their sounds to each other – the young to the old, the concerned to the unconcerned. Who listens? Does anyone get the meaning of our noises? I asked someone what the lyrics were that the rock star was singing. He didn’t know, but he said he liked the program. If he did not know, the sound was static no matter how well the noise was projected. He said: the beat is all that counts. What does that say? We would not countenance so much repetition, as we were receiving, for other matters. Does it mean that there is no appeal to the mind? For me, as for the Apostle Paul, the better sounds must signify something beneficial to understanding the noisy occasion (1 Corinthians 15:19-20). I am grateful for the sounds of praise, or noises of human joy, but I am also grateful to have learned the strength, the joy, the fullness of silences in my life. Sound is alternated with silence for the message. I discovered: Be still and know that I am God. I prepare myself to listen to God in the sounds and silences of life. God is speaking to all in the alternations of nature, and life itself. For some persons the sounds of God are static, for others ecstatic, conveying an understandable language of joy. My hope is that the sounds and silences are available to us for elevation. Both serve us. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020