“No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:” – Acts 2:16 (New Living Translation)
“Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike.” – Joel 2:28-29 (New Living Translation)
The book of Acts was the beginning of the fulfillment of what Joel said. Joel prophesied, meaning he foretold what was going to happen. You could say that he laid out a vision. Vision is spoken before it happens. This is what it will look like, sound like, and feel like.
Joel laid out the vision that God would pour out His Spirit upon all people. Regardless of background, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, denomination, or any other classification that we place on an individual, it will be poured out.
When the vision begins to take place, people will ask as they did in the book of Acts, “What is this? What’s happening? Help me understand?” The impact of vision becoming reality causes questions. However, because there are questions, this brings great value to the initial declaration of the vision.
When there were questions, Peter said no, your assumptions are wrong, what you see happening is what was laid out by Joel, a long time ago. This is a fulfillment of the vision. The Vision brought credibility when it was being experienced. Because Joel had the vision, and described the vision, then Peter could illustrate what was happening scripturally. They were comforted that the vision was given by God and now was being fulfilled by God. Peter quoted the Scripture. Then, beginning in Acts 2:22, he explained it. In three verses, Peter lays out the vision, by declaring what happened! This had to happen so that could happen. He covered the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
Vision comes in stages!