Most likely you've heard stories of what adrenaline can do--how someone completely lifts a car off of someone trapped under it, with the kind of superhuman strength that that person cannot possibly have. Heightened circumstances can result in people being able to do things that are virtually impossible--except by some power at work beyond normal day-to-day experience.
This sounds a bit like what happens at Pentecost. As Acts 2 tells the story, a crowd of people are gathered, and "suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability [Acts 2:2-4]." Something entirely out of the ordinary, and people able to speak in other languages so that everyone who is present can hear and understand in his/her own language--with the clear implication that those speaking do not know the languages they are speaking in. Not adrenaline--and not "spirits", as there is the accusation that these people are drunk. But the Holy Spirit, equipping people to do what they cannot do.
It was already an important day for those who were Jewish--all of the disciples, for example. Pentecost was a celebration of their festival of "Shavuot," or the "Festival of Weeks"--which is 50 days after the "Festival of Unleavened Bread" (Passover) and commemorates bringing in of the first fruits of the harvest. What this new thing happening meant for the followers of Jesus was that the "first fruits" of the new covenant in Jesus was happening. And it was happening NOT by their effort, but by this force, this power, this gift, of the Holy Spirit, making possible what was not possible. Peter, the guy who always promised more than he could deliver, who denied knowing Jesus, was by the power of this Holy Spirit able to explain what was happening, what it meant, and what it could mean for those who were there listening, as Acts 2:41-42 states it: "So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers". The Church was started.
No telling what God can do through us if we're open to the Holy Spirit working in us!
NEW TESTAMENT Acts 2:1-21
1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.7Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ 13But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
17 “In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
20 The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
NEW TESTAMENT Romans 8:22-27
22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.