The dispersion of the nations that took place in Genesis 11 at the tower of Babel was accomplished by confusing the languages of the people so they could not understand each other and cooperate in their attempt to usurp God’s authority over all creation. Verses 7-9 of Genesis 11 says, “Come, let us go down and confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth.”
Zephaniah 3:9 tells us that the Messiah’s coming will reunite the peoples of the earth. It says regarding the coming Messiah, “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples to a pure speech, that all of them may call upon the name of the LORD and serve him with one accord.” I believe Acts 2, the speaking in many languages, was symbolic of Christ’s role in reversing the dispersion of the peoples at Babel. He came to unite the world under His leadership. Although it’s obvious that Christ did not reverse the curse of confused languages when he came to earth the first time, I think we can see that it will be done for us when he comes the second and final time. Yet, even now, we see how the many different languages in the world separate the people of the earth. There have been over 8000 languages in the history of the world and there are still 7000 being spoken today. With that diversity, we find it hard to have anything in common with each other. I remember having a Japanese exchange student who couldn’t speak much English; of course, we couldn’t speak Japanese. Although we got along well for the time she was here, language was always a barrier to us having a more interesting and intimate relationship. Speaking the same language is important for intimate fellowship.
“In One Accord” is one translation of the Greek word “homothymadon.” It’s used to describe the early Church in Acts. It refers to unanimity and concerted action. It occurs twelve times in the NT (Ac 1:14; 2:1, 46; 4:24; 5:12; 7:57; 8:6; 12:20; 15:25; 18:12; 19:29; Ro 15:6). Larry Richards suggests that when we study these verses, we find “clues to unity—vital images of the church praying, worshiping, and reaching decisions together.” This word carries with it the idea of harmony of shared lives. Richards goes on to say, “A great orchestra gathers. The different instruments express their own individuality. But under the baton of a great conductor, the orchestra is capable of blending different sounds to produce the greatest symphonies.”