Pentecost

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Acts 2:1-13

Pentecost is the day on which Jesus pours out God’s Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and believers gathered in Jerusalem. You will remember that Jesus, privately, breathed the Holy Spirit upon His Disciples gathered in the upper room when He first appeared to them. The Greek word for Pentecost literally means “the fiftieth,” which was the fiftieth day after the Jewish Passover. It has only been about ten days since Jesus’ ascension when He promised, “not many days from now” to send them the Holy Spirit in verse 5. Luke records the event in our verses today. We will look at the events that occur from this event in the coming days for this is the establishing of the church as we know it today. This event fulfills the words of Jesus to His disciples, in Acts 1:4-5, “to wait [in Jerusalem] for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ‘you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now . . . you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses.’” A sound like a mighty rushing wind filled the house, tongues of fire rested upon them, “and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (languages) as the Holy Spirit gave them utterance.” People from all the nations around the Mediterranean Sea, who were in Jerusalem for the Passover Feast observed this phenomenon and heard the message of the gospel. In verse 11, we read that they heard the ones speaking, “telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” A sound, a sight, the disciples speaking and, the audience hearing without interpretation the mighty works of God in each one’s own language. This one-time event displays all the power of the Holy Spirit’s operation not only in the sound and sight but also in their being able to speak languages that others can understand without an interpreter. Like other one-time events such as the virgin birth, the sinless life of Jesus and, the Ascension of Jesus, there has not been, nor will be, a repeat of this event. May all Christians rejoice in the working of God, the Holy Spirit, as He works in each of us, even now, to mold us into the likeness of our Savior and Lord, Jesus!

Source: S C Ball May 28, 2023