What on Earth happened at Pentecost?

What is Pentecost, and why is it important to followers of Jesus?

In this post, you will learn about the event of Pentecost that took place on the 50^th day after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We will examine the ancient feast of Israel, which was celebrated on this 50^th day, and its significance.

Then we will explore why it is relevant to your life once you become a follower of Jesus.

Let’s begin by reading about the event.

The Event

The event is recorded in Acts 2. I encourage you to take a few moments to read that chapter.

Here is what we read in Acts 2:1-4:

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

That day was the annual celebration of the Jewish feast of Pentecost. About 120 believers (1:15), including the apostles, were present when the unexpected happened. There was the “sound like the blowing of a violent wind,” and there was the sight of “what seemed to be tongues of fire … on each of them.”

As we continue reading Acts 2:5-13, “people heard this sound, [and] a crowd came together” (2:5). It seems the believers spilled into the street, “declaring the wonders of God” in a multitude of “tongues” or languages. The believers had not learned these languages, but they were understood as people heard their native languages and dialects.

What was going on?

The Explanation

In the gathering crowd of thousands, some were amazed as they heard “the wonders of God” in their own dialect. Others “made fun [of the believers] and said, ‘They have had too much wine.’”

This strange phenomenon demanded an explanation, so Peter spoke about what God was doing. At that point (2:14),

Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd.

He quickly debunks the scoffers (2:15):

These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning.

Then he quotes from the Old Testament prophecy of Joel, beginning with:

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

What follows is a masterful presentation of what God has done, is doing, and will do through the Lord Jesus Christ, who (2:23-24):

… you, with the help of wicked men, put ... to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead …

He then moves to a climax by declaring what was happening at that moment (2:33):

Exalted to the right hand of God, [Jesus Christ] has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

Peter then called them to a point of decision (2:38):

Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

That day, 3,000 people received Jesus Christ.

The Festival

Remember that this scene opened with (2:1):

When the day of Pentecost came.

Again, Peter explained what was happening at that Pentecost (2:33):

[Jesus Christ] received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

Pentecost is the Greek name for this festival, also known as Shavuot in Hebrew, or simply “Weeks” in English. It was celebrated the day after the completion of seven weeks counted from the Feast of Firstfruits—that is, on the 50^th day.

As investigated in the series “Festivals of the Lord: Celebrating God’s Grace,” there were seven of these events instituted by God while Moses was leading Israel out of Egypt to a new land. Two of the “Five Guiding Principles” supplied with that series are:

• All of these festivals foreshadowed or pointed to Jesus Christ (e.g., Colossians 2:16-17), and
• A one-day feast indicated a specific future historical event.

Recapping the first two festivals, we discover a divine pattern:

1. Passover occurred on the 14^th day of the first month of the Jewish lunar calendar. At that time, Jesus Christ was crucified.

Paul later writes (1 Corinthians 5:7):

Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.  

At the moment anyone receives Jesus Christ, no matter where or when they are, that person comes into the full benefit of the Lord Jesus and his crucifixion.

2. Firstfruits took place on the first day of the week (our Sunday) immediately following the Passover. At that time, Jesus Christ rose from the dead.

Paul later writes (1 Corinthians 15:23):

Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

At the moment anyone receives Jesus Christ, no matter where or when they are, that person comes into the full benefit of the Lord Jesus and his resurrection.

So, what about Pentecost?

The Connection

A week and a half previously, Jesus had reminded the Eleven (Acts 1:15):

For John baptized [Gk. en, “in”] water, but in a few days you will be baptized [en, in] the Holy Spirit.[1]

As with the Festivals of Passover and Firstfruits, so with Pentecost, which reveals another action of Jesus Christ.

The event recorded for us in Acts 2:1-4 was Jesus baptizing them in the Spirit.

Paul later writes (1 Corinthians 12:13):

For we were all baptized [en, in] one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

 At the moment anyone receives Jesus Christ, no matter where or when they are, that person comes into the full benefit of the baptism in the Spirit by Jesus Christ.

Therefore, once you receive Jesus Christ:

• You are incorporated into the one body of Christ by the historical event of the baptism in the Spirit.
• You receive the Holy Spirit who lives in you (Acts 2:38; Romans 8:9-11; etc.).
• You are graciously called to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18-20) and “keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-26).

There is so much more to learn and experience concerning the Holy Spirit.

Let me know what you are thinking by using this link.

 

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Notes:

[1] How can we best understand the Greek preposition en in this context?

The baptism by John was en water; the baptism by Jesus was en the Spirit. In these situations, John and Jesus are the persons doing the baptism, respectively. The medium in which a person is baptized is water (in John’s case) and the Spirit (in Jesus’ case).

The NIV and other translations have rendered en as “with water” or “with Spirit.” In 1 Corinthians 12:13, they render en as “by one Spirit.” Although “by” and “with” are legitimate, the primary translation of en is “in.”  

For consistency, as well as the imagery of baptism, I have rendered en as “in.”

Image credits:

1. Depositphotos.

2. “When the day of Pentecost came” by Mark A. Hewitt of Panorama, South Australia (http://oldtractortinshed.net/). Mr. Hewitt's site states,” You are free to use these works for noncommercial purposes.” Works by Mark A. Hewitt are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.