Pentecost

Pentecost

No one had ever seen anything like this before.

IT WAS Pentecost, May 24, A.D. 33, the fiftieth day after the Sabbath of Passover week. Pentecost marked the beginning of the Feast of Weeks, one of the three annual feasts when every male Jew was required to appear at the temple. It was a festival of joy with the presenting of the first fruits of the grain harvest to the Lord.

Just ten days earlier Jesus had ascended into heaven, and in keeping with his instructions, the disciples had stayed on in Jerusalem. They were meeting together when suddenly they heard a loud roaring like a mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were meeting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire on each other’s heads. They remembered how Jesus had spoken of a baptism of fire, and now here was a fire and they weren’t being burned by it! (Acts 2:1-3).

And if the fire weren’t miraculous enough, they began speaking in languages they didn’t know! Jews from many nations were in Jerusalem at the time, and when they came running to see what all the ruckus was about—the roaring wind, the nonburning flames on the believers’ heads, and preaching in many languages—they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers:

“How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking the languages of the lands where we were born!” . . . But others in the crowd were mocking. “They’re drunk, that’s all!” they said.

Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. Some of you are saying these people are drunk. It isn’t true! It’s much too early for that. People don’t get drunk by nine o’clock in the morning. No, what you see this morning was predicted centuries ago by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God said, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. . . . And anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus of Nazareth by doing wonderful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But you followed God’s prearranged plan. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to the cross and murdered him. However, God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life again, for death could not keep him in its grip. . . .”

Peter’s words convicted them deeply, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

Peter replied, “Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God. . . .”

Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church—about three thousand in all. They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer. (Acts 2:7-42)

It was a memorable day for the fledgling church, and Peter’s instructions are just as true for the church today.

Reflection

Have you believed and been baptized like the converts on the day of Pentecost? Do you join with other believers in learning, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper, and prayer? In which areas do you need to become more faithful?

All the believers met together constantly and shared everything they had. They sold their possessions and shared the proceeds with those in need. They . . . met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved.

Acts 2:44-47