Pentecost:
derived from the Greek word for “fifty,” so named because
it fell on the fiftieth day after the Sabbath of the Passover.
Pentecost: known also as “the Feast of Weeks,” was the
day that the Jews brought to God the firstfruits of
their harvest in thanksgiving.
Acts 1:15-2:4
Christ’s followers await the day of Pentecost: This
day, the day for which the believers had been assembled
together, was a day when the ‘firstfruits of Christ’s
church, the harvest of thousands of souls would be
celebrated.
It is ten days now since Jesus Christ had been physically
taken from them. The one hundred and twenty men and woman,
headed by the twelve Disciples of Christ, are assembled in the
Upper Room, united in their purpose.
They await the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It may
seem strange to those who do not understand God’s forgiving
power that it is Peter--Peter, no longer a coward,
Peter, no longer impulsively jumping into things, now,
Peter, the Rock--who is leading the congregation of
believers assembled together, waiting. It is this Peter who
stands up before the group and goes over the happenings of the
past days, reminding them of David’s prophecy concerning
Judas, how he had been counted as part of them, but how he had
sold his Lord, then killed himself; he reminded them of how
the money was spent which Judas had thrown down, to buy a
field, which was labeled, “The field of blood.”
Peter announces that a replacement for Judas must be
picked.
Judas’ replacement picked. Amongst those assembled,
two devout men, Joseph Barsabas Justus, and Matthias are
chosen. The group spend much time praying over these two men.
Finally a vote is taken; a decision is made as to which of
them would be counted in with the other eleven disciples.
Matthias is chosen as the twelfth disciple. The time of
waiting is over.
Stand in awe! Amazing things are about to happen.
Outside, people from all over the world have gathered in
Jerusalem for the celebration of the “Day of the
Firstfruits.” Devout men and women, with their families,
have come from Arabia, Crete, Asia, and even as far away as
Rome for this festivity. It is a celebration when the Jews
bring to God the best of their harvest—the first fruits.
The assembly place is in and around the Temple.
Families are gathered in groups, dialogue among adults and
chatter of children float through the air. Excitement at
meeting old friends and being introduced to new ones add to
the clamour of the festive occasion. Hundreds of foreign and
strange languages mingle together, adding to the cacophony.
Acts 2: 1- 4: “And when the day
of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in
one place....And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of
a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they
were sitting....and there appeared unto them cloven tongues
like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them....And they were
all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
The Upper Room prayer group, is oblivious to the tumult
around them. Each is intent on the purpose for which they all
had gathered: waiting for the promised Comforter. Suddenly, a
sound, like the wind of a tornado penetrates the ears of all,
the selected group and the multitudes of people gathered for
the festivities. All conversation ceases. The crowd stand in
awe. It is a sound like they have never heard before. They
gather closer. What is happening?
Then, to add to the mystery, as the crowd watch, little
tongues of fire sit upon the shoulders of each of the
believers, now having come into sight and mingled with the
mass. The visitors can’t believe their eyes or their ears.
They look again. They listen. Each group of people is hearing
language they can understand. How can this be? “How is it that we hear in our own language?”
-- Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamians,
Judaeans, Cappadocians, those from Pontus, and Asia, from
Phrygia, and Pamphylia, Egypt, Libya Cyrene, Rome, Jews,
Cretes, Arabians, all are hearing in their own language, the
wonderful works of God.
Acts 2:5-13
Peter speaks. The crowds listen. Scoffers scoff: “These
are Galileans. How is it that we can understand what they are
saying? They are talking as if they had been born with our
language. How can this be? Whatever can it mean?” Families
huddle together. All ears are on Peter as he stands before
them. He speaks directly to the locals, the men of Israel.
“Listen to what I have to say, oh you men of Israel. Hear
the words of Jesus of Nazareth. You witnessed His miracles,
wonders and signs that God did through Him. But you took Him
and after a mock trial, accused Him, condemned Him as a guilty
criminal. You crucified Him. You thought you had gotten rid of
Him, the fanatic, as you accused Him of being. But Death could
not hold Him; it had no power over Him—the sinless One. God
raised Him up again. You leaders of Israel should know that.
You are taught in the Law and in the writings of David that
Death had no hold over the Lord.
“You men and brethren know that the patriarch David both
died and is buried and his tomb is with us still. But he
foretold that Christ would be raised up again and would sit on
the throne of God. You should remember in your reading of
David that Christ would not remain in hell, but would be
raised up to sit on the right hand of God. He also promised
that He would send down His Holy Spirit. And THIS is what you
are seeing today. Jesus Christ, whom you crucified, is here
today by the presence of His Holy Spirit.
“Listen, oh you men of Israel. Remember His words: ‘Be saved. I have come to seek and to save that
which is lost.’ “
All ears were on Peter, listening to what he was saying.
Whispers fluttered through the crowd. Amazement and perplexity
were written on their faces. “What can this all mean? Nothing
like this has ever happened in the history of man!” Some
trembled.
The locals, those who knew Peter and had witnesses his many
faults and remembered his denial of his Friend at the trial,
and knew the other Disciples of Christ, snickered amongst
themselves. “Oh yea! This is no miracle. These men have had
too much new wine.”
The tumult began anew. The crowd began to go back to their
celebrations. But wait! Peter was speaking again.
“Men of Judea, and all ye that dwell at
Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the
third hour of the day. “ He went on, “This same
Jesus, the one you put to death, He is Lord and Christ. ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost’.”
The scoffers become quiet. The smirk suddenly disappears
from their faces. Silence reigns. Many of them fall to their
knees. “What shall we do?
“Repent, and be baptized every one of
you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and
ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 2:38