Pentecost

The time of Pentecost represents a very important revelation of the Holy Spirit!

Fifty days following Passover and the death of Jesus on the cross at Calvary, the feast of Pentecost was celebrated; when the Jews celebrated how God had given their religious laws to Moses.

The Disciples were waiting in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit to come and baptize them as Jesus had told them previously.

Whilst they were waiting they all agreed to replace Judas Iscariot, who had betrayed Jesus, with a new disciple.

The disciples prayed for guidance and – after taking a vote - they decided to choose Matthias. Now they were again twelve in number as Jesus had originally intended.

The twelve disciples then became known as the Apostles. The word Apostle means someone who has many spiritual gifts, including the speaking in tongues.

The apostles were in the middle of their Pentecostal feast when suddenly a loud sound, like a fierce wind, filled their ears.

All the apostles felt alive and full of energy, totally revitalized, and as they looked at each other in amazement and wonderment, they saw that every apostle had a tiny flame hovering over their head.

“The Holy Spirit has arrived”, they exclaimed and they were even more astonished to discover that they were all speaking in different languages.

They all felt as though they had unlimited energy, courtesy of the Holy Spirit, and they ran excitedly out into the nearby streets giving thanks to God in many different languages.

Some were preaching about God in Greek; whilst others were preaching about Jesus in Latin. And some were praising the Holy Spirit in Arabic.

It was the tradition that many people from the surrounding countries visited Jerusalem at the time of Pentecost.

And when these people from foreign lands heard the apostles preaching with the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, they marvelled, one to another:

“These men are only from the area of Galilee. So how is it that they can speak our language fluently?”

But some people just laughed and made fun out of the apostles by saying that they were only drunk!

But when they heard Peter preaching everyone felt an emotional stirring because of his vibrant passion.

“Most certainly we are not drunk, far from it”, Peter joked. “We are followers of Jesus of Nazareth. He has come back from being dead. We have seen him with our own eyes! And today the Holy Spirit has descended upon us, which is why you are able to understand what we are saying in your own language.”

And Peter continued, “Those of you who are truly sorry for all the sins that you have committed may receive God’s blessing today. Will you join us?”

And that very day, following Peter’s preaching and teaching more than 3,000 people were baptized and became followers of Jesus.

This was the foundation of the Christian Church.

The Pentecostal account is to be found within the first and second book of Acts in the Bible.

Acts 1: 15-16 tells us:

In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.”

And Acts 1: 14 says:-

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

The description of the Holy Spirit’s powerful presence in the Upper Room is recounted in Acts 2:1–6:-

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 languages, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

”

Acts 2: 17-18 it says:-

And in the last days it shall be, God declares
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams,
even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my spirit, and they
shall prophesy.

Peter also mentions (Acts 2:15) that all this was taking place on the third hour of the day (6am).

Acts 2:41-43 reports:

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

And they devoted themselves to the Apostles teachings and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

Peter stated that this event (Pentecost) was the beginning of a continuous outpouring that would be available to all believers from that point on, Jews and Gentiles alike.

It is believed that this Descent of the Holy Spirit occurred in the Upper Room.

The Upper Room is also known as the Cenacle and is situated in Jerusalem.

The Upper Room was first referred to in Luke 22: 12-13:-

And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there. And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

The Upper Room next makes an appearance in Acts 1: 13-14:-

And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying. Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.

All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and his brothers.

The Upper Room – or Cenacle – is the place in Jerusalem where, it is believed, many of the significant events described in the New Testament actually took place. These include:-

·         the preparation for the celebration of Jesus' final Passover Meal

·         the washing of the feet of his disciples

·         some of the resurrection appearances of Jesus

·         the gathering of the disciples following the Ascension of Jesus

·         the election of Saint Matthias as an Apostle

·         the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost