Scripture Ref: John 20:19-23
Acts 2:1-41
Matthew 16:18
1 Corinthians 12:13
Other Ref.: The Bible Knowledge Commentary
1. Introduction
a. Today we are celebrating a major event in the Christian calendar, for it is literally our birthday.
(1) It is the day we know as Pentecost.
(2) Its inception was simple, but powerful.
(3) It did not start as any birthday party we have come to know and love.
(a) The party goers did not go to a residence festive with gay decorations.
(b) There was no cake and ice cream.
(c) No party invitations were mailed.
(d) It started with a simple command, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4)
b. History of Pentecost
(1) Old Testament
(a) Not a new concept, but rather a transformation of a feast celebrated in O.T. times.
(b) In the Hebrew O.T., the customary name is the Feast of Weeks. It was regarded as the second of three obligatory observances, coming between the Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles.
(c) In Exodus 23:16, it is called “the feast of harvest, of the first fruits of your labor, of what you sow in the field.”
(d) Dating of this festival also suggests its original agricultural context. Deuteronomy 16:9 required that it be dated seven weeks “from the time you first put the sickle to the standing grain.”
(2) New Testament
(a) In the Hellenistic period, 300 B.C.-A.D. 300, the feast began to lose its association with agriculture and came increasingly associated with religious history of the Hebrew people. The book of Jubilees, continuing to refer to it as ‘first fruits,’ identifies it with the covenant between God and Noah.
(b) Probably after the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70 Pentecost finally transformed into an observance of the giving of Torah on Mount Sinai. Exodus 19:1 was interpreted to mean that the interval between Passover and the arrival at Sinai was fifty days. Thus, in Judaism, Shavuot continues to be an observance of thanksgiving for Torah.
c. Today, Pentecost has a totally different meaning for Christians. It is associated with power and excitement. In fact, it is so significant a denomination has been founded entirely on it.
2. Unusual Party Preparations
a. As we look in on the preparations for the first celebration of this wonderful birthday party, we find a somber scene. As I said earlier:
(1) There were no festive decorations.
(2) There were no party hats and balloons
(3) There was no cake and ice cream.
b. What there was, was a room of frightened men.
c. Read John 20:19-23
(1) Verse 19—the disciples were together with the doors locked, afraid of the Jews. What a contrast to their boldness when Christ was among them or 7 weeks in the future after Pentecost.
(2) Verse 22—the image and wording of breathing on them recalls God’s creative work in making Adam. This reception of the Spirit was in anticipation of the day of Pentecost and should be understood as a partial, limited gift of knowledge, under standing, and empowerment until Pentecost, 50 days later.
3. Happy Birthday to Us
a. The stage has now been set for this great party. Let’s stage a reenactment and look closely at how the church came into being.
b. Read Acts 2:1-13
(1) Verse 1—All the important players are assembled together. It is not known who they are, but only that there were about 120 (based on Acts 1:15).
(2) Verses 2-4
(a) The fireworks start and the party is underway. The references to wind and fire in these verses are significant.
(b) The Greek word for “Spirit” (pneuma) is related to the word translated “wind” here.
(1) It also means breath. Both nouns—“spirit” and “wind” or “breath”—are from the verb pneo, which is translated “to blow, to breathe.”
(2) The sound like the blowing of a violent wind…from heaven points to the power of the Holy Spirit and the fullness of His coming—literally the “breath of God.”
(c) The tongues of fire portray the presence of God. Several times in the Old Testament God displayed Himself in the form of flames:
(1) As a flaming torch to Abram (Genesis 15:17)
(2) As a burning bush to Moses (Exodus 3:2)
(3) As a pillar of fire to the Israelites leaving Egypt (Exodus 13:21).
(4) As a mountain of fire to Moses on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19:18)
(5) As the tabernacle filled with fire by night to the Israelites (Exodus 40:38)
(6) No believer there was exempt from this experience, for the flames separated and came to rest on each of them.
(d) An evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit was other tongues. These were undoubtedly spoken living languages; the word used in 2:6, 8 is dialektô, which means “language” and not ecstatic utterance. This gives insight into what is meant by “tongues” in chapters 2; 10; 19; and in 1 Corinthians 12-14.
(1) This event marked the beginning of the church.
(2) Up to this point the church was anticipated—Matthew 16:18—“…And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
(3) The church is constituted a body by means of Spirit baptism—1 Corinthians 12:13—“For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
(4) The first occurrence of the baptism of the Spirit therefore must indicate the inauguration of the church. Acts 2:1-4 does not state that Spirit baptism took place at Pentecost.
(a) However, 1:4–5 anticipates it—On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
(b) 11:15-16 refers back to it as having occurred at Pentecost—“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’…”
(5) The church, therefore, came into existence then.
(3) Verses 5–13—The party “crashers arrive and the fun really starts.
(a) Jews of the “diaspora” (dispersion) were…in Jerusalem for the feast.
(1) The Jewish Diaspora began in the year 587 B.C., when the kingdom of Judea was conquered by the Babylonians, who destroyed the temple in Jerusalem and exiled a large part of the Jewish population to Babylonia (now southern Iraq).
(2) Perhaps they were bilingual, speaking both Greek and their native languages.
(3) They were dumbfounded to hear Jews from Galilee speaking the languages of peoples surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.
(b) The topic the people discussed in all these languages was the wonders of God. It seems they were praising God. Their message was not one of repentance; it was not the gospel.
(c) Unable to explain this miracle away, the Jewish unbelievers were puzzled, and some resorted to scoffing and asserted, They have had too much wine. The word “wine” (gleukous) means new sweet wine.
4. The Guest Speaker and His Gift
a. With most birthday parties, the guests bring gifts to the guest of honor.
b. This was no typical birthday party, though. In this case the guest of honor bestows a gift on the guests.
c. This gift, however, came with a price. Much like some of the sales pitches we see today where we can receive a gift of a stay at some resort or take a trip on cruise only after we have sat through a presentation on some real estate, before the people gathered would receive their gift, they had to listen to Peter.
d. In verses 15-41, Peter preaches his first evangelistic sermon—a sermon of power, a sermon of promise. His sermon, with only four points, was simple, Christ crucified and Christ risen as Lord.
(1) His first point was that that day was a fulfillment of the prophecy made by the prophet Joel countless years before. Read Verses 14-21.
(2) His second point was that Jesus is the Messiah—His works and His resurrection both attest to that fact. Read Verses 22-32.
(3) His third point was that Jesus, the glorified Messiah, poured out His Holy Spirit. Read Verses 33-36.
(4) His fourth and final point was an application of all that he had shared with them. Read Verses 37-41.
5. Summary
a. The phenomenon experienced on that first day of Pentecost can be likened to the power displayed in pyrotechnics.
b. Power can be used in at least two ways: it can be unleashed, or it can be harnessed. The energy in ten gallons of gasoline, for instance, can be released explosively by dropping a lighted match into the can.
c. Or it can be channeled through the engine of a fuel efficient vehicle in a controlled burn and used to transport a person 350 miles.
d. Explosions are spectacular and they have their place and use; but controlled burns have lasting effect, staying power.
e. The Holy Spirit works both ways. On the day of our salvation, as at Pentecost, he exploded on the scene; His presence was like “tongues of fire” (Acts 2:3). Thousands were affected by one burst of God’s power.
f. But He also works through the church—the institution God began to tap the Holy Spirit’s power for the long haul. Through worship, fellowship, and service, Christians are provided with staying power.
g. The important thing for us is that the party never stops. We have received the gift that keeps on giving, that replicates itself that we might share it with others.
h. While the celebration of Pentecost occurs only once a year, the side effects last a lifetime.
i. The question remains, what do you do with the gift you have been given.
6. Invitation
