DAY SEVENTY-ONE: 

The Day of Pentecost 

Acts 2:1-47 

When the Day of Pentecost Came, Mark A. Hewitt, 2012

Last week we studied Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension into heaven. He completed His mission on earth. He broke the curse of sin and death that came upon the human race in the Garden. He instituted the Kingdom of God on earth and rules His Kingdom from His throne at the right hand of the Father. Jesus' earthly mission was done, but the disciples' mission was just beginning.

Before He ascended, Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit. "...for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." (Acts 1:5) Forty days after His resurrection Jesus ascended into Heaven, leaving the disciples on their own. This had to be at least a little frightening for the disciples. Yes, they'd gone out and done some preaching. They even healed people and cast out demons in Jesus' name. But up to now Jesus had always been there, like a safety net.

They waited as they were told. "All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers." (1:14) During this time they cast lots (a random process, like tossing a coin, for determining God's will) to find a replacement for Judas, who hanged himself after betraying Jesus. The lot fell to a man named Matthias, and he joined the eleven disciples as an apostle.

The Day of Pentecost came ten days after Jesus ascended. Pentecost was one of the three feasts of Israel (along with the Passover and Tabernacles). Pentecost comes from the Greek word for 50, because Moses told the Israelites to count off fifty days from the Passover and then gather to thank God for the harvest of the winter grains. Though not as big as Passover, Pentecost still drew many Jews from all over the world.

The group of disciples, numbering 120, were together on the day of Pentecost when something amazing happened: "And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." The promise had arrived! The Holy Spirit filled each of them in a dramatic way.

The disciples ran outside, speaking in those other tongues. This caught everyone's attention. "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?...we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." They didn't know what to make of this. Some said "They are filled with new wine." They had gone on a bender and were all royally drunk.

A crowd gathered, and Peter, who no doubt had been itching to tell the world about Jesus, jumped on this opportunity. He said they weren't drunk- it was just 9 AM. God is fulfilling a word He gave through the Prophet Joel: "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 prophesy, 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...And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Peter then launched into a sermon proclaiming the Gospel. "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know- this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it." Then, after sharing some Old Testament Scriptures to prove Jesus was the Messiah, Peter concluded, "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." This man who couldn't bear to admit that he even knew Jesus is now bold! He laid on his listeners the terrible crime of crucifying their Lord.

We read that they were "cut to the heart." The Greek word carries an impression of being run through with a sword. Peter's message had struck home, and they realized their sin. They cried out, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter answered, "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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." The crowd was very eager to do just that. Around 3,000 people trusted in Christ that day and were baptized. Some have wondered how so many could have been baptized in one day. Where did the water come from? There were numerous mikvas, ceremonial baths for washing before entering the Temple, in the area. No doubt they appropriated them for this purpose.

The church, the Body of Christ, was off to a flying start! That morning there were 120 believers. By the end of the day they had increased to over 3,000. These people had a life-changing encounter with the risen Christ. They wanted to grow in their faith so they "...devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." They witnessed some amazing things: "And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles." Their lives now had new orientations, and they understood their possessions in a new light: "And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need." Getting more stuff was no longer their aim. "And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." I can't read these verses without saying "Wow!" These earliest Christians demonstrated the power of Christ and His Kingdom in such a compelling way!

The Day of Pentecost was just a drop in the bucket compared to what God would do in the days ahead. Tomorrow we'll look at even more explosive growth, and the accompanying reaction from the Jewish authorities.

Every time I read the story of the Day of Pentecost and of the church that grew from it I have to wonder what has happened to us? This is so foreign from my experience with the church. Where's the power? Why aren't we changing our world like they changed theirs? Why don't we have that kind of community among us? The truth is, God is showing up in power all over the world right now. I read this article just this morning: China on course to become 'world's most Christian nation' within 15 years. "From Yunnan province in China's balmy southwest to Liaoning in its industrial northeast, congregations are booming and more Chinese are thought to attend Sunday services each week than do Christians across the whole of Europe." This is astounding! The church in China is barely 125 years old, and suffered massive persecution during Mao's "Cultural Revolution." We hear of similar growth in Iran, where anyone who leaves the Muslim faith faces a death sentence. I could go on and on with many more examples from everywhere but Europe and North America. So God is still working mightily. But why isn't He doing such great things among us? We have large buildings with small and aging congregations. Society increasingly ignores us, and young people are turning away in droves.

I have some thoughts on the matter, but I think they'll make more sense after we look at tomorrow's passage.

Here's a video that tells the story of a small Anglican church in the far north of Canada which experienced its own Pentecost:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RF7oGM7BR9o