Understanding the Day of Pentecost
Few Christians realize the full significance of the Day of Pentecost, but the Book of Acts records so many amazing details which are often over looked.
Let’s read this shall we.
Acts 1:2-11
Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 6 ¶ When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
First, we have evidence of a time frame: from the time of the Passover, or His Passion, when Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world, to forty days later when Jesus, arisen from the dead and witnessed risen alive by His disciples, now speaks before He ascends into heaven.
Acts 1:3
To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Next Jesus gives his disciples and all those present a commandment.
Acts 1:4-5
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Jesus commands them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait there for the Promise of the Father, Almighty YHWH, to be baptized by the Holy Ghost.
His disciples don’t seem to understand fully what Jesus is speaking, because they ask him a question pertaining to this world. “Wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”
Look at what Jesus replies.
Acts 1:6-8
¶ When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The men are concerned because Jesus is the King to rule over all Israel, the twelves tribes. Is he now going to restore the kingdom?
Jesus replies to them that it is not for them to know the time or seasons which the Father, YHWH, has appointed in time for the kingdom of Israel to be restored, but He continues, “You shall receive power from God, after the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit) is come upon you” and then you will be a witness to Jesus the Christ and his gospel, his testimony before all men.
Many fail to notice the importance of the areas where Jesus said they shall be a witness, considering the fact that Jesus the Christ came to reign over the twelve tribes of Israel, Look closely.
Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea is where the house of Judah reigned or “the Jews.” Samaria is the chief location of the ten tribes of the house of Israel. The utmost part of the earth is where both tribes of the house of Judah and the house of Israel were taken away and scattered as lost sheep into the nations or “the Gentiles.”
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, (house of Judah, the Jews) and in Samaria (the house of Israel), and unto the uttermost part of the earth (the nations or the Gentiles).
The Holy Ghost shall give a witness to the Gospel of Jesus which shall be preached to the Jews, and Israelites, and the Gentiles, everyone in the world.
After Jesus communicates this amazing telling statement and promise from the Father, he is taken up out of our world into the heaven.
Jesus now ascended to heaven, is now seated at the right hand of Almighty God, will receive all power, and will send forth the Holy Ghost to be a witness to the world.
Acts 1:9-11
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Look what is stated here in the testimony of Acts, the two men of God who speak to the men standing having watched Jesus ascend to heaven state that “This same Jesus” shall return in like manner.
Jesus told his disciples he shall return, but now we have messengers of God as a witness that JESUS shall return to the earth in like manner as he was taken up.
The next line states that the disciples then return as commanded to tarry in Jerusalem which was a Sabbaths day’s journey, or about seven days.
Acts 1:12-14
¶ Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
So they returned about the 47th day to pray and wait on the Lord for his promise of the Father.
Read on to learn more details.
Acts 1:15-26
And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,) 16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus. 17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. 18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood. 20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take. 21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. 23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. 26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
So we have one hundred and twenty waiting in Jerusalem on the Lord. Before the day arrives, the disciples replace the fallen disciple Judas and pick a new replacement, for there must be twelve in order to judge the twelve tribes of Israel as the Lord stated when he was with them.
Now we have 12 disciples and many others joining in faith to wait on the Lord.
Acts 2:1
¶ And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
The Day of Pentecost or the 50th day after Jesus’ Passover (week).
The Passover day was the 14th day, which began at evening, when the twelve tribes of Israel put the blood of the lamb on the door posts of their dwellings so that the wrath of God on Egypt would Passover them.
50 days later when the children of Israel were in the wilderness before the mountain of God at Sinai to receive the law, the First Covenant law given to Moses for Israel.
I once did a study of time in the holy bible (understanding the Sabbath) and concluded that it was the same time period when Israel first received the Law at the hand of Moses.
This 50th day would be the first day of forty days and forty nights whereby Moses stayed with God to receive the Law of Almighty God!
With that, read on what happened on what is today acknowledged as the first day of the Church age.
Acts 2:1-4
¶ And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
There are several details here.
First, a mighty wind like sound. Second, the appearance of fire, third, the phenomena of being filled with the Holy Ghost and fourth, speaking or uttering with other tongues, or a new language of God and from God.
We have more details that this was no ordinary language or utterance.
Acts 2:6-13
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? 13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
It’s clearly stated that all the men heard this speaking in their own language, at the same time each man from each region with each a different language now heard the words being prophesied aloud in their own language.
Only God can do such amazing things! Only a language of God!
It states they were all amazed, but in some doubt as what was happening, and some even mocked those speaking this language from God.
Then Peter was given the words by the Holy Ghost to speak.
Read what he says.
Acts 2:14-21
¶ But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: 21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Peter teaches the men in attendance that this day the scriptures of the prophet Joel is fulfilled in their ears.
Read the holy scriptures of the prophet Joel.
Joel 2:28-32
¶ And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of YHWH come. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of YHWH shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as YHWH hath said, and in the remnant whom YHWH shall call.
Peter, who is the man Jesus gave the keys to the Kingdom, said upon this rock will I build my church.
Matthew 16:18-19
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Peter now gives the first sermon by christ's disciples.
Read closely what he says and to who he addresses it.
Acts 2:22-36
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
He address them as “you men of Israel!” Yet look at who is present from regions all around as recorded in the book of Acts.
Acts 2:9-11 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians,…
The first sermon of the new Church was addressed to Israel.
Acts 2:36
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Next read how the men react.
Acts 2:37 ¶ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
They were pricked to their heart and were in fear for their souls most likely, they knew now that they had crucified their own Savior, and then they ask Peter:
Men and brethren, what shall we do?
And Peter the man given by Jesus the Keys to the kingdom of heaven, now filled with the Spirit of Almighty God through His gift of the Holy Ghost replies.
Acts 2:38-40
Then Peter said unto them, 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. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
How did the men respond to this exhortation by Peter?
Acts 2:41-47
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 ¶ And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
“They that gladly received his word” were baptized by the disciples. And three thousand joined the disciples in faith, and received the promise of the Holy Ghost.
This was the first gathering of the Church –the baptized body of believers-the Body of Christ.
So we can see the first Day of Pentecost was the receiving of the Law at Mt Sinai to Israel, and the second Day of Pentecost was the out pouring of the Holy Ghost on the Church, on Israel.
Read what was promised by YHWH in the book of Jeremiah
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Behold, the days come, saith YHWH, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith YHWH: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith YHWH, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his eighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know YHWH: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith YHWH: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Read what was promised by YHWH in the book of Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 36:26-28
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Both of these holy scriptures by two different prophets of Israel were written and address only to Israel.
All those who bind themselves into the New Covenant YHWH made with Israel and Judah, shall receive an inheritance with the twelve tribes of Israel, as sons and daughters of the new Israel, or the Israel of God, where YHWH will be their God, and they shall be his people.
The Church of Christ Jesus is the “Israel of God” made of “Jews” and “Gentiles”
I trust you now have a greater understanding of the importance of the Holy Day of Pentecost.
As one baptized by the blood of the Lamb, and gifted with the Spirit of the Holy Ghost having received the promise from the Father, won’t you join me in Praising Almighty God, right now!
Thank you Lord JESUS for giving your life for me and all others, especially for thy people, thy people Israel.
Are you Washed in the Blood of the Lamb?
Have you been Baptized for the remission of your sins?
Do you have the Spirit of Almighty God wthin you?
Are you of Abraham’s seed, of the Israel of God?
If not, may YHWH bless you and bring you to all truth,
In Jesus Name I pray.