Pentecost is a significant event in the Christian calendar, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ. This event is described in the New Testament in the book of Acts, specifically in Acts 2.
The Bible Story of Pentecost
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 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.
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians--we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine." (Acts 2:1-13)
The Holy Spirit did not make His first appearance at Pentecost. He is mentioned as early as the creation account (Genesis 1:2). He is also shown to be doing the Father's work throughout the Old Testament and Gospels. However, the Spirit arrived in the upper room with a new mission from the Father.
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit empowered individuals for specific tasks.
- Bezalel's God-given wisdom and craftsmanship enabled him to become the Tabernacle's chief architect (Exodus 31:1-5).
- The Spirit settled upon leaders needing help in administration (Numbers 11:16-17).
- The Spirit came on warriors facing formidable tasks (Judges 6:34; 1 Samuel 16:13).
- The Spirit was on men called to proclaim God's word (Isaiah 61:1; Ezekiel 2:1-4).
When the Lord wanted a job done, He chose someone to do it. Then, the Holy Spirit equipped him or her for the task. He gave power only to certain people and didn't necessarily remain with them long.
The Holy Spirit after Pentecost
Indicating that the Spirit's involvement with believers would be different than before, Jesus told the disciples, "He abides with you and will be in you" (John 14:17). God's Holy Spirit had come alongside the disciples during their time with Christ. But following the completion of Jesus' work on earth, He would dwell within them.
After Pentecost:
- Every believer has received the Holy Spirit. If Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, then the Spirit is the sap equipping us for the Christian life.
- Furthermore, He no longer comes and goes but rather remains permanently.
- He seals us in Christ—proof of the promise that we are forever in God's presence (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Taken from "The Holy Spirit—His Presence" by In Touch Ministries (used by permission).
The Feast of Pentecost
The disciples were all together in the upper room to celebrate the Feast of Weeks or Feast of Harvest. This feast celebrated the end of the grain harvest, and it occurred seven weeks after Passover. Because this was 50 days after Passover, the Greeks called it Pentecost.
Pentecost Meaning and Significance
Why was the Holy Spirit given to the Church on an agricultural Thanksgiving holiday?
The Holy Spirit “pour[ing] out on all people” was first prophesied in Joel 2:28-32, which Peter quoted in Acts 2:16-21 when he proclaimed the prophecy had been fulfilled by the events witnessed by the Jerusalem crowd that dramatic Sunday.
Understanding the nuanced connections between when this event was prophesied in Joel and when it happened in Acts adds deeper meaning to the holiday still celebrated by Christians today.
Joel and Acts: Times of Devastation
The context around this prophecy in the book of Joel was a locust plague that devastated Israel. Every type of crop had been ravaged (Joel 1:7-12). The cattle were left without pasture (Joel 1:18), and the catastrophe was compounded by a drought (Joel 1:19-20). Still, Joel had hope based on what the Lord said: “’Even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning’” (Joel 2:12).
After promising agricultural healing, Joel then proclaims that the Spirit will be poured out on all people regardless of gender, age, or social status (Joel 2:28-32). Joel links the concept of agricultural and economic abundance to spiritual restoration. The verb "pour out" (Joel 2:28 [Hebrews 3:1]) alludes to the healing rains God would send upon the land (Joel 2:23). The prophets saw a theological link between the material blessing of God (in a rich harvest) and the spiritual benefits (obtained when God gives his Word and Spirit).
Joel and Acts: Times of Mourning and Repentance
The "sacred assembly" that Joel called the people in Joel 2:15 to mourn and repent is also important to the day of Pentecost in the New Testament. Instead of a thanksgiving harvest festival that year, the Israelites held a special day of mourning and repentance because their crops were devastated. Just as Leviticus 23:21 commanded that all Israel should gather together and there should be no regular business conducted on Pentecost, Joel demanded that all the people gather before God in a sacred assembly. It is fitting, then, that the gift of the Spirit in fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy should have come on the harvest celebration day of Pentecost.
The Significance of Passover and Pentecost
The connection between Passover and Pentecost is also worth noticing. The slaughter of the Passover lamb recalled the great deliverance of Israel’s exodus from Egypt, and it marked the beginning of the harvest with the offering of the first fruits.
The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) was the Thanksgiving celebration for the grain harvest. Similarly, Jesus' crucifixion at Passover was the sacrifice for the deliverance of his people, and the subsequent pouring out of the Spirit on Pentecost was the fulfillment of what his sacrifice had promised (John 14:16-20; 16:7).
Adapted from “Feasts and Festivals of Israel” in Baker’s Dictionary of Biblical Theology.
Why Is Pentecost Significant Today?
Read a transcript of the video above with Philip Nation:
The significance of Pentecost to the church is something that we need to walk through carefully, and we shouldn't ignore, because Pentecost was a Jewish celebration. And so, in our modern-day of the New Testament church, we don't celebrate Pentecost in the way that the Old Testament Hebrews did. But Pentecost was the moment in history after Christ had ascended. And he had promised, during the gospel narratives, during his earthly ministry, that he would leave, but that he would send the comforter. He would send the Holy Spirit.
And it was at that moment in Pentecost where the spirit came and he empowered the early believer, specifically the apostles that were left, and Peter, who is almost a comedic personality in the gospel narratives. He's the one who constantly puts his foot in his mouth, constantly is having to be corrected by Jesus, but is in the inner circle. And because of grace and mercy, he is chosen to be the one who stands up in front of this strong, probably thousands, maybe tens of thousands of people, to proclaim the gospel there in the midst of a Hebrew celebration that was intended to remind the Hebrews of how God had always protected them.
And here, Peter stands up and says, "And let me tell you about the Messiah, who is the eternal protection for all of humanity. Let me tell you who he is." And so, Pentecost becomes this marker in history, to really, what many people would say, and that's the moment the church is born. That is when thousands come into the faith. And it goes from this little sect of believers who followed a Jewish rabbi from Nazareth, who died and rose again.
And suddenly the church breaks forth into the culture. Suddenly, it is that unstoppable force that no one can really deny any longer. Pentecost has taken on a new significance for us. It, at one point, is just a historical memory. Now, it is the living reality of the moment that the spirit of God seemingly burst forth onto the earth.
Photo Credit: GettyImages/SDenisov
