Significance of Pentecost on the early church

Pentecost is the Jewish festival which celebrated the wheat harvest. The word
Pentecost means fiftieth and is called so as it is 50 days after the festival of
Passover. As a result of the ideal travelling times surrounding Pentecost in June,
there was a crowd in Jerusalem with people from many nations. Laws in Leviticus
23.21 state that nobody should work on the day of Pentecost., so numbers where
larger than usual.
The disciples where situated in the upper room when the room was filled with what
appeared to be like wind. The commentator Bruce says that the wind symbolises
the spirit of God which had powerfully come upon the disciples. In Luke 3:16-17,
John the Baptist had spoken of how one greater than he would carry out a baptism
with wind and fire. Fire represented the divine presence in Old Testament times.
Similarly, like the wind, fire played a part on this occasion. It appeared to be
tongues of fire perching on the heads of every disciple. Some scholars have pointed
out that there may be a possible connection between the tongues of fire and the
other tongues that where uttered by the disciples.
Glossolalia means a language miracle where a person has the ability to speak
under the influence of the Holy Spirit which they have no control over or
understanding.
The commentator Barclay suggests that Acts 2 v 14-41 is one of the most
interesting passages in the NT, because it is an account of the first Christian
sermon ever preached. It is interesting that Peter who had previously denied Jesus
is now the one who is proclaiming him. The first thing Peter deals with is the
response to the mockery surrounding the drunkenness. Peter says that they are not
drunk because it is too early (v15). The point to this was that Jews did not ordinarily
eat so early, still less drink wine. After the explanation of the drunkenness he then
gives the real explanation to the miraculous events telling the people that this is the
fulfilment of what the Old Testament Prophet Joel said would happen.
Peter quotes what Joel said, in the last days I will pour out my spirit on all people
(v17) and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (v21). Peter in
quoting these verses, concludes that these days are the last days, when Gods
Spirit will fall upon all people of all ages and sexes, even the Gentiles.
As Peter summons the men of Israel to listen to him, his first words are various
fundamental facts concerning Jesus (v22).
Peter had a consistent message. He had seen something so life changing that he
simply had to tell others about it. He was filled with the spirit, filled with zeal, filled
with boldness, to tell others the good news. This gospel focuses on the resurrection
of Jesus, but several other related facts are usually included.
This package of core facts is usually called the Kerygma. The Kerygma can be
broken down into four main points. Firstly, Jesus life and ministry (v22), Jesus was a

man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did
among you through him.
Secondly Jesus death (v23) however, the Jews, instead of recognising him as the
Son of God, took steps to crucify and kill him. Peter tells them that God foreknew
this and Jesus death was done in accordance with Gods set plan and purpose. The
commentator John Stott says, the death of Jesus is therefore attributed
simultaneously both to the purpose of God and to the wickedness of men.
Thirdly Jesus resurrection (24-32), the resurrection occupies nine verses of Peters
sermon. Peter tells the crowd that the resurrection was an act of God freeing Jesus
from the pangs of death. The commentator Fernando says the fact that death was
unable to keep its hold on him is a validation of Jesus life and ministry.
Finally, Jesus exaltation (33-35), peter next states that Jesus has been exalted to
the right hand of God and connects the event of Pentecost with this exaltation. This
exaltation is proved by the fact that Jesus received the Holy Spirit from the father
and has poured out what they have just seen and heard (33). He then clinches his
argument with an Old Testament quote from Psalm 110 and linking it to the
ascension, and again claims that what David said, could not apply to him, because
David did not ascend to heaven (34-35).
Armed with this information, Peter concludes, therefore let all Israel be assured of
this: god has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. (36)
The significance of Pentecost can be broken down into three points, firstly Pentecost
symbolised a new unity in the spirit transcending racial, national and linguistic
barriers.
The fact that the spirit fell upon each individual believer is instructive. Gods spirit is
not just present with his people corporately, leading them collectively; rather, each
individual believer gathered that day in Jerusalem is touched by fire. Both men and
women receive the spirit, as do apostles and ordinary believers. One writer
describes Pentecost as the democratisation of the spirit.
Secondly, Pentecost also signalled that believers have a new power for ministry and
for witnessing.
Thirdly, Pentecost also signals the breaking of barriers that have separated the
human race since Babel, with the formation of a humanity in Christ. In others words,
Pentecost reverses what happened at Babel. What is new here is that from now on,
people would not need to come back to some central place to worship God and in
the Hebrew tongue. Rather, they could go and worship God in their own language.
Babel and Eden are not undone as much as they are redeemed and their negative
effects are nullified.
Ben Thompson 13E