The day of Pentecost – What is it?

from the old testament

• Pentecost is often thought to have begun in the New Testament, but in actuality, the word Pentecost is a Greek word referring to the Festival of Weeks, which was one of the main holy festivals of the Jewish people (Leviticus 23:15–21; Deuteronomy 16:9–12). The Festival of Weeks (or Feast of Weeks) was celebrated at the end of the grain harvest (Exodus 34:22). It occurs fifty days after the wave offering of the Feast of Firstfruits, which occurs at the end of the Feast of Unleavened Bread/Passover.
• The coming of the Holy Spirit on believers on the day of Pentecost ties back to several Old Testament references. He came with the sound of rushing wind and the appearance of tongues of fire. Life was brought to Adam's physical body when God breathed into his nostrils (Genesis 2:7). God led the Israelites as a pillar of fire (Exodus 13:21), and He is described as a "consuming fire" (Deuteronomy 4:24; 9:3; Isaiah 33:14).
• Pentecost also connects to what happened at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1–9), where God confused their languages and scattered the people because they united to glory in themselves instead of obeying God. Pentecost in the New Testament reverses the confusion of languages at Babel.

from the new testament

• On the day of Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks, the “firstfruits” of the church were gathered by Christ. The promised Holy Spirit descended upon the believers in Jerusalem (Acts 2). The believers were gathered together and "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 filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:2–4). Many Jews from all nations were in the city, and when they heard the sound they gathered together. They were amazed, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?" (Acts 2:7–8).
• Just as in the Old Testament, Jesus compared the Holy Spirit to the wind, when He said, "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8).
• The Holy Spirit is also described as a “consuming fire” in the New Testament (Hebrews 12:29).
• The tongues of fire and the mighty, rushing wind at Pentecost were not the only indications of the Spirit's presence that day. The Spirit spoke through Peter to the hearts of the people. As the crowds listened, they were "cut to the heart" and asked what they should do (Acts 2:37). Peter told them to "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" (Acts 2:38). Three thousand came to salvation that day (Acts 2:41).

implications for today

The events of the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 highlight the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in uniting believers across cultural and linguistic divides (Acts 2:1–13). Just as the Spirit enabled the disciples to communicate the gospel effectively in multiple languages, we are reminded that the body of Christ is made up of every tongue, tribe, and nation (Revelation 7:9). God made salvation possible through Christ for all who trust in Him (1 Timothy 2:4), and He desires unity among His people as they gratefully celebrate their redemption. Pentecost stands as a testament to God’s work of reconciliation and His ongoing empowerment through His Spirit, inviting believers to participate actively in His mission of global reconciliation and spiritual renewal. Pentecost also stands as a testament of God’s continuity from Old Testament to New Testament. He saved the Israelites and led them out of Egypt, and His salvation birthed the Church. The festivals God enacted were a tangible reminder of spiritual truths, and their ultimate fulfillment is found in Christ.

This involves actively seeking unity amidst differences and celebrating the richness of God's kingdom reflected in believers from all backgrounds. Pentecost challenges us to engage in genuine dialogue to know and understand others, to learn from one another's perspectives, and to extend grace and hospitality across cultural boundaries. It encourages us to be bold in sharing the gospel, trusting in the Holy Spirit's power to reach hearts and transform lives, thus embodying God's vision of unity and redemption in a fragmented world.