And there was fear of the unknown, of what was going to take place, fear of the future. Then follows a marvelous after photo, which displays a beautiful person, so different from the before photo. And there wasn't a Jew in Jerusalem, not a rabbi, not a priest who'd ever understood Joel or the Psalms in that way, nor would they have ever dreamed of applying it to what had happened just weeks earlier, with the arrest, crucifixion, and death of this Man called Jesus of Nazareth. And they're seeing that, and it's the final time. It is the day, 40 days after the Resurrection, when Jesus returns to his Father. It wasn't there and so a lot had happened in that 50-day period that brought them to that morning of Pentecost. I would suspect that it may have been during that 40-day interval between our Lords resurrection and His ascension. We are going to be taking giant steps toward creating that kind of Church that we read about here in the book of Acts, that has been imbued with the power of the Holy Spirit, and changes are being made. After Jesus' ascension, his followers, about 120 of them, continued to meet in Jerusalem. They had come up against the two most powerful authorities of their day in their world. 9He does not forbid taking any action until Pentecost; He merely forbids the apostles to leave Jerusalem (in carrying out the Great Commission) until after Pentecost. Where do we go from here? I happen to think that they, no doubt during this period of time, as the days go on they talked and they read. The same Jesus who's been taken up will come in a like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." Our Lord saw to it that these witnesses had more than enough evidence of His resurrection, and added to this was the witness of the Spirit to the resurrection: 7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I am going away. "Behold, He said, My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. 3You will note that I do not use the termdisciplesto refer to the eleven here, or the twelve elsewhere in Acts. The Cross And Our Response to Trials (1 Peter 4:12-19), 8. We can internalize that and think that through. If we can learn to take on the divine nature and drink that in, in our lives, then we can banish doubt, uncertainty, and fear, unbelief, that will creep in at various times as we go through our lives, and stages in the developments of life. They had a very life is now, living in the present mindset that this was all going to happen in their lifetime, which is something that pertains to every group of people from that time forward, that looking for the appearance of the Kingdom, the return of Christ. "And He said to them, 'Thus it is written, thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer, to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and the remissions of sins would be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, and you are witnesses of these things. He went on to show that, "It's not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has put in His own authority, but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. In the context of Acts (and the Epistles), we should see that the Holy Spirit is a significant part of the enablement we need. Maybe a few more decided to go to Jerusalem on Pentecost to see what was going on, and the town was bursting at the seams, and from all these nations that we're told about here and areas. Furthermore, He no longer comes and goes but rather remains permanently. And it brings it down to the end of the chapter. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. The translation project originally started as an attempt to provide an electronic version of a modern translation for electronic distribution over the Internet and on CD (compact disk). This makes sense, given both their impulsiveness and their lack of faith. The Bible teaches the following concerning how the Holy Spirit was involved with the formation and the functioning of the church. 14 And because they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this (Acts 4:13-14). ", A church begins to develop. As the first volume ends with the Great Commission, the second volume begins with it (verse 8). The Giving of the Holy Spirit: On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Disciples and those with them. It comes from the ancient Christian expression pentekoste hemera, which means . Christ in you, the hope of glory. The Roman Empire was not anything to fool around with. Acts 1, consistent with the rest of the Book of Acts, reminds us that it is not about us; it is about God. (2 Corinthians 3:4-11). Again, nothing like this had been a part of their frame of reference before. Pentecost is a special day for any Christian, but it is emphasised particularly by Pentecostal churches. Acts 1 is the before section of this great book. With a UCG.org account you will be able to save items to read and study later! 27 But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. Let us consider what some of these lessons might be. Pentecost is regarded as the birthday of the Christian church. We can deal with them. The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25). And so two things create this vision and this mission. So the Word of God is what Jesus took and explained, it is what the Church went to, to explain what was happening, and then, it is the Spirit of God. I do not think that verses 12-14 describe only the activity of the believers during the 10-day gap between our Lords ascension and Pentecost, however. But let's go back, let's look at a few of these scriptures in a little bit more detail and see exactly what had been taking place among the disciples during this period of time, that brought them to that morning of Pentecost. Now it has become popular to carry this theme over to homes, where pitiful or plain houses are transformed into palatial homes. We are told in verse 2 that Jesus gave orders by the Holy Spirit. Let us eagerly look forward to the changes Pentecost will bring for the better.. The Holy Spirit would internally indict sinners regarding the righteousness of Christ because He cannot be seen any longer. In 2 Peter chapter 1, 2 Peter chapter 1, Peter writes, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you and the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 13 ThenPaul and his companionsput out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia, but John left them and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:9-13, emphasis mine). BBC 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. That they're not drunk, that this is of God. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. And God will expose sin, ours to ourselves, sometimes to others. It isnt about us, my friend; it is about God. This should also be our focus before Pentecost and before Jesus Christ's return. And so it was very key that His final ascension would be from this mountain. 2 Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting. What Is Pentecost in the Bible & Why Is It Important? - Word by Word In the end, I think we must acknowledge that we must read between the lines a great deal to conclude that the replacement of Judas was wrong. Consider these elements: First we find the doctrine of the Trinityin the first chapter, which speaks of the Father (1:4), the Son (1:4, etc. They must not attempt to carry out the Great Commission without Pentecostal power. But on that 50th day, from the morning after Christ's resurrection, a lot had happened. I think there are two things that are clear, and that should dominate our thinking. The Holy Spirit confirms the apostles testimony, especially their claim that they have seen Jesus Christ risen from the dead. And speaking about the deep things of the Kingdom of God to prepare them for what they were to take part in, and what they were to be a part of. The feast has been celebrated 40 days after Easter in both Eastern and Western Christianity since the 4th century. Bible Chronology - The Day of Pentecost The Roots of Pentecost . And I was going to go out to California, my first trip to California, visit my brother for about three weeks. The betrayal of our Lord was no accident, and it did not catch God off guard. And what happened? This was a healthy fear of respect and awe and wonder at now what had happened. Simply because there were 10 days of waiting, watching, and praying before Something Big happened to the church. "Also for this very reason, giving all diligence into your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, the divine nature. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth. 9 After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. We will handle them by the Word of God and the Spirit of God. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and . Pentecost is the festival when Christians celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. 11 Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind, unable to see the sun for a time! Immediately mistiness and darkness came over him, and he went around seeking people to lead him by the hand. They gave him a piece of broiled fish and honey comb, He takes it and he sits down and eats in their presence. What we have in verses 12-14, then, is a description of where the apostles stayed and what they did from the time of our Lords death till Pentecost. We just get a few snippets from the gospel accounts, at least, of this 40-day period. It's God's Spirit that is the only thing that we can have to overcome those fears, because really, it's all the Church of God has ever had. 7The apparent contradictions between this account and that of Matthew 27:3-10 are not insurmountable. What is Pentecost? Why Does It Matter? - Mark D. Roberts The Holy Spirit designated Barnabas and Saul. Now, when we turn over to Acts chapter 1, and we look at, kind of summing up of this as it is. And then it came to an end, it came to a close. And He opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures.". A photo of the proverbial 90-pound weakling was followed by the after of an awesome, muscle-flexing Charles Atlas physique. Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit. Before Pentecost: What Were They Thinking. This should come as no surprise because the Great Commission of Matthew also referred to all three members of the Godhead: 18 Then Jesus came up and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. The apostles were all Galileans (see Acts 1:11; 2:7; see also Matthew 26:73), so they could not stay in their own homes. We are no exception today, as we wait and look for the time when the Kingdom will be restored. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20, emphasis mine). So if I can come back to the question that I asked, what was going through their mind on that morning of Pentecost? While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. 9. Because they were seeing Christ risen and they saw Him in a bodily form, but then they were attributing something different to that. We've just read it. 4 So Barnabas and Saul,sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus (Acts 13:1-4, emphasis mine). 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit . The gospels and the book of Acts tell us that would-be zealots and messiahs had come and gone. Pentecostal Christians believe in the direct experience of the Holy Spirit by believers during all of their services. ), Two angels suddenly appear near them. He was seen by them over a forty-day period and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God. The decision to proceed with the process of replacing Judas was seen as obedience to Psalm 109:8, thus leading to its fulfillment. That is how the mission of the Church is done and that is how then that vision of a community, of a Church, of a people who are rooted in the Word of God, who actually do care for one another, is accomplished; by no other means, by no other means. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. What Is the Meaning of Pentecost? What Happened at Pentecost? And if those are the weapons of our warfare, then we can handle them. Put another way, the same Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus as He gave the Great Commission is the One who will empower the apostles (and the church) to carry out this command. And not for the reality that the 1st century world would have known and experienced, that other dimension. Lukes account of our Lords ascension is brief, but informative: 9 After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. They understood their problem, in verse 38, "He said to them, 'Why are you troubled and why do doubts arise in your hearts?'" Think of it! Pentecost and the Apostles - BBC Teach - BBC School Radio That's an important trait for a firstfruit, for a firstfruit to have in their life, and in their approach to life. Why are you standing around gazing? They were kind of like this, and like this. The search for Judas replacement was prompted, at least in part, by the consideration of some Old Testament Scriptures (Psalm 69:25; 109:8). And then even when we see in the days after Jesus' final ascension, a roughly 10-day period, when they came to make a decision to replace Judas, they read Scripture, they applied it properly, God blessed the decision. Farewell (Acts 15:28-29, emphasis mine). And we can be about the work that we see that the Church did then and has always done, of taking the message of salvation and of repentance to life, to people who need that message. Q. Mark chapter 16, verse 9, now, "When He rose early on the first day of the week," speaking of Christ's resurrection. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. And one set upon each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." 3 And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. This is the threefold commission that is given to this group of disciples where they are to be witnesses of Him in the city of Jerusalem, and Judea, and Samariathe wider region of the country, look at it as kind of the wider counties of the country of Israel at the timeand then ultimately, to the end of the earth, to take the Gospel and to be a witness of God, to do this. Pentecost was the celebration of the beginning of the early wheat harvest, which meant that Pentecost always fell sometime during the middle of the month of May or sometimes in early June. If we begin to look at one another as less than trustworthy, then that has other consequences in relationships, and that's taking place among the disciples here at this moment. Pentecost: The Descent of the Holy Spirit - Orthodox Church in America Pentecost is the festival when Christians celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. About 10 days earlier, Christ had finally ascended for the final time and they were left alone. The Day of Pentecost Explained The Book of Acts - Pentecost The Feast of the Ascension ranks with Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost in the universality of its observance among Christians. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. Behold I send the promise of My Father upon you, but tarryor waitin the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high. What we are seeing here is again, the power of the Word of God. In his last face-to-face meeting with the Ephesian elders, Paul spoke to them about their responsibilities as shepherds. Hymns sung at Pentecost take the Holy Spirit as their theme, and include: The symbols of Pentecost are those of the Holy Spirit and include flames, wind, the breath of God and a dove. And it is Christ in us that is that hope of glory. But they saw Him for a period of time, and that's how I like to imagine it. Pentecost: Everything you need to know | Catholic News Agency Jerusalem was swelled with pilgrims, at this point in time, and this added to the drama of the moment. And that power would be what would begin to banish the fear, the troubling, doubt, that they had, coupled with the Word of God that they were to have. in 1971. He had a long way to come to be the one to stand up and to give the sermon on this day, but he did it. This is what He does as He moves them through the Law of Moses, the Psalms, and the prophets, and opening their understanding. And to live with the reality that there is a God who judges, who sees, and who knows. We can be certain that He will provide us with everything we need to carry out His command. Zechariah's prophecy in chapter 14 shows that Christ will, on that day, set foot on the Mount of Olives. That is what caused them to banish their fear, trouble, doubt, and unbelief: Christ in them through the Holy Spirit. The apostles were celebrating this festival when the Holy Spirit descended on them. They remind us that most of the twelve apostles disappear in Acts and the Epistles, and not just Matthias. The "before" and "after" theme is found frequently in the media. What Happened at Pentecost? Send inquiries regarding the operation of this Web site to webmaster@ucg.org. Pentecost always occurs 50 days after the death and resurrection of Jesus, and ten days after his ascension into heaven. They sought authority that was outside the boundaries God had established. Well, that's a sign that I should go here, take this job, do this or do that. But miracles, well, that just takes a little bit more work, but they were here in the midst of a very large miracle. They might have fidgeted a bit and wondered, "Well, should we go fishing?" Based upon Pauls words in Ephesians 3, I am inclined to assume what a portion of this conversation may have been: 4 When reading this, you will be able to understand my insight into this secret of Christ. It is a remarkable period of church history, because right here we have a vision being fulfilled that Jesus Christ has for His Church. 8 Last of all, as though to one born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. And again, He gives, through Mark's account here, He gives the same commission to go. BBC - Religions - Christianity: Pentecost When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. An eyewitness account, there was a lack of belief that put them in the situation here that they did not understand and didn't believe that had actually happened. Pentecost is a Christian holy day that celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit 50 days after Easter. "And fear came upon every soul," and this was a different type of fear. They didn't believe that He had risen, they didn't believe that they had been seen, that He had been seen, and therefore, then they would not believe these eyewitnesses. Jesus was appearing to the apostles for 40 days until His ascension, and so there had to be 10 days left until Pentecost. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. When Did the Holy Spirit Come Down on the Apostles? - Learn Religions If you go back to Matthew chapter 28, chapter 28 and verse 16, let's just read a few of the accounts of that period following the resurrection, that the Gospel accounts tell us and there's more there. It is regarded as the birthday of the Christian church. Pentecost starts in a locked room with believers waiting. The English word "Pentecost" is a transliteration of the Greek word pentekostos, which means "fifty.". He and his wife, Debbie, have served in the ministry for more than 43years. What is the day of Pentecost? | GotQuestions.org From Psalm 69, they recognized that Judas betrayal was part of the divine plan. If we can make that decision and live with that reality that there is a God who lives, and before Him we stand every single day of our life and every major decision, every small decision of character, and the decisions that we make in the privacy of our own mind, and in our own actions that not everyone knows about, not even our mate, all are in accordance with righteousness and a desire for righteousness. And the tomb was empty, and the disciples had seen Jesus, and the authorities were beside themselves trying to figure it out, looked for the body. We take that for the story that it is, and the gift of tongues, and the speaking of tongues that the Scriptures talk about but we don't see that as what we need to be doing in practice or in faith, but it is a dramatic story.
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