Pentecost Sunday is a commemoration and celebration of the infilling of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the church.
Pentecost is a Greek word that simply means fiftieth and represented the fiftieth day after Passover. Pentecost was also the beginning of one of the Jewish festivals GOD handed down to Moses and the Israelite’s to celebrate the fall harvest. Since the festival was celebrated 50 days, or seven weeks, from Passover the festival celebrating the fall harvest became known as the Feast of Weeks as well as the Feast of Harvest. During JESUS’ day, Jews from all over the known world would make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem to celebrate the festival. Deuteronomy 16:16
After JESUS celebrated Passover with his disciples, HE was arrested, tried, and put to death on the cross. Three days later JESUS rose from the grave, was seen by 500 witnesses, and spent time with his disciples. Forty days after JESUS’ resurrection, before he ascended to Heaven, JESUS told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the HOLY GHOST. After JESUS ascended to Heaven, 120 believers went and waited as JESUS directed. On the day of Pentecost, 10 days later, as they all were in prayer, there came a rushing mighty wind that filled that house and they were all filled with the HOLY GHOST. All began to speak in other tongues as the spirit spoke through them. Acts 1, Acts 2
Since there were many Jews in Jerusalem from all over the known world celebrating the Feast of Weeks, they were amazed to hear the 120 filled with the HOLY GHOST speaking in their native language. Those 120 who were filled with the HOLY GHOST were from Jerusalem and spoke Aramaic and Greek, yet when filled with the HOLY GHOST they spoke in many different languages. Acts 2
In addition to the outpouring of GOD’s spirit on Pentecost, GOD also allowed the first church message to be preached by the Apostle Peter as he shared the GOOD NEWS prophesied by Joel (Joel 2:28-32) and fulfilled through the life, death, burial, and resurrection of of LORD and savior JESUS CHRIST. Peter’s message was simple and when those listening asked what they needed to do [to receive], Peter summarized what JESUS taught him when he said:
Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of JESUS CHRISTfor the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the HOLY GHOST. 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.
The church began with the outpouring of the HOLY GHOST on Pentecost and that same outpouring continues to this day. Hebrews 13:8
