“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:1-4). Pentecost is the day Jews celebrate First Fruits, the Spring Harvest. It is fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection and ten days after His ascension to Heaven. At the arrival of the Holy Spirit the people spoke in other languages to bring unity of those present so all would understand the words spoken. The opposite happened at the Tower of Babel when languages separated and confused people. Some of those present at this Pentecost said those speaking were drunk with too much wine, but Peter responded to them that it was only 9:00 in the morning (which is the Jewish time of the morning prayer).
Birth of the Church
Peter preached a sermon that revealed that Jesus was the fulfillment of Scripture, that He was the Messiah, the Son of God. The people asked him what they must do, and Peter said, “Repent and 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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39). About 3,000 received the word, repented and were baptized. The only place in Jerusalem large enough for a crowd this large would have been the Temple, which is the place of the Dome of the Rock today, one of the most revered places in the world.
The DNA of God in Us
The Holy Spirit was born in believers on this day of Pentecost, and it lives in born again believers today. It is God’s DNA in us. It is our new operating system. The Holy Spirit teaches us how to understand the Word of God. It counsels, comforts and encourages us. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus fulfills His promise to be with us always, to the very end of the age, His last words in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:20).
Prayer
Thank you, Father God, for your great design to have the birth of the Holy Spirit occur on Pentecost. It was the power of the early church to carry the gospel into Asia Minor and Europe. Lord, empower us to carry your word to those in our neighborhoods and to the ends of the earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A Closer Walk with God 