Pentecost is the name for the Jewish Feast of Weeks and it is also known as the Feast of the Firstfruits. It was considered a day of joy and thanksgiving, when the people of Israel brought before the Lord “the firstfruits of the wheat harvest”, thus the feast. We see how it became a fitting symbol for when the Holy Spirit was poured out, and thousands were baptized. Jesus had ascended but had promised the 'Comforter' would come and it did at Pentecost and this outpouring of the Holy Spirit was a event that transformed the apostles from simple fishermen, into strong men of God with conviction and courage. We see it in Acts 2:
Acts 2:1-3
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And we see them being filled with the Holy Ghost..
Acts 2:4-12
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
Now many people today, claim they have gotten the power and are now speaking in tongues from the Holy Spirit but just babble incoherently. We hear them with clearly make up words, or they say they are "slain in the Spirit" and fall or laugh with what they call "holy laughter" or go around making sounds or strange behavior to say the least.
Are these things really from the Holy Spirit, or from another origin. If you look at verse 6 of Acts 2 you see that at that time in Jerusalem there were Jews from every nation and it says And these people came together "and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language."
To communicate and spread the word to all the nations, the early Christians needed to have been given a gift so the others could understand the Gospel. So is what we see today, speaking nothing that spread Gods truth and making sounds and utterances which no one to understand the same as the speaking in tongues given to the apostles and the early church. of course not, and we see what happens next that shows the Holy Spirit at work. Peter preached a sermon that cut to the heart of the people, and see what happened in Acts 2:29-37:
Acts 2:29-37
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Peter’s hearers were cut to the heart by what he told them. Some of them might have been among the crowd at Jesus’ crucifixion and even worse, some may have even joined in the shouts to put Him on the cross. But now, persuaded that Jesus of Nazareth who had been crucified, was indeed God’s anointed, what did they say: “What shall we do?” .Peter answers them in the next verse, we see it in Acts 2:38:
Acts 2:38
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Peter calls for repentance, and to baptized in the name of the one who was put on the cross and there would be a gift given. So what does repentance mean, it means a radical change of direction in life, a turning away from sin not just saying we will do it, but true change.
Acts 2:1-3
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And we see them being filled with the Holy Ghost..
Acts 2:4-12
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
Now many people today, claim they have gotten the power and are now speaking in tongues from the Holy Spirit but just babble incoherently. We hear them with clearly make up words, or they say they are "slain in the Spirit" and fall or laugh with what they call "holy laughter" or go around making sounds or strange behavior to say the least.
Are these things really from the Holy Spirit, or from another origin. If you look at verse 6 of Acts 2 you see that at that time in Jerusalem there were Jews from every nation and it says And these people came together "and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language."
To communicate and spread the word to all the nations, the early Christians needed to have been given a gift so the others could understand the Gospel. So is what we see today, speaking nothing that spread Gods truth and making sounds and utterances which no one to understand the same as the speaking in tongues given to the apostles and the early church. of course not, and we see what happens next that shows the Holy Spirit at work. Peter preached a sermon that cut to the heart of the people, and see what happened in Acts 2:29-37:
Acts 2:29-37
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Peter’s hearers were cut to the heart by what he told them. Some of them might have been among the crowd at Jesus’ crucifixion and even worse, some may have even joined in the shouts to put Him on the cross. But now, persuaded that Jesus of Nazareth who had been crucified, was indeed God’s anointed, what did they say: “What shall we do?” .Peter answers them in the next verse, we see it in Acts 2:38:
Acts 2:38
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Peter calls for repentance, and to baptized in the name of the one who was put on the cross and there would be a gift given. So what does repentance mean, it means a radical change of direction in life, a turning away from sin not just saying we will do it, but true change.
