Today, Sunday May 31, 2020, is Pentecost Sunday. It is the day that the Holy Ghost first began to be poured out and the New Testament church officially began.

After His death, burial, resurrection, and forty days in which He showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs, Jesus spoke to His disciples. (Acts 1:3, 1 Corinthians 15:3-7)

"And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." - Acts 1:4-5 KJV

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight." - Acts 1:8-9 KJV

"Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room...These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication… (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)" - Acts 1:12-15 KJV

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

“And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1-4 KJV

"And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? ... We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." - Acts 2:5-8, 11 KJV

"And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?  Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine." - Acts 2:12-13 KJV

"But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:" - Acts 2:14-18 KJV

Peter, standing with the eleven apostles, preached to them Jesus.

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." - Acts 2:36 KJV

"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?

“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. 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.

“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. ... Praising God, and having favour with all the people.

“And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." - Acts 2:37-42, 47 KJV

The New Covenant – A New Marriage

God, as Husband to the Jewish people, promised them a new covenant. This new covenant would be one in which their iniquities would be forgiven, and their sin no longer remembered. Because God was forgiving their iniquity, they could receive the infilling of His Spirit. With the infilling of His Spirit, there would be a close relationship between God and His people. This is how we can know Him. (Acts 2:38).

"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." - Acts 2:38 KJV

"And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." - Jeremiah 31:34 KJV

It was necessary that God robe Himself in a flesh and blood human body so that He could release the Jewish people from their marriage covenant of the Law from Mount Sinai. God came to die for His wife. By His death, they were free to marry Him in His new covenant of the Gospel. God came in His name Jesus, His name of salvation which is above every name, which brings mercy and grace.

The Church is God’s wife through His new covenant. (Acts 2:38).

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." - Acts 20:28 KJV

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." - Ephesians 5:25-27 KJV [“word:” Thayer’s - others take ῤήματι here as equivalent to 'the gospel,']

Shavuot, a Jewish holiday we call Pentecost, began this evening. Shavuot is a two-day holiday, celebrated from sunset on May 28 until nightfall on May 30. It coincides with the date that God gave the 613 commandments of the Law to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai more than 3,300 years ago.

It is celebrated with a festive meal, then staying up all night and learning Torah. The following day (Friday), they go to hear the Ten Commandments. The earliest source for this custom of all-night study writes, “this practice was a preparation for and in honor of the “bride’s” (the Jews) upcoming marriage to the “groom” (G‑d, or the Torah).” [from Chabad dot org]

The Jews were commanded in the Old Testament, "Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee." - Deuteronomy 16:16-17 KJV (The “feast of weeks” is Pentecost).

This is why, when the church began, with about an hundred and twenty in the upper room in Jerusalem, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place...there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." - Acts 2:1, 5 KJV

This is how there were witnesses that understood the tongues of the disciples that had just been filled with the Holy Ghost. Each Jew, devout men, out of every nation, were there for Shavuot (Pentecost). Each one was able to recognize at least one of the disciples speaking in the language of his nation. It was a sign to them all that God was doing something miraculous.

The Jewish people entered into a covenant with God at Mount Sinai, when they accepted God’s Law.

The Jewish people, as well as God, consider this covenant to be a marriage covenant. Throughout the Old Testament, from the time of the giving of the Law, God refers to Himself as Husband to the Jewish people.

Then, God spoke about making a new covenant. But what about their covenant at Sinai? How could they be released from this covenant to enter into a new covenant with God? (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

Apostle Paul explains to the Jewish people – them that know the Law - God’s plan. He explained how, according to the Law, God made a way of escape for them.

"Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? [the law applies only while a person is living].

“For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. [When a woman marries, the law binds her to her husband as long as he is alive. But if he dies, the laws of marriage no longer apply to her.]

“So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man." - Romans 7:1-3 KJV [So while her husband is alive, she would be committing adultery if she married another man. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law and does not commit adultery when she remarries.]

The way that God would release His people from their binding marriage covenant of the Law was to die.

But how could God die?? He is an eternal Spirit, He cannot die.

Yet, when God robed Himself in flesh and blood, born of a woman, His flesh was able to die. God released His people from their marriage covenant with the Law by His death, burial, and resurrection so that they could enter His new covenant of mercy. (1Timothy 3:16, Acts 20:28, Jeremiah 31:31-34).

Apostle Paul then explains what the Jewish people must do.  

Just as Christ died, was buried, and rose again, the Jewish people must die to sin, be buried with Jesus by water baptism in Jesus name, and rise to live a new holy life in His Spirit.

"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ [You died to the power of the law when you died with Christ.]; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead [and now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead], that we should bring forth fruit unto God." - Romans 7:4 KJV

The Jewish people are now free to enter the New Covenant of grace by marriage to their very own husband that has brought them grace, Jesus Christ - God manifest in the flesh - that rose from the dead. (John 1:17)

"For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. [When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.]

“But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. [But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.]" - Romans 7:5-6 KJV

On Pentecost, (the Jews call this day Shavuot), the Jews remember their marriage covenant they made with God at Mount Sinai when they accepted God's Law. (Exodus 19:3-8).

The Law, however, proved to be a covenant with God they were unable to keep. (Acts 15:10).  

God would make a new covenant with the house of Israel.

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

“Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel;

“After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD:

“For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." - Jeremiah 31:31-34 KJV

This new covenant officially began on the Day of Pentecost, the same day remembered by the Jews as the day they accepted their covenant of the Law, and God became their Husband.

Here again, God calls Himself their Husband.

In this new covenant, God would write His law in their hearts. He did this when He began pouring out His Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:1-4).

We know Him when we are filled with His Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:9-16, Hosea 2:19-20, 1 John 5:20, 2 Corinthians 4:6).

Our iniquity is forgiven and our sin remembered no more when we repent and are baptized in Jesus name. (Acts 2:38, Acts 10:43, Acts 13:38-39, Ephesians 1:7).

God is promising this new covenant to the Jewish people. (He also promised this new covenant for the Gentiles as well. (Hosea 2:23)).

Did God make a way for the Jews to be released from their covenant of the Law, their marriage covenant with God?

To be continued…

God refers to Himself as the Husband of the Jewish people.

"For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall he be called." - Isaiah 54:5 KJV

"Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you…" - Jeremiah 3:14 KJV

When did God marry the Jewish people?

Jewish Sages compare Shavuot to a wedding oath between God and the Jewish people. The Jews consider this day as their marriage to God. We call Shavuot “Pentecost.” It was on Shavuot that God gave the Law through Moses to the Jewish people.

"And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.

“Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." - Exodus 19:3-6 KJV

"And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD." - Exodus 19:7-8 KJV

Israel’s response is compared to the oath of a bride to a groom when she says, “I do.” The Jewish people responded, “We will do.”

Pentecost: An Acceptable Sacrifice Consumed By the Fire and Filled With the Spirit

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1-4 KJV

When Solomon dedicated the first temple in Jerusalem with sacrifices, God accepted the sacrifices by consuming them with fire from heaven. They were acceptable sacrifices. And the glory of the LORD filled the Temple.

"Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house." - 2 Chronicles 7:1 KJV

The hundred and twenty that were gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost were disciples of Jesus. Because of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, and their repentance and baptism in Jesus name, these disciples were acceptable sacrifices to God. (Leviticus 22:20, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Romans 12:1, Romans 15:16).

"And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them." - Acts 2:3 KJV

Then, the glory of the Lord filled their temple.

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4 KJV

Consumed by the fire of the Holy Ghost, filled with the Spirit, they became the newly dedicated temple of God.

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." - 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 KJV

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV

The Sound of the Spirit

Jesus commanded the apostles that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, the baptism of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 1:4-5) The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Jesus in us. (John 14:17-18)

Jesus told Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, that except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5). Jesus compared being born of the Spirit to the wind.

He said the wind blows wherever it wants. You can’t tell where it is coming from or where it is going. But you hear the sound of it. Jesus said it is the same as every one that is born of the Spirit. (Acts 10:45-46).

"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." - John 3:8 KJV

On the day of Pentecost, when the one hundred and twenty in the upper room were born of the Spirit, there was a sound as of a rushing mighty wind.

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. ... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1-2, 4 KJV

Just as Jesus said, when those in the upper room were born of the Spirit, there was a sound as of the wind. The Bible says the sound came from heaven. This sound from heaven was the sound of those in the upper room speaking in other tongues (other languages) as the Spirit gave them utterance.

No one could see where the Spirit of Jesus came from, and where it went after it filled each of the disciples, but they heard the sound!

On the Day of Pentecost, Jesus poured out His promised Holy Ghost on all those gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem.

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1-4 KJV

"And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? ... We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God." - Acts 2:5-8, 11 KJV

The disciples had just received the promised Holy Ghost. Peter was about to use the keys given to him by Jesus and preach the Gospel of the kingdom. (Acts 1:4-5, Matthew 16:19).

In what language was the Gospel preached on the day of Pentecost?

The Jews that were gathered in Jerusalem that day not only knew their native language from the country they were from, but as Jews, they also knew the Hebrew language. As members of the Roman Empire, they probably knew Greek and Latin as well, as these seem to have been the universal languages at that time.

Peter could have preached to all those gathered in either Greek, Latin or Hebrew, and they all would have understood him. Because all those that were gathered were religious Jews, it is most likely he was preaching in the Hebrew language.

The gospel message on the day of Pentecost was preached by Peter, not by the hundred and twenty speaking in tongues. The Bible clearly records the preaching that day, and it was by Peter. (Acts 2:14-40)

“But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:” – Acts 2:14 KJV

Peter’s conclusion at the end of his Gospel message:

“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. 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.” – Acts 2:38-39

 "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." - Acts 2:41 KJV

Pentecost Why did they speak in tongues on the day of Pentecost?

The day of Pentecost was one of three holy days that all male Jews were to present themselves before the Lord at the Temple in Jerusalem. (Deuteronomy 16:16). This is why there were Jews from every nation under heaven present in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:5).

When the Lord poured out of His Spirit on the hundred and twenty Jews gathered in the upper room, they all began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit of God gave the utterance. (Acts 2:4). Tongues is another word for languages. (Acts 2:6, 11). When they spoke in tongues, it was in a language which they had not learned. (Acts 2:7). God spoke through them as they allowed God to change their words into another language. (Acts 2:8). This was the beginning of tongues as the sign of receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:4, Acts 10:45-46, Acts 19:6).

Because God poured out His Spirit on Pentecost, there were witnesses present for the holy day from every country in the world to hear the hundred and twenty speaking in tongues. The disciples didn’t understand the words they were uttering, but those that were there from around the world did. (Acts 2:5-11).

What did they hear in their native language? They heard them speaking of the wonderful works of God. (Acts 2:11). This speaking in tongues was a sign to them that this was an act of God – pouring out His Spirit on these disciples. This signaled the fulfillment of Joel’s last days prophecy. (Acts 2:16-18). God’s promise had begun to be fulfilled. (Acts 1:4, Acts 2:33, Acts 2:39).

To be continued…

The day of Pentecost was the beginning of the New Covenant, God's Covenant of Grace.

In the Old Testament, the day of Pentecost (“Shavuot”) was the beginning of the Old Covenant, when the Jewish people accepted God’s Law at Mount Sinai.

The Prophet Jeremiah prophesied of God's New Covenant.

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel;

“After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." - Jeremiah 31:31-34 KJV

In God’s Old Covenant, His Law was written on tables of stone. In God’s New Covenant, God's Law would be written in the heart of His people. And, in His New Covenant, God would remit the sins of His people. (Acts 2:38, Hebrews 10:1-10).

Amazingly, the New Covenant that Jeremiah prophesied of began on the Day of Pentecost, the same day that the Old Covenant of the Law began at Mount Sinai. With the outpouring of God’s Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, God wrote His Law on the hearts of His followers.

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:1-4 KJV

Apostle Peter then preached the Gospel of the New Covenant for the very first time - that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. (Acts 2:22-24, Acts 2:36-42).

"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?

“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.

“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.

“And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation." - Acts 2:37-40 KJV

To be continued…

What is Pentecost Sunday?

 It is one of the three holy days in the Old Testament that God commanded His people to appear before Him. They would appear before the Lord at the Temple in Jerusalem.

"Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:" - Deuteronomy 16:16 KJV

The Hebrew names for these three holy days are Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot. We know the feast of unleavened bread as Passover, and the feast of weeks as Pentecost.

Shavuot means “Seven Weeks.” Pentecost means “the fiftieth day.” Pentecost is fifty days after Passover.

Shavuot is the celebration of the wheat harvest and the ripening of the first fruits, (the "Day of the First Fruits" the "Harvest Festival,") but its primary celebration is commemorating the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. The Jewish people call the Law, which is the first five books of the Old Testament, the Torah. The Jews count 613 commandments in the Law.

Jewish sages have compared Shavuot to a wedding between God and the Jewish people. It is said that, Shavuot also means “oaths,” for on this day God and the Jewish people made an oath to each other.

Exodus 19:5-6 KJV - "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure [my own special treasure] unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel."

Exodus 19:7 KJV - "And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him."

Exodus 19:8 KJV - "And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD."

We can see why God chose the Day of Pentecost as the day to first pour out His Spirit and begin His New Covenant church.

To be continued…

"I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." - Psalm 34:4

When Jesus forgives us, a load is lifted off our shoulders.

Jesus forgives us and lifts our load of sin when we repent of our sins and are water baptized by immersion with His name “JESUS” called upon us. (Acts 2:38).

When WE FORGIVE others that have SINNED AGAINST US, we KEEP that load of sin lifted off our shoulders.

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." - Matthew 6:14-15 KJV ["IF YOU forgive THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST YOU, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." NLT]

"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;" - Hebrews 12:15 KJV [see Ephesians 4:31-32]

"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." - Acts 2:38 KJV

The word “remission” means “forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of the penalty” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon).

Acts 2:38

Peter prophesied on the Day of Pentecost that the Gospel with the promise of the Holy Ghost was not only for the Jews and their children, but also for the Gentiles – “to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." (Acts 2:38-39).

In Peter’s epistle (letter) to the church, it appears he addresses those that were afar off - the Gentile Christians - but by the Gospel are now the people of God.

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" - 1 Peter 2:9 KJV [“Peculiar” = “possession, one’s own property” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)]

The Gentile Christians are now fitting the description that was first used to describe the Jewish people in the book of Exodus. (Exodus 19:5-6).

Prophesies of the Gentiles coming out of darkness and into the light of Jesus are found in the Old Testament and fulfillment in the New Testament. (Isaiah 9:2, Matthew 4:12-16, Isaiah 42:6-7, Luke 1:76-79, Isaiah 60:3, Luke 2:25-32).

Then Peter went on to say,

"Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." - 1 Peter 2:10 KJV

By the Gospel, and the fulfillment of Acts 2:39, Gentiles that believe and obey the Gospel are now the people of God. (Acts 14:27, Acts 15:3, 7-9, 14, Romans 9:22-33, Ephesians 2:1-22, Ephesians 3:1-21, Ephesians 4:4, 17-24, Ephesians 5:8, Romans 11:1-32).

"And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God." - Acts 11:1

When Peter came up to Jerusalem, the Jewish believers (“they that were of the circumcision”) criticized him for going into the home of Gentiles (uncircumcised men) and eating with them. (Acts 11:2-3)

Peter began telling them the story of Cornelius. (Acts 10:1-48).

"And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved." - Acts 11:13-14

What words did Peter speak to the Gentiles?

He spoke of the message of peace through Jesus and all Jesus did throughout the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they slew and hanged on a tree, but He rose on the third day and was seen openly. (Acts 10:36-40). Peter told the Gentiles how Jesus commanded them to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is Jesus who will be the Judge of quick and dead. (Acts 10: 41)

Then Peter told them, "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins."  (Acts 10:43)

"And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning." - Acts 11:15

How did the Holy Ghost fall on the Jewish believers in the beginning, on the Day of Pentecost?

 "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4

"Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?" - Acts 11:17

"When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." - Acts 11:18

[At the house of Cornelius: "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days." - Acts 10:47-48]

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached the Gospel message.

"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." - Acts 2:38

He was preaching to Jews. Not realizing it, he then prophesied that God was also going to call the Gentiles – “all that are afar off.” (Acts 2:39).

And, God would use Peter to be the preacher.

God chose a Gentile named Cornelius that was “a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.” (Acts 10:2). Yet, Cornelius needed to hear the Gospel and to obey it to be saved. He needed a preacher.

The process took both a heavenly vision to Cornelius as well as to Peter. Peter agreed to go with Cornelius’ servants, taking six Jewish brethren with him. (Acts 10:3-23).

When they arrived, Peter let Cornelius know that it was against Jewish Law for them to keep company or come inside his house, for Cornelius was a Gentile.

"But God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." (Acts 10:28).

Peter then began to preach Jesus to Cornelius and to all those he had gathered in his house. When Peter got to the words, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word. (Acts 10:43-44).

Peter and the Jewish believers that came with him were astonished because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost!! For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God!! (Acts 10:45-46).

Then Peter said, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” (Acts 10:46).

Then Peter COMMANDED them to be baptized in the NAME OF THE LORD. (Acts 10:47).

To be continued…

On the Day of Pentecost, Apostle Peter, freshly filled with the initial outpouring of the Holy Ghost, began to prophecy. His understanding opened by Jesus when he received the Great Commission (Luke 24:44-49), Peter preached the first gospel message (Acts 2:14-36).

Jesus had given Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven and the authority that whatsoever he would loose on earth would be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:19 “loose” according to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon: “to declare lawful”).

When the Jews heard that Jesus, whom they had crucified, is both Lord and Christ, they were pricked in their hearts and asked Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? (Acts 2:36-37)

"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." - Acts 2:38

For the first time, Peter used his God given authority, establishing doctrine for salvation – Acts 2:38.

Then, he continued to prophecy:

"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." - Acts 2:39

When Peter prophesied that the promised gift of the Holy Ghost is “to all that are afar off,” he did not realize he was speaking of the Gentiles. The beginning of the church, starting on the Day of Pentecost, was only Jews. Peter, unknowingly, prophesied of the promise of the Holy Ghost to not only the Jews and their children, but also to the Gentiles.

To be continued… The door of faith opened unto the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name

Jesus reconciled the world unto Himself making peace with us by the blood of His cross. (2 Corinthians 5:19, Colossians 1:20) He then committed this message of peace to us in the Great Commission found in John. (John 20:21-23).

"Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." - John 20:21

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:19

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." - 2 Corinthians 5:20

This message of peace is the Gospel. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Romans 10:15, Ephesians 6:15).

We find peace with God when we obey the Gospel. How do we obey the Gospel?

"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.

“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." - Acts 2:38-39

Lord bless all you Mothers! (Natural, spiritual, and all those that care and nurture with love!)

What is the PEACE that Jesus the Messiah brings? RECONCILIATION.

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself..." - Colossians 1:20 KJV

Isaiah prophesied that King Messiah would bring peace. He called Him the Prince of Peace.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." - Isaiah 9:6 KJV.

Jesus brought the kingdom of God on earth. (John 3:5, Acts 2:38). He brought it by His death, burial, and resurrection, taking the judgment and justice for our sin upon Himself, bringing peace between us. (Psalm 69:9).

"Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." - Isaiah 9:7 KJV

Jesus made peace between Himself and man when He robed Himself in flesh and paid the penalty for our sins.

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;" - Colossians 1:20-23

Jesus did His part by His death, burial, and resurrection to make peace with us. He gave His life for us.

We accept what He has done - suffering and dying for us, when we give our life to Him by repenting of our sins, being baptized in His name Jesus for the remission of our sins, and receiving the gift of His Spirit to live a holy and overcoming life.  This is our part in making our peace with Jesus.

"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? 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. 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." - Acts 2:37-39

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." - Hebrews 11:6

"… And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" - Romans 10:14-15

What is the gospel of peace?

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel…how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" - 1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4

"But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?" - Romans 10:16

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." - Romans 10:17

How do we obey the gospel?

We obey Christ’s death by becoming dead to sin by repentance, we are buried with Him by baptism, and we are resurrected by the infilling of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 6:2-5).

"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." - Acts 2:38

Buried with Him in Baptism

Our “old man” is our old sinful nature that we have “crucified” by our repenting of our sins. We then buried our old sinful nature when we were baptized in Jesus name.

We put on the “new man” when we come up out of the water in Jesus name, and when we are filled with the Spirit of Jesus, which is the Holy Ghost. (Romans 6:4, Acts 2:38).

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." - Romans 6:6

"But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath [rage], malice [malicious behavior], blasphemy [slander], filthy communication out of your mouth [dirty language]. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him [as you learn to know your Creator and become like him]:" - Colossians 3:8-10

"That ye put off concerning the former conversation [conduct] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful [deceiving] lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind [instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes]; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." - Ephesians 4:22-24

On the day of Pentecost, Peter, standing up with the other eleven apostles, preached to the Jews that had gathered, “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.”

When did Peter and the eleven apostles get baptized in Jesus name, and who baptized them?

Jesus baptized. A few verses after John 3:16, and after John 3:5 where Jesus also told Nicodemus “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God,” the Bible tells us that Jesus baptized.

John 3:22 “After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.”

Some of John the Baptist’s disciples came to John, questioning him. John’s disciples apparently were concerned because after John the Baptist baptized Jesus, Jesus’ ministry began growing faster than John’s. Jesus was baptizing.

John 3:26 “And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.”

Jesus’ disciples also baptized, most likely taking over baptizing after Jesus baptized them.

John 4:1-3 “When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, (though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) he left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.”

Thus, on the day of Pentecost, all the disciples of Jesus gathered in the upper room waiting for the promise of the Holy Ghost were already baptized in Jesus name. There were probably about a hundred and twenty disciples all together (Acts 1:15).

After Peter preached the gospel message, the Bible says about three thousand were baptized and ADDED to the disciples.

Acts 2:41 “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

Acts 2:47 “… And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

The Bible says that the rock that Moses smote on two different occasions was Christ. Each time, water flowed out of the rock supplying life sustaining water to the thirsty Israelites. (1Cor.10:1-4)

The first time appears to be a type of baptism in Jesus name; the second time appears to be a type of baptism of the Holy Ghost speaking in tongues.

The first time, God told Moses to smite the rock with the rod that turned the river to blood. Thus, there was the remembrance of blood when the water flowed out of the rock. (Ex.7:20,17:5-6)

The second time, Moses was to speak to the rock and the water would flow out. (Num.20:8)

Thus, when Jesus said upon this rock I will build my church, he was speaking of building the church upon Himself, the smitten rock out of which came water and Spirit. (Matt.16:18)

{Jn.19:34,Matt.26:28,Zech.12:10,13:1,Jn.7:37-39,Act.2:38}

The Complete Experience of the Gospel as in the Day of Pentecost

ACTS 2:38

Repentance is DEATH to sin,
Water Baptism in Jesus' name is BURIAL of old nature,
Holy Ghost infilling is RESURRECTION to new life.

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." - James 4:8 KJV