What is Pentecost? The Sound of the Wind and the Spirit (Part Four)

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.

"If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." - John 14:15-18 KJV

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place." - Acts 2:1 KJV

Jesus had 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. (John 3:8)

On the day of Pentecost, there was a sound of wind - a rushing mighty wind.

"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting." - Acts 2:2 KJV

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

Just as Jesus described the wind, no one could see where the Spirit of Jesus came from, but they heard the sound!

"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

What is Pentecost? The New Covenant (Part Three)

There is a reason God chose the day of Pentecost to begin pouring out of His Spirit. Pentecost is the celebration of the day that God gave His Law to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai, written on tables of stone. It was on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem that God poured out His Spirit, writing His law on their hearts. This was prophesied by Jeremiah.

At Sinai, the Jewish people promised to God they would keep all of His laws and commandments. (There are 613 commandments.)

"And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient." - Exodus 24:7 KJV

However, the Jewish people were not able to keep their promise to do all the laws because of the weakness of the sinful human nature. God saw that it would only be by the gospel that we could walk in righteousness, no longer following our sinful nature but instead walking in His Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-18, 24-25)

Instead of His Law written on stone, God writes it in our hearts. He is our God and we are His people.

"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

By Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, God paid the price of our iniquities. When we repented, and were baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins and received the gift of His Holy Ghost, God erased our sins from His memory. (Micah 7:19) We are now able to walk in His Spirit. (Romans 8:1-11)

"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 KJV

Why did they speak in tongues on the day of Pentecost? (Part 2

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. (Deut.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 2:11) 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 2:4,10:45-46,19:6)

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 2:6-11)

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 2:16-17) God’s promise had begun to be fulfilled. (Acts 1:4,2:33,39)

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; as Jews, they also knew the Hebrew language. As members of the Roman Empire, they probably knew Greek as well, as this seems to have been the universal language at that time.

Peter could have preached to all those gathered in either Greek 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

What is Pentecost? (Part 1)

Pentecost is the day that God poured out of His Spirit upon man. God loved us so much that He took on the form of flesh in the name of Jesus to pay the price of our sins. By our love for Him, we repented and were baptized in His name, washing our sins away by the blood He shed. This is why Jesus was able to pour out His Spirit upon man.

"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

This was prophesied by the prophet Joel in Joel 2:28.

"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:" - Acts 2:16-17 KJV

On this day, Peter stood up with the eleven apostles. He spoke with divine inspiration, full of the Holy Ghost. He preached the gospel – the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it....

“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 2:22-24, 36 KJV

The Jews that were gathered in Jerusalem from around the world for Pentecost listened to Peter preach of Christ and were convicted.

"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.

“And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles…

“And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." - Acts 2:37-43, 47 KJV

Jesus chose in His infinite wisdom, to begin His New Covenant on the Day of Pentecost, which the Jews know as Shavuot.

The Day of Pentecost was a fulfillment of what took place on Mount Sinai on the Day of Shavuot.

On Shavuot, God’s Law was written on tables of stone. (Exodus 24:12)  

On Pentecost God wrote His law on hearts. (Jeremiah 31:33)

On Shavuot the Jewish people accepted God's covenant and became His wife. (Exodus 19:7-8, Jeremiah 31:32)

On Pentecost those in the upper room accepted God's covenant and became His wife. (2 Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:23-32)

On Shavuot the Jewish people became a peculiar treasure [special possession] from among all peoples, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. (Exodus 19:5-6)

On Pentecost New Covenant Believers became a peculiar people [“special possession”], a chosen generation [“a chosen people”], a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. (1 Peter 2:9)

On the Day of Pentecost the new Believers were all Jews. God had spoken to them through the Prophet Jeremiah that by entering His New Covenant they would continue to be His people. (Jeremiah 31:33)

"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

Peter preached this new covenant message on the Day of Pentecost. 

"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

Just as Jeremiah prophesied of the new covenant, by repentance and baptism in Jesus name God would “forgive their iniquity...and remember their sin no more.”

And by the gift of the Holy Ghost, as Jeremiah prophesied, “they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them.”

As Peter preached, "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 2:16-18 KJV (Joel 2:28-29)

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached that the New Covenant would be not only to the Jews present that day, but extended to all nations, “to all that are afar off.” (Acts 10, Ephesians 2:11-18)

"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 KJV

“Shavuot” is the Hebrew word for Feast of Weeks. In the New Testament, the Feast of Weeks is called Pentecost. Shavuot is a holy day that commemorates the giving of the Law to the Jewish people on Mt. Sinai. It begins this year on Tuesday May 30^th at sunset, and concludes at sunset on Thursday June 1^st.  It is one of the three holy days that God commanded all Jewish males to present themselves before 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

On Shavuot the Ten Commandments are read in synagogues, just as they were read in the desert on Mt. Sinai over 3,300 years ago. Shavuot is celebrated by staying up all night to learn Torah. The Torah is the Jewish Bible. It is what we call the Old Testament. Torah can also mean the first five books of what we call the Old Testament.

Sages compare “Shavuot” to a wedding oath between God and the Jewish people. The Jews consider this day as their marriage to God.

"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.”

God often referred to Himself as Israel’s Husband, and considered her as His wife.

"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:" - Jeremiah 31:31-32 KJV

"Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:" - Jeremiah 3:14 KJV

"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

Part 3

The Father is Spirit. Throughout the Old Testament, God used metaphors to describe His power, redemption, salvation, omnipresence, reception, acceptance, mercy, judgement, and authority. These metaphors include the arm, eyes, ears, nose, face, back, and hand. God used these metaphors so we could better understand and relate to God, as we are physical beings.

God’s arm is a metaphor of His power, redemption, and salvation.

"Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments:" - Exodus 6:6 KJV (Deuteronomy 9:29, Psalm 44:3)

God spoke through the prophet Isaiah. Humanity needed a redeemer. Humanity needed a savior. More than redemption from Egyptian bondage, all mankind needed redemption from the bondage of sin and death.

"Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." - Isaiah 59:1-2 KJV

There was no man that could redeem mankind from sin, for all were born in sin. The Father Himself was the only one that could step in and save the world. He describes His salvation as “His arm”

"And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke." - Isaiah 59:16-17 KJV

God spoke through the prophet Isaiah foretelling of the revealing of His arm to save.

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? ... He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. ... But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." - Isaiah 53:1, 3, 5 KJV

We now know the arm of the LORD is Christ – the Father in a human body – our Savior and Redeemer.

"The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." - Isaiah 52:10 KJV

The Father’s body would be born of a woman, but she would conceive by the power of the Father. This human body that the Father would dwell in would be called the Son of God.

"Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." - Luke 1:34-35 KJV

The arm of the LORD – the power of God to save and redeem mankind – the Father revealed in flesh – was born.

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." - Matthew 1:21-23 KJV

To be continued...