SUMMARY
As promised by JesusJesus is the Messiah whose life, death, and resurrection are God's saving act for humanity. More, the HolyHoly is a term that originally meant set apart for the worship or service of God. While the term may refer to people, objects, time, or places, holiness in Judaism and Christianity primarily denotes the realm of the divine More Spirit, the “power from on high,” comes upon his followers as they are all gathered together in one place. This power appearing as “divided tongues, as of fire” and sounding “like the rush of a violent wind” is interpreted by Peter as God’s gift in accord with the words of the prophet Joel.
ANALYSIS
The story of Pentecost is crucial in Acts for several reasons. First, it fulfills Jesus’ promise that the “power from on high” would come upon his followers to empower their witness ( Luke 24:49). Second, the Holy Spirit is poured out on all the believers who are gathered together in Jerusalem. It is not a gift limited to the Twelve apostles or to men; it is given to the whole assembly, including women (see Acts 1:13-14). Finally, the Spirit empowers believers to testify in other known languages (“tongues”) to God’s work in Jesus the MessiahThe Messiah was the one who, it was believed, would come to free the people of Israel from bondage and exile. In Jewish thought the Messiah is the anticipated one who will come, as prophesied by Isaiah. In Christian thought Jesus of Nazareth is identified... More. This great gift is like the “deeds of power, wonders, and signs” (2:22) that God did through Jesus and will continue to do throughout Acts. This work of the Spirit is consonant with the work of Jesus, who pours out the Spirit from on high (2:33).
Much of Acts details the ways in which the Spirit guides and empowers the leaders of the Christ movement. The Spirit enables PeterPeter (also known as Cephas, Simon Peter) was the disciple who denied Jesus during his trial but later became a leader in proclaiming Jesus. More and Paul to proclaim the gospel of Christ with boldness, raise persons from the dead, heal the sick in Jesus’ name, and overcome the powers of other so-called deities and spirits. The Spirit equips StephenThe first Christian martyr. More to bear witness to Christ with wisdomWisdom encompasses the qualities of experience, knowledge, and good judgment. The Old Testament book of Proverbs, which sometimes invokes a Woman as the personification of Wisdom, is a collection of aphorisms and moral teachings. Along with other biblical passages, it teaches, "The fear of the... More and power (6:8, 10). The Spirit whisks Philip the evangelistThe Christian who brought the Gospel to Samaria and the Ethiopian eunuch. More from one place or another (8:26, 39-40). The Spirit falls upon Cornelius and his household even before Peter finishes speaking to them (10:44; 11:15). Many activities of believers in Acts are directed immediately by the Spirit or through dreams and visions.
All this energy for witness in word and deed comes to believers on the day of PentecostPentecost was originally a Jewish harvest or pilgrimage festival that fell on the fiftieth day after Passover. It was during this festival that the Holy Spirit visited Jesus' followers in tongues of fire and caused them to speak in many languages, as reported in Acts... More. The Jewish festival of Pentecost, coming seven weeks after PassoverPassover commemorates the deliverance of the Hebrew people from Egypt as described in the book of Exodus. It is celebrated with worship and a meal on the fourteenth day of the month called Nisan, which is the first month of the Jewish year. The time... More, was both a harvest festival and celebration of God’s giving the law through MosesProphet who led Israel out of Egypt to the Promised Land and received the law at Sinai. More. The giving of the Spirit parallels the giving of the law, God’s gift to a renewed people who experience a foretaste of full salvation in the community of repentant believers. Because many Jewish pilgrims came from outside the Jewish homeland to Jerusalem for Pentecost, the good news of this salvationSalvation can mean saved from something (deliverance) or for something (redemption). Paul preached that salvation comes through the death of Christ on the cross which redeemed sinners from death and for a grace-filled life. More is immediately extended across social and cultural boundaries in Acts 2:1-47.
