SUMMARY
As promised by Jesus, 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 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 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... 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.... 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 Peter and PaulThe Apostle Paul, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, was the author of several New Testament letters and the founder of many Christian communities. 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 Stephen 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... and power (6:8, 10). The Spirit whisks Philip the evangelist from one place or another (8:26, 39-40). The Spirit falls upon Cornelius and his householdA household is a living unit comprised of all the persons who live in one house. A household would embrace all the members of a family, including servants and slaves. In the book of Acts, stories are told of various persons and their households, like... 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 dreamsDreams often have potency and predictive power in the Bible, for they were seen as messages from God. In the Old Testament Joseph dreamed about the seven fat and lean years. In the New Testament Joseph dreamed about escaping to Egypt with Mary and Jesus. and visions.
All this energy for witness in word and deed comes to believers on the day of Pentecost. 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..., was both a harvest festival and celebration of God’s giving the law through Moses. The giving of the Spirit parallels the giving of the law, God’s gift to a renewed people who experience a foretaste of full 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. 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 salvation is immediately extended across social and cultural boundaries in Acts 2.
