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READING:
In addition to commentaries on Acts 2, see:
We cannot get away from the fact that we are 21st century Christians, and that we
come at this text with all sorts of assumptions.
The event of Pentecost is all about the Holy Spirit. But the
significance of Pentecost is primarily about three things
1. Jesus
2. Eschatological Salvation
As I go through this passage systematically, if you get lost, use these as your compass points
to orienteer yourself around this section of Scripture.
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled
the entire house where they were sitting.
Lecture 4 – The Coming of the Spirit at Pentecost
3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the
Spirit gave them utterance.
Pentecost = a regular feature of the Jewish calendar, known also as the Feast of
Weeks (Lev 23:15-21), and it was a harvest festival.
Always celebrated fifty days after the Passover, hence the name Pentecost (fiftieth).
Wind as sign of theophany (2 Sam 22:16; Job 37:10 Ezek 13:13, cf. also 4 Ezra 13:10).
Fire as a sign of God’s presence – Exod 3:2; Deut 4:33; 5:24-26; 1 Kings 18:38.
Is there any significance to the fact that the Spirit comes upon this particular Jewish
holy day? Perhaps.
o covenant renewal (see doing things in the “third month” - 2 Chron 15:10-
12; see in particular Jubilees 6:17-21).
o This likely also meant an association with the covenant at Sinai (similar time
periods for when things are happening – the third month - Exodus 19:1).
Tongues of fire – separating onto each individual - unlike Numbers 11, where the
special gift of the Spirit to Moses is then shared with 70, but not all the people (see
Moses cry in Num 11:29).
Jews from every nation under heaven (παντὸς ἔθνους τῶν ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν).
Diaspora Jews = faithful Jews who have lived, or are living, in foreign lands.
Lecture 4 – The Coming of the Spirit at Pentecost
“And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this
mean?" – miraculous is not self-authenticating. The necessity of the word which
explains.
The theology of Pentecost is found in Peter’s sermon. What does he focus on?
The Spirit as an eschatological blessing. If the Spirit is here, then the last days have
begun. The End is already here – in that the Spirit has arrived, but the rest of the End
is also very near.
Verse 21 – the Spirit’s outpouring in Joel means everyone who calls upon the name
of the Lord shall be saved. But who is the Lord?
The resurrection of Jesus as the vindication of Jesus – what you thought about him is
not what God thinks about him.
Peter’s use of the OT to show that resurrection is the way God establishes the
throne of the Messiah
The Spirit is here –> that means the End is near –> so call on the Lord –> the Lord is
Jesus – >shown by resurrection and shown by….
Lecture 4 – The Coming of the Spirit at Pentecost
The Spirit which they can all see and hear (v.33)
“Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him
both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36).
The Good News about Jesus is Bad News if you crucified him!
o Repent
Peter’s sermon understands salvation in terms of the forgiveness of sins and the gift
of the Holy Spirit.
Indeed, all four references to a gift in Acts are to the giving of the Holy Spirit
(8:20; 10:45; 11:17).
The first of three summaries in the early part of Acts (2:42-47; 4:32-37; 5:12-16),
which function to capture the quality of community experienced by the believers in
the early Jerusalem community.
o Plat.Rep.462c: “That city, then, is best ordered in which the greatest number
use the expression ‘mine’ and ‘not mine’ of the same things in the same
way.”
And a proof of this is to be found in their life of perfect freedom; no one among them
ventures at all to acquire any property whatever of his own, neither house, nor slave, nor
farm, nor flocks and herds, nor any thing of any sort which can be looked upon as the
fountain or provision of riches; but they bring them together into the middle as a common
stock, and enjoy one common general benefit from it all.
Pentecost is about eschatological salvation – Jesus has brought final salvation, and the Spirit
is essential.
Pentecost is about the renewal of Israel – God keeps his promises to his people by offering
them renewal and restoration through Jesus, which prepares them to witness to the
Gentiles.
So What?
Applying this event to our lives takes skill and discernment. There are parts of it which are
unique.
Lecture 4 – The Coming of the Spirit at Pentecost