what happened before pentecost

And when they reached their decision, they made it clear that their decision was guided by the Holy Spirit. And so Christ gives them teaching and He gives them understanding. That's what the gift of the Holy Spirit is for us. They stood there, transfixed. But the Holy Spirit enabled Paul to see what this false prophet was doing and prompted him to pronounce a curse on Bar-Jesus. 2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ), and the Holy Spirit (1:2, 5, 8, 16). 2 While they were serving the Lord and fasting,the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. 3 Then, after they had fasted and prayed and placed their hands on them, they sent them off. That's what this day is all about as a firstfruit. We sometimes just kind of tail off when we get to the end of one of the Gospels and we know the events, Christ was crucified, Christ was risen, and we don't look at some of the details there. When I got off the bus from my hometown, I was in this large room, this large terminal, it was as larger, even larger than this room here, which for me, from my small town was a pretty big thing to walk into, and I did, first time I had ever traveled. The search for Judas replacement was prompted, at least in part, by the consideration of some Old Testament Scriptures (Psalm 69:25; 109:8). And yet, they had not been able to completely separate the fact that now what they were part of was the real, the real thing, because Christ had died. And you will be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." This information, this timing, is something that falls entirely within the Fathers own authority. Thus, whether it was the selection of leaders or making important doctrinal distinctions, the Holy Spirit played a key role from Pentecost on. Because Ruth saw in Naomi, God, an example that she wanted to be a part of. And when those come in, how do we process them? For if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you. 5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as if it were coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who made us adequate to be servants of a new covenant not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. The feast has been celebrated 40 days after Easter in both Eastern and Western Christianity since the 4th century. There is a great difference between before and after.. This should also be our focus before Pentecost and before Jesus Christ's return. 19952023 All correspondence and questions should be sent to info@ucg.org. What we are seeing here is again, the power of the Word of God. Apostle Peter explains the meaning of what was happening on the Day of Pentecost. If Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, then the Spirit is the sap equipping us for the Christian life. Acts 2. And of course, one of the most dramatic scenes in all the Bible occurred with the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the gathered disciples, and the speaking in tongues, and a mighty rushing wind that we find it hard to imagine what it was like, because it's not part of our custom to try to pray that down today like some other denominations and religious forms do. Pentecost, also called Whitsunday, (Pentecost from Greek pentecost, "50th day"), major festival in the Christian church, celebrated on the Sunday that falls on the 50th day of Easter. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God (1 Corinthians 15:3-9). The Cross And Unjust Suffering (1 Peter 2:19-25). I have my own Star Trekkian-type of way to imagine how Jesus ascended. First, the replacement of Judas occurs prior to Pentecost. He made it clear that the Holy Spirit played a key role in their appointment. Our text has much to teach us, which is why Luke designed this chapter as his introduction to the Book of Acts. It's an interesting way that they did. Not only the wording of verse 13, but also what we know of these 40 days, suggests that this is where the apostles had been staying since our Lords death. I like that phrase. And they did, and thousands were added to the Church that day. Every minister's dream, to give one sermon and thousands of people get baptized and join the Church in one day, every minister's fantasy. The Chapel believes the material presented herein to be true to the teaching of Scripture, and desires to further, not restrict, its potential use as an aid in the study of Gods Word. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20, emphasis mine). That's been the hallmark of our feature. Now, when we turn over to Acts chapter 1, and we look at, kind of summing up of this as it is. The English word "Pentecost" is a transliteration of the Greek word pentekostos, which means "fifty.". "And He said to them, 'Thus it is written, thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer, to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and the remissions of sins would be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, and you are witnesses of these things. Like others, I have pointed to Paul as the most likely candidate for Judas replacement. And He opened their understanding that they might comprehend the Scriptures.". It is the day, 40 days after the Resurrection, when Jesus returns to his Father. Between the Easter and Pentecost, there's a span of 50 days. Well, the real answer is for you and I, the same things that are going through your mind right now, and my mind. We have to live as well, knowing that there is a God, and to live our life that every day counts. So there was still this not fully developed confidence and faith in what had happened, and so He goes even further and asks for some food. When you look and you understand what was taking place, here are people who've been terrified, they had been doubtful, unbelieving to one degree or the other during this previous 50-day period. And over a three and a half year period they had had their lives transformed and then they'd watched Him die. ), Two angels suddenly appear near them. This was a healthy fear of respect and awe and wonder at now what had happened. They need to see within us, Jesus Christ. Even though they had seen miracles, again, another indication to us always to remember that miracles are important, miracles can be faith-builders, but miracles by themselves will not do it all. At the end of the 40 days, Jesus was taken up into heaven. As we have received the gift of God's Spirit, as those on that first day of Pentecost received the gift of the Holy Spirit were brought into the Church, they became, and so are we, partakers of the divine nature. What we read about back in Matthew 28:19 of the gospel being taken to the world. The Giving of the Holy Spirit: On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Disciples and those with them. It is a remarkable period of church history, because right here we have a vision being fulfilled that Jesus Christ has for His Church. We know that unified prayer preceded this process (1:14); indeed prayer was a part of the process (see 1:24-25). Ascension, in Christian belief, the ascent of Jesus Christ into heaven on the 40th day after his Resurrection (Easter being reckoned as the first day). Pentecost is a Christian holy day that celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit 50 days after Easter. People should see God in us. He was interested in the gospel, but a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus (or Elymas) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the truth. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. And I sat, and I sat, and I thought somebody will come along and tell me what to do. 10 For indeed, what had been glorious now has no glory because of the tremendously greater glory of what replaced it. What was on their mind? "Behold, He said, My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. How do we handle them? It had been organized quite well and in that remote backwater of Judea, the Roman government kept things in order. The Roots of Pentecost . I do not think that verses 12-14 describe only the activity of the believers during the 10-day gap between our Lords ascension and Pentecost, however. In Acts 13 while those at the church in Antioch were fasting, the Holy Spirit indicated that Barnabas and Saul should be set apart and sent out as missionaries. We just get a few snippets from the gospel accounts, at least, of this 40-day period. It is the ideal to which every subsequent church period has wished to be able to emulate, including ours today. Peter and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James were there. Like others, I have called attention to the fact that after this account, the name of Matthias is never found again in the New Testament.8I also called attention to the fact that Jesus told His apostles to wait until the coming of the Spirit.9. What happens?". Jesus' followers were all together when a sound like the blowing of a mighty wind came from heaven and filled the place where they were staying. 1 I wrote the former account, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after he had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. The events surrounding Judas death7were interpreted as the fulfillment of the prophecy of Psalm 69:25. Acts 2 states early Christians were "filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them . They looked upon them then as liars, charlatans, or fools, maybe a bit delusional. But let's go back, let's look at a few of these scriptures in a little bit more detail and see exactly what had been taking place among the disciples during this period of time, that brought them to that morning of Pentecost. In verses 12-14, Luke tells us what the apostles were doing while they waited. And it just caused them to proverbially tear their clothes and rush at them and ultimately to the point of Stephen and they stoned him. I believe the first chapter of Acts could be titled Before, because it precedes Pentecost in chapter two, and from there on it is definitely after. While we may be eager to get to Pentecost, let us pause long enough to consider Lukes introduction to the Book of Acts and to the transforming power of Pentecost. Its commencement is found in the Gospels. 1Copyright 2005 by Community Bible Chapel, 418 E. Main Street, Richardson, TX 75081. There was doubt. The ministry has had those two themes for the past two conferences. Back in Mark's account, chapter 16 of Mark, we see that the same thing lingered among the wide group of people there. Consider these elements: First we find the doctrine of the Trinityin the first chapter, which speaks of the Father (1:4), the Son (1:4, etc. The apostles sought greater knowledge. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." So it was a bodily appearance that He made completely to them, and He showed them His hands and His feet. Jesus had already gone back to Heaven so the disciples and new believers of Jesus were waiting to receive the Holy Spirit because that's what Jesus told them would happen. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so. They understood their problem, in verse 38, "He said to them, 'Why are you troubled and why do doubts arise in your hearts?'" Why, then, does Luke include these verses? 5 For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. 6 So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him, Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel? 7 He told them, You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. I don't think it was an intergalactic tour that He was on to get to the third heaven. 8 And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong concerning sin and righteousness and judgment 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned (John 16:7-11, emphasis mine). It is the Spirit of God working through weak and even foolish (in the eyes of the world) men that reveals the power of God, and brings glory to Him, not us: 26 Think about the circumstances of your call, brothers and sisters. We are further told that the Great Commission was an order given to the apostles who Jesus Himself had chosen. They have two sons, who are both married, and four grandchildren. After Pentecost, the selection of leadership (as well as the seeking of divine guidance) is heavily dependent upon the presence and power of the Holy Spirit: But carefully select from among you, brothers, seven men who are well-attested,full of the Spiritand of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this necessary task (Acts 6:3, emphasis mine). I was going to get on a Greyhound bus. Christians celebrate Pentecost 50 days after Easter Sunday to commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon Christ's disciples.. And it is in that, we reach the real nexus, the real critical point of our life before God, where we recognize that, with the Holy Spirit, we are taking on the very nature of God, the divine nature. It seems to me that these loyal followers of Jesus are at their finest in verses 12-14. And if those are the weapons of our warfare, then we can handle them. And you can begin to imagine how this dynamic begins to must have been being set up within the disciples, because when you begin to doubt one another, you begin to lose trust. Jesus persuades them to leave what they are doing to travel with him and help to share . While it is not plainly stated, it would seem that from a human point of view the events at Pentecost were partially a response to the prayers of these saints. They might have fidgeted a bit and wondered, "Well, should we go fishing?" Every generation of God's people have done that. Who wouldnt want to look like that? I believe that among the many things we see in these early verses, we find that the Holy Spirits ministry in Acts a dominant theme in this book is linked to His ministry through the person of our Lord. 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, what is regarded as nothing, to set aside what is regarded as something, 29 so that no one can boast in his presence. And it is also the mission of the Church, we see right here, it has begun. What did they do during that 10 days? It's an informed sermon. The apostles were witnesses of our Lords resurrection (1:8, 22; 2:32; 3:15; 5:32; 10:39-41; 13:30-31). 1. Again, what they thought that they were becoming a part of was a movement that was noble, that was good, there had been many movements of other Messiah-type figures at this period of time in Judea. They immediately began telling others about Jesus. A violent wind sounds. John had earlier said of Jesus. What do we do now? Let us give thought to the way Luke prepares us for what is yet to come. There's a lot of information in the details that we are given in chapter 28 verse 16. The Greek word means "fifty" and refers to the fifty days that have elapsed since the wave offering of Passover. Because they were seeing Christ risen and they saw Him in a bodily form, but then they were attributing something different to that. She went and told those who had been with Him as they mourned and wept." It isnt about us, my friend; it is about God. 12 Then when the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, because he was greatly astounded at the teaching about the Lord. And so Luke's account brings this together. Again, nothing like this had been a part of their frame of reference before. It is celebrated on the Sunday 50 days after Easter (the name comes from the Greek pentekoste, "fiftieth"). It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and other disciples following the Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus Christ (Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2), and it marks the . And then this dramatic miracle takes place, festive occasion. With a UCG.org account you will be able to save items to read and study later! As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped corruption that is in the world through lust." The reason is that Luke ceases to use the termdisciplesto refer to the eleven or twelve in the Book of Acts. But on that 50th day, from the morning after Christ's resurrection, a lot had happened. And it brings it down to the end of the chapter. It was originally an agricultural festival, marking the beginning of the wheat harvest.