Pentecost is a Greek term meaning “fifty”. Many churches are celebrating the day of Pentecost today, which in most cases is viewed as the start of the Church and the giving of the “Holy Ghost”. (This is, by the way, a terrible translation of the term Spirit of God.) However, Pentecost is the 50th day of the Feast of Weeks, known in Hebrew as Shavuot.
15 “ ‘You must count for yourselves seven weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day you bring the wave offering sheaf; they must be complete weeks.18 16 You must count fifty days—until the day after the seventh Sabbath—and then19 you must present a new grain offering to the Lord. (Leviticus 23:15–17, NET 2nd ed.)
The apostles were gathered in one place on the day following the commandment:
2 Now1 when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly2 a sound3 like a violent wind blowing4 came from heaven5 and filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And tongues spreading out like a fire6 appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them. 4 All7 of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages8 as the Spirit enabled them.9 (Acts 2:1–4, NET 2nd ed.)
“ ‘On this very day you must proclaim an assembly; it is to be a holy assembly for you.31 You must not do any regular work. This is a perpetual statute in all the places where you live throughout your generations.32 (Leviticus 23:21, NET 2nd ed.)
The Church couldn’t have started on this day because they were already gathered as an assembly, much like they did at Mount Sinai, when God gave the ten commandments during the same time of the year. Stephen makes reference of the “congregation in the wilderness”. The KJV translates this word as “church”.
38This is the man who was in the congregation104 in the wilderness105 with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors,106 and he107 received living oracles108 to give to you.109 39 Our110 ancestors111 were unwilling to obey112 him, but pushed him aside113 and turned back to Egypt in their hearts, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go in front of us, for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt (Acts 7:38–40, NET 2nd ed.)
At this celebration of the Feast of Weeks, where one counts seven Sabbaths from the Sabbath after Passover, this sect of Jews who followed Yeshua were meeting on the day after the seventh Sabbath as they had done their whole life. This time, on the fiftieth and last day of the festival, God chose to pour out His Spirit on these people. He had given the commandments so many years earlier at this time of the year, and now He has given the way these commandments can be written on our heart. The law is spiritual as Paul claimed. Peter explains what is happening to the people witnessing the outpouring of His Spirit and links it to the prophecy of Joel, not some new religion.
14 But Peter stood up25 with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: “You men of Judea26 and all you who live in Jerusalem,27 know this28 and listen carefully to what I say. 15 In spite of what you think, these men are not drunk,29 for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.30 16 But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel:31
17 ‘And in the last days32 it will be,’ God says,
‘that I will pour out my Spirit on all people,33
and your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
and your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants,34 both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.35
19 And I will perform wonders in the sky36 above
and miraculous signs37 on the earth below,
blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
20 The sun will be changed to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the great and glorious38 day of the Lord comes.
21 And then39 everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’40
22 “Men of Israel,41 listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man clearly attested to you by God with powerful deeds,42 wonders, and miraculous signs43 that God performed among you through him, just as you yourselves know—23 this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed44 by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles.45 24 But God raised him up,46 having released47 him from the pains48 of death, because it was not possible for him to be held in its power (Acts 2:14–24, NET 2nd ed.)
Today when we mention “Pentecost”, people envision a large sect of Protestants called “Pentecostals”. However, this sect usually omits anything related to the commandments given at Mount Sinai, the Feast of Weeks and Shavout, which is the platform God chose to pour out His Spirit “so anyone that calls on the name of YHWH will be saved”, as the prophet Joel stated.
Peter gave us a time stamp concerning the prophecy of Joel: God started pouring out His Spirit back then. The next verses speak about the events leading up the “Day of the Lord”. Today is an important day and it would be good for everyone to learn about it in order to have understanding.
Hear the Matter Proverbs 18:13 