Pentecost commemorates the miraculous day when the Holy Spirit first came to live inside Believers. From the beginning of creation, God’s Spirit had worked actively over and selectively through individuals to accomplish God’s will on Earth. But 50 days after Jesus’s resurrection, flames burst forth from Heaven, and all those who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ were instantly filled with God’s Spirit. This divine indwelling not only empowered each Believer to live as a new creation in Christ—it united them with God and with each other to form a brand-new organism called the Body of Christ—otherwise known as the Church.
Pentecost changed everything. Now, all who believe in Jesus are filled and sealed with the Holy Spirit and are made one in Christ from the moment they first believe.
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6, emphasis added).
What Happened on Pentecost in Acts 2?
Jesus’s apostles spent 40 glorious days with their resurrected Savior before they watched him ascend into Heaven. Before Jesus left, He promised never to abandon them. He told them to wait for a very special gift that would prove even more valuable than His earthly presence. The Spirit of Truth, their helper, their promised paraclete—would soon wash over them and prepare them for ministry (Acts 1:4).
So, they waited. The eleven apostles left the Mt. of Olives and returned to Jerusalem, worshipping with great joy. There, they met in an upper room and shared the news of Jesus’s ascension and His parting instructions with other men and women who loved the Lord. The apostles, Jesus’s mother, his brothers, and 120 other Believers joined in the sacred vigil.
Not knowing how long the wait would last, the group fervently prayed day by day. Peter led the initiative to appoint a replacement for Judas Iscariot. “And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God” (Luke 24:51-53). With eager anticipation the faithful followers banded together with one goal, one purpose, and one hope—to receive the promised Holy Spirit.
Meanwhile, thousands upon thousands of God-fearing Jews from every nation flooded into Jerusalem to celebrate The Feast of Shavuot, one of the three pilgrimage feasts required by Jewish law (Deuteronomy 16:16). On the morning of the feast, all law-abiding Jews gathered at the Temple to hear the reading of the Torah and to offer the first harvest of their crops to the Lord.
The followers of Jesus were seated together on the day of the feast. It was their tenth day of waiting. Suddenly, the hiss of a violent wind filled their senses and the whole room. A blast of fire appeared and peeled into separate flames that rested upon each Believer. Instantly, each was filled with the Holy Spirit and began declaring the wonders of God in diverse languages that were not their own.
Hearing the boisterous praise proclaimed in their own native tongues, “Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs,” who were worshiping at the Temple, gathered around the Spirit-filled Believers in amazement. Some of the onlookers questioned what the bizarre sign could mean. Others mocked the babbling disciples and accused them of drunkenness.
Ignited by the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter stood to address the crowd. He assured them that the anointed Believers were sober and of sound mind. Then he boldly proclaimed the Gospel message.
Upon hearing the Good News, the people were cut to the heart. They begged Peter and the other apostles to tell them what they should do. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38).
Peter fervently warned and urged the crowd to flee from worldly corruption by receiving Jesus’s gift of new life. About 3,000 lost souls heard and heeded the call. They accepted Jesus, were baptized, and became the first fruits of the bountiful soul harvest that took place on Pentecost. As the old and new Believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to each other, they lived out their oneness in Christ, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47b).
When Is Pentecost Celebrated?
The word Pentecost comes from the Greek word pentekoste, which means fiftieth. Pentecost is celebrated by today’s Western Christian Church on the fiftieth Sunday (or seven weeks) after Easter Sunday.
The very first Pentecost occurred during the one-day Jewish festival of Shavuot, also known as the Feast of Harvest or the Feast of Weeks, which happens 50 days after the Sabbath that follows Passover. "During the Second Temple period, the Jewish people observed Shavuot (Pentecost) as a harvest time festival day. It was the beginning of the harvest season and, therefore, known as the ‘first fruits’ of the harvest.” – Shavuot: The Jewish Holiday of Pentecost
The early church celebrated Pentecost and Shavuot on the same day. But over time, the two holidays diverged and are now only celebrated on the same day if the Jewish and Gregorian calendar dates align.
Why Is Pentecost Significant?
Although Pentecost receives little recognition as a holiday compared to Christmas and Easter, the day commemorates one of the most significant events in Christian history. The Holy Spirit is not a mystical force. He is literally the Spirit of God. The third person of the Godhead, equal with God the Father, and with God the Son.
On the first Pentecost described in Acts 2, God gave His Holy Spirit to all Believers in Christ. The Holy Spirit’s role in the life of a Christian is beyond significant. He is Christ’s power that makes us alive in Him (Titus 3:5). He seals us until the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13). He intercedes for us according to God’s will (Romans 8:26-27). He gives us the power to overflow with hope and joy (Romans 15:13). He’s our comforter and counselor (1 Corinthians 2:12). He is God’s power to sanctify us (1 Peter 1:2), and to safeguard us from sin (Galatians 5:16-18; 19-26). He is the distributer of God’s best gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-8) and the source of His best fruit (Galatians 5:19-26). Plus, so much more.
During Christmas, Believers celebrate Emmanuel, God with us. On Easter, we celebrate our Savior who died and was resurrected for us. And Pentecost is the day all born-again Believers can celebrate the power of Christ in us—our hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).
Ways for Christians to Celebrate Pentecost Today
On Pentecost, God sent His Spirit to live inside Believers to fulfill his overall plan of redemption through us, His Church. As the Christianity.com article "6 Ways Pentecost Reminds Us of God's Global Mission" says, "When the church celebrates Pentecost each year, we are reminded of the Lord’s global mission to make disciples of all nations. What started out as a mustard seed-sized group of followers grew and became a church that now encompasses people from across the world. God is still working to accomplish this mission as the Holy Spirit empowers and equips believers to take the good news to places near and far, in their local areas and where Christ is not yet known.”
For more ways to celebrate Pentecost, check out these helpful resources:
Why Is it Popular to Read Ruth During Shavuot?
4 Ways to Live in the Power of Pentecost Every Day
4 Ways Modern Christians Can Find Meaning in Pentecost
Bible Verses for Pentecost
From Genesis to Revelation, we see the work of the Holy Spirit in action, but beginning in the book of Acts, the scriptures about God’s Spirit take on a whole new and personal meaning. Pentecost forever changed our relationship with God and with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Scripture is full of powerful reminders of what God did for us at Pentecost. Here are just a few:
“For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Corinthians 12:13).
“And I [Jesus] will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—” (John 14:16).
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;” (1 Corinthians 6:19).
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8)
For more inspiration from scripture about Pentecost, check out these helpful resources:
Prayers for Pentecost Sunday
When Christians pray, we lift our voices up to a God who sees, knows, hears, and cares. He loved us so much that He sent His only son to ransom us from sin, death, and the grave. Then He filled and sealed us with His Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our salvation and a promise of our future inheritance. What a marvelous God we serve! On Pentecost and always, let our prayers be filled with praise for the One who gave His all to set us free! May these prayers be inspiration for ones of your own:
“Dear God, I praise you because you are holy, and I thank you for dwelling in my heart. Thank you for working in my life. You guided me into salvation, renewed my dead spirit, and you opened my eyes to the Truth. Thank you.” –Prayer for Pentecost Sunday: Call on the Holy Spirit
Prayer for Unity
“Loving God,
On this day of Pentecost,
Bring us together in Your love and peace.
Help us to be one in spirit and purpose.
Amen.” —10 Prayers for Pentecost to Reflect and Rejoice in the Holy Spirit
Prayer for Renewal
“Spirit of God,
Renew our hearts and minds today.
Fill us with Your grace and peace.
Amen.” – Prayer for Pentecost Sunday: Call on the Holy Spirit
Conclusion
Pentecost is rightfully known as the birthday of the Church because the Church is not a building or an organization. The Church is Believers. The original Greek word used in scripture is ekklesia, which means an assembly of “set apart” ones. Those who are indwelled by God’s Spirit are individually and collectively set apart to be God’s Holy Temple, His Body, His Bride—and that’s something truly worth celebrating on Pentecost and every other day!
Read More about Pentecost:
Where Did Pentecost Come From?
What Changed at Pentecost?
Bible Verses About Pentecost
What really happened at Pentecost?
What Is the Deeper Meaning of Pentecost?
Prayer For Pentecost Sunday
When Is Pentecost Why We Celebrate It?
What Is Pentecost Sunday Bible Meaning and Holiday Traditions
Should We Still Celebrate Pentecost Today?
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