Fun Facts About Pentecost

Pentecost is a Greek word which means 50.

Pentecost occurs 50 days after Easter.

In Hebrew it is Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks.

Shavuot is a celebration of first-fruits, that is, the first of the harvest.

Shavuot occurs 50 days after Passover.

During Shavuot two loaves of bread were baked and presented to the Lord. The priest would wave them before the Lord.

What is the main or chief significance of Shavuot? The promise of harvest. The two loaves speak of Israel and Gentiles being harvested. This speaks of the church, made up of Jew and Gentile. These feasts are God’s calendar: Passover – Messiah comes and redeems us from bondage; Shavuot - worldwide harvest.

It is interesting that this theme is never spoken of by the Apostles or Fathers.

When we think of Pentecost we think, And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Pentecost is the celebration of the Holy Spirit poured out and now available for all believers. Jesus called it the promise of the Father. Peter said this was prophesied by the prophet Joel, And it shall come to pass in the last days, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy…

Pentecost is not the birthday of the church. The disciples who were with Jesus during his earthly ministry were the church: …he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee (Hebrews 2:12); which Jesus did with them after the last supper (Matthew 26:30).

Pentecost was a one time event, but a repeatable experience. The Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost and in the Book of Acts we read of the Spirit falling on and being poured out on believers.

Another interesting fact – the Apostles never explain Pentecost.


Part 2 The Pentecost Experience

As I mentioned above, Pentecost was a one time event, but a repeatable experience. It is described several times in the Book of Acts as: baptized with the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, the gift of the Spirit, received the Spirit, the Spirit fell on them, the Spirit poured out. It would seem the normal Christian experience is repent and believe in Jesus, be baptized in water, and receive the gift of the Spirit.

This is an experience you can know whether or not you have had. “But you ask, ‘How shall I know that the Holy Spirit is come upon me?’ I cannot tell you how you will know, but you will know. There will be supernatural accompaniments of some kind, though it be no more than an overwhelming sense of the divine Presence. We cannot and we must not stipulate what particular form such outward expressions will take, but one thing is sure, that each one upon whom the Spirit of God falls will unfailingly know it.” (The Normal Christian Life, Watchman Nee)

This is an experience that others can know whether you have received or not. Peter and John went to Samaria and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. Paul asked a group in Ephesus, Have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye believed? Or, if you prefer, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? Both translations are possible and either way you translate it, this is a Yes or No question.

The Holy Spirit was often received through prayer and the laying on of hands.

The baptism with the Spirit is not about the Spirit indwelling. The disciples had the indwelling of the Spirit, yet Jesus told them to wait for the baptism with the Spirit. The baptism with the Spirit is the experience of being filled with the Spirit, the Spirit coming upon you with power – power to worship the Lord, walk with Jesus, and work for him.

At Pentecost the disciples all spoke with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Is speaking in tongues the one and only sign of this baptism with the Spirit? It would definitely be easier if that’s what we read in the New Testament. But, while it was quite frequent, nowhere do we read, “This is the one and only sign.” I again quote Watchman Nee, “There will be supernatural accompaniments of some kind, though it be no more than an overwhelming sense of the divine Presence. We cannot and me must not stipulate what particular form such outward expressions will take, but one thing is sure, that each one upon whom the Spirit of God falls will unfailingly know it.”

Pentecost is the birthright of every believer in Jesus: Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Having believed in Jesus, have you received the Holy Spirit?