Read more. Between Easter and Pentecost: 50 Forgotten Days the - ChurchLeaders They sought authority that was outside the boundaries God had established. On that day of Pentecost, people who had been doubtful were moved to speak powerfully, to repentance, to belief, and to action. And He leaves them on the Mount of Olives, which is a very, very significant geographic feature there on the east of Jerusalem across from the city, and through the Kidron Valley and up on this Mount called Olives. The selection of Matthias as the twelfth apostle is clearly a before, clearly an Old Testament method of seeking Gods will. Let us seek to answer this question by observing what happened. These were not terrified, doubtful people. Pentecost is the festival when Christians celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is what He does as He moves them through the Law of Moses, the Psalms, and the prophets, and opening their understanding. The Day of Pentecost Explained The Book of Acts - Pentecost "And they looked steadfastly in toward heaven," verse 10, "as He went up, and behold two men stood by them in white apparel." If all the facts were known, I believe that these two accounts would perfectly compliment each other. The last holy day season, the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread had seen the death of Jesus Christ, and then three days later He was resurrected and He had appeared to them. Though the emperor, a man named Tiberius, had been holed up on an island called Capri or Capri for a number of years in absentia, the empire was running quite well on its own. 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. Based upon Pauls words in Ephesians 3, I am inclined to assume what a portion of this conversation may have been: 4 When reading this, you will be able to understand my insight into this secret of Christ. The same things were going through their minds that go through our minds. Day of Pentecost And Skepticisms What is of particular interest is that this revelation came about through the Spirit.. This truth is buttressed by John 14-16, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, and 2 Peter 1:20-21. Makeover programs turn proverbial ugly ducklings into swans. This is Peter's first sermon since Jesus left for heaven. We take that for the story that it is, and the gift of tongues, and the speaking of tongues that the Scriptures talk about but we don't see that as what we need to be doing in practice or in faith, but it is a dramatic story. If I were to summarize it, it would probably be like this: Your mission until I return is to preach the gospel to all nations. Ascension | Description, Significance, Feast, & Art | Britannica Pentecost: Everything you need to know | Catholic News Agency First few verses of Acts chapter 1, beginning in verse 3, Luke in his prologue to the account as he writes to this man named Theophilus, about all that had been done by Jesus until the day in which He was taken up through the Holy Spirit and had given commandments to the apostles, whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during 40 days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God., So Luke gives us an explicit reference point that this went on. The mystery of this paragraph is to explain why Luke went to so much effort (and space) to describe an event which appears to have little impact on the events that follow Pentecost. And over a three and a half year period they had had their lives transformed and then they'd watched Him die. BBC - Religions - Christianity: Pentecost First, the replacement of Judas occurs prior to Pentecost. It goes on, "Jesus came and He spoke to them saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. As the first volume ends with the Great Commission, the second volume begins with it (verse 8). To seek this knowledge is to go outside the boundaries of their authority.4. And so Luke's account brings this together. As the story goes in Acts, just before his departure, Jesus reiterates to his disciples that they should wait for the Spirit. The Greek word means "fifty" and refers to the fifty days that have elapsed since the wave offering of Passover. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled the whole house where they were sitting, and it appeared to them, divided tongues as of fire. Let us consider what some of these lessons might be. These accounts of like what we have read in the gospels and others for a 40-day period. From this point on, with very few exceptions (Acts 14:14; 15:12, 25), it was always Paul and Barnabas, or Paul and Silas, orPaul and his companions.It was evidence of the Spirits working through Paul that seems to have triggered this exchange in roles of Paul and Barnabas. And so two things create this vision and this mission.