The Reason I Have Hope: The Power of Pentacost (Part 2 of 4)

Pentacost is a New Testament event at which the power of the Holy Spirit became evident to many. See Acts chapters 1 and 2.

Chapter and verse subdivisions of the Bible did not exist in the early Scriptures which were written on scrolls. Thus, knowing how much time elapsed between the events of verses 14 through 26 in Acts chapter 1 and the entirety of Acts chapter 2 becomes consequential.

If we allow the narrative of Acts chapter 1 to flow seamlessly through Acts chapter 2, our list of persons present at Pentacost expands. And many Christian traditions, both Catholic and Protestant, still embrace this interpretation today. Thus, we encounter at Pentacost:

Not only Jesus’ eleven faithful disciples, namely…

Simon Peter
Brothers James and John
Andrew
Phillip
Thomas
Bartholomew
Matthew
Another James, the son of Alphaeus
Simon Zelotes
Judas the brother of James (this is a different Judas than the one who betrayed Jesus)

But also…

The women who followed Jesus
Mary the Mother of Jesus
Jesus’ brothers
And Matthias, the followers’ choice as the replacement for the Judas who betrayed Jesus with a kiss

Just before his crucifixion and death in Jerusalem, Jesus had told his followers to remain in the city as the Holy Spirit’s force was going to be manifested. And this manifestation included a sound from heaven like a fierce wind. See Acts 2:2. Also there appeared on the heads of these Galilean apostles images of individual flames. See Acts 2:3.

A huge crowd gathered made up of Parthians, Medes, Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene, and visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabians. See Acts 2:9-11.

This mixed-lingual assembly was surprised and amazed that even though the apostles’ day-to-day languages were Aramaic and Hebrew, here they were speaking in other languages so they were understandable to all. Many were receptive to the apostles’ message of the Gospel. But some hurled insults at them, accusing them of being drunk, “full of new wine.” See Acts 2:12-13.

Peter then stood up among them and became the lead spokesman, or preacher, delivering the first Christian sermon. This is Simon Peter, the lowly fisherman. This is the Peter who denied three times even knowing Jesus. This is the Peter who walked on water at his Lord’s bidding but began to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus. Jesus did and does use ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

(This is Part 2 of a 4-part series.)