What is the Meaning of Pentecost?
The literal meaning of the word Pentecost is 50 in Greek. But why celebrate the 50th day? And what more hides in this supernatural holiday? Is Pentecost Jewish or Christian? Read on to find out.
The Festival of Weeks
The Feast of Pentecost remembers God giving the gift of the Holy Spirit to those that sought His presence. It happened during a Jewish pilgrimage festival called Shavuot (hebr. Weeks). It is a holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah, and when God established the Israelites as a holy nation unto Himself.
The Feast of Weeks is the fourth of four spring festivals. It indicates the end of the barley harvest and the beginning of the wheat harvest. The seven weeks also refer to the time required for a ripe harvest.
In addition to being a harvest festival, Shavuot is one of three pilgrimage festivals. A pilgrimage festival means that Jews from many regions traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate and partake in the festival at the Temple (Deuteronomy 16:16-17).
Both Shavuot and Pentecost refer to the length of time that had passed on those days since Passover. Shavuot occurs after seven weeks (49 days) since Passover. And as we already know, Pentecost means 50 in Greek.
While Passover celebrates God delivering the Israelites from Egypt, Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah 50 days later.
“You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:4-6a, NIV).
Pentecost Changing History – Again
In Acts 2, the disciples are celebrating this giving of the Torah. What were they remembering?
“And rejoice before the Lord your God at the place He will choose as a dwelling for His Name–you, your sons and your daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites in your town, the foreigners, the fatherless, and the widows living among you.” (Deuteronomy 16:11, NIV).
As the Jewish followers of Jesus were living out those great events, they received the Holy Spirit – exactly 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection.
“Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?…we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!’” (Acts 2:5-11, NIV).
God chose to extend His power to everyone by allowing all to hear of His wonders. Thus, the meaning of Pentecost is not exclusive but inclusive to all.
The Covenantal Meaning of Pentecost
At the establishment of the Shavuot festival in Deuteronomy, we find an open invitation. All are welcome to celebrate the giving of the Law at Sinai and the writing of the Law on the hearts of the people.
God opened the door for Jews from other nations and eventually Gentiles (Acts 10) to enter into a new covenant with Him. He chooses a festival when “Jews from every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:5, NIV) are present. By giving the gift of tongues to the disciples, the Jews from other nations can also receive the Holy Spirit.
Many consider Pentecost as the establishment of the Christian church. When God gives the disciples the Holy Spirit, this opens the door for Gentiles to be grafted in (Romans 11). As Christians, we are welcomed to join this new covenant.
What Happened on That Exceptional Day?
If we look at the elements of Pentecost in Acts 2, the event is nothing short of weird. The disciples experience the equivalent of a storm, fire on their heads, and the ability to speak in other languages. And, this odd combination results in the gift of the Holy Spirit.
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:1-4, NIV).
Stories in the Bible clearly show that the Lord is intentional in the when, where, and how of each narrative. Thus, we can trust that He has a reason for each of the details of Pentecost and their meaning. In fact, this is not the first time we see some of these details in a story. We should ask ourselves, what does the Lord want us to remember or connect to this event?
As we already know, the Jewish followers of Jesus were together in Jerusalem to celebrate Shavuot. Thus, it would make sense to – in order to understand Acts 2 – take a closer look at Exodus 19.
Pentecost and Sinai – the Parallels
Let’s start with the basics. What similarities do we see between Sinai and Pentecost? Without a doubt: fire, clouds (or wind) and sounds.
These specific elements – fire, clouds, and/or sounds – actually often signal a theophany. What is it? A theophany is simply a manifestation of God. We find several references to fire and clouds specifically throughout the Scriptures.
We see fire and clouds while the Israelites wandered in the wilderness after leaving Egypt (Exodus 13:21-22). There are fire and clouds at Mount Sinai when God gives the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19). Soon after, fire and clouds appear at the building of the Tabernacle (Exodus 40). Finally, fire and clouds accompany the building of the Temple (2 Chronicles 7).
Each of these theophanies indicate the presence and guidance of God. In the case of the Israelites wandering, the pillar of cloud and fire was a literal guide through the desert. The fire and clouds at Mount Sinai indicated the presence of God while he gave instruction to Moses. God dwelled in both the Tabernacle and the Temple, and the people sought guidance for their lives in these sacred places.
Before Moses receives the Torah at Mount Sinai, God appears on the mountain in this theophanic form – fire, clouds, and sounds. He dwells on the mountain to impart instruction to Moses about how this newly freed nation ought to live.
The Meaning of a Theophany on Pentecost
In Acts 2, while the people are together in Jerusalem celebrating Shavuot (this supernatural appearance on Mount Sinai), the Lord appears to the people in the same way – fire, wind (or clouds), and sounds. Instead of fire, wind, and sounds on the mountain, these elements enshroud the people.
At Sinai, Moses receives the Torah from the hand of God himself in the form of stone tablets. At Pentecost, the Law is not written on stone tablets but on the hearts of His people by the giving of the Holy Spirit.
“‘This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,’ declares the Lord. ‘I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.’” (Jeremiah 31:33, NIV).
This signifies that God now dwells in His people not on a mountain or in a structure. Instead of being freed from slavery in Egypt, the disciples (and all believers after them) are freed from the slavery of sin and empowered to walk in freedom by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Pentecost and the Reversal
Back at Sinai, when Moses comes down from the mountain to share what God revealed to Him, he finds the people engaging in sin. They are worshiping a golden calf and thanking the object for their delivery from Egypt. At this moment, the people are rebuked and three thousand are struck down (Exodus 32).
Oddly enough, this is another parallel to Acts 2, but more than that it is a reversal of the events at Mount Sinai.
In Acts 2, when the people speak in other languages, the surrounding crowds are skeptical. Peter illuminates the situation by referring to Joel 2:
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28-29, NIV).
This event was not a surprise, it was prophesied. When Peter offers an explanation, he shares the Scriptures with those present and three thousand people are saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit.
The giving of the Holy Spirit in Acts redeems the sins of the nation at Sinai. Three thousand are won for the three thousand lost. A rebuke is returned for a harvest, and not just a harvest of grain but a harvest of hearts on the harvest festival of Shavuot.
What is the Meaning of Pentecost for Us Today?
This Shavuot season, let us rejoice that the Lord abides in us. While the disciples mourned the loss of their rabbi in His ascension, they had not yet known the power and glory they would experience on Pentecost. They also did not anticipate the extent of its impact.
God gives His disciples and any who believe in Him the Holy Spirit as a companion and guide. Just as He guided the Israelites through the desert and taught them how to live freely apart from Egypt, so too the Spirit dwells in us and guides our hearts today.
“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 2:39, NIV).
We must never forget that the same fire that fell upon Sinai and the disciples ignites our souls. And, there are others who have yet to hear of it. Let us declare the wonders of God!
A Simple Guide Through the Biblical Holidays: Free PDF Download
You may know them as the “Jewish holidays,” but did you know the Bible calls them “Feasts of the LORD”?
We’ve put this guide together for you so that you have all you need to know about these holidays that God calls His own.
Articles Related toThe Deeper Meaning of Pentecost
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Sources:
https://bibleproject.com/articles/what-is-pentecost-and-why-is-it-important
https://www.logos.com/grow/pentecost-in-the-bible
https://hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Spring_Holidays/Shavuot/shavuot.html
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/pentecost-reversal
https://engediresourcecenter.com/tag/pentecost-and-sinai/#gsc.tab=0
https://hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Spring_Holidays/Shavuot/Zion/zion.html