Pentecost (Outpouring of Holy Spirit)

The dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Jesus’s disciples in Jerusalem fifty days after his resurrection (ten days after his ascension), occurring during the Jewish festival of Shavuot when about 120 believers were gathered together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a violent rushing wind filled the house, tongues of fire appeared and rested on each person, and all were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.

Devout Jews from every nation who had gathered in Jerusalem for the festival heard the commotion and were amazed to hear Galilean disciples speaking in their own native languages—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, Libya, Rome, Cretans, and Arabs all heard “the mighty works of God” proclaimed in their own tongues. Some mocked, saying the disciples were drunk, but Peter stood with the eleven and preached the first Christian sermon, quoting Joel’s prophecy (“I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh”), explaining that Jesus of Nazareth—crucified and raised from the dead—had been exalted to God’s right hand and poured out the promised Holy Spirit. Peter called them to repent and be baptized in Jesus’s name for forgiveness of sins, and about 3,000 people were added to the church that day, devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer. This event fulfilled Jesus’s promise to send the Advocate/Comforter (John 14:16-17, 16:7-15) and is considered the birth of the Christian church.