The Day of Pentecost The feast that was called the Feast of Weeks (Exod. 34:22) or the Feast of Harvest (Exod. 23:16) in the Old Testament.

It was when the first of the wheat was harvested, and the offering was to be two baked loaves of wheat bread made with leaven (Lev. 23:15-17). The Pentecost was fifty days after the first sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened bread. It is interesting that this feast, connected with the beginning of the wheat harvest was when the harvest of souls for Christ began.

The Holy Spirit fell upon the apostles (2:1-4). There was from heaven the sound as of the blowing of a mighty wind. Tongues parting asunder like fire and sitting upon each one of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Began to speak with other tongues [γλώσσαις - tongues KJV] as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The reaction of the multitude (2:5- 13). The only ones present here were either Jews or proselytes (2:10). They were gathered from Parthia and Elam in the east to Rome, and Crete, and Cyrene, in the west (2:9-11). When they heard the sound of the rushing of a mighty wind, the multitude came together.

They were amazed because every man heard them speaking in his own language [διαλέκτa - language KJV] (2:6). “Behold, are not all these that speak Galileans? And how hear we, every man in our own language [διαλέκτa - tongue KJV] wherein we were born?” (2:7-8). “We hear them speaking in our tongues [γλώσσαις - tongues KJV] the mighty works of God” (2:11). “What meaneth this?” (2:12). Others said, “They are filled with new wine” (2:13).

Peter’s sermon (2:14-40). Defense against the charge of drunkenness (2:14-21). “These men are not drunken seeing it is but the third hour of the day” (2:15).

“This is that which hath been spoken by the prophet Joel” (2:16). –Promises of the pouring forth of God’s Spirit upon all flesh (2:17-18). –Promises of judgment and the overthrowing of the old order and the establishment of a new order (2:19-20). –Promise of salvation to all who call upon the name of the Lord.

The witness of Jesus (2:22): “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by Him in the midst of you, even as ye yourselves know.” The charge (2:23): “Him, being delivered up by the determinate counsel of God, ye by the hand of lawless men did crucify and slay.”

Jesus’ resurrection (2:24-32). Death could not hold Jesus. David’s prophecy: “Thou wilt not leave my soul unto Hades, neither wilt thou give thy Holy One to see corruption” (Ps. 16:10). David died and is still buried (2:29).

Being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn to place one of the fruit of his loins upon his throne spoke of the resurrection of the Christ (2:30-31). “This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses” (2:32).

Jesus is in heaven upon His throne (2:33-36). Being exalted to the right hand of His Father (Ps. 110:1) He is the one who has poured forth the Holy Spirit with His manifestations. “Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified” (2:36).

The multitude’s reaction: They had heard the sound of the mighty wind that had called them together. They had seen the apostles doing the impossible before their eyes. The prophecy of Joel in the context of these miracles had a powerful influence. They remembered that Jesus had indeed done mighty wonders and signs.

There was probably a good deal of guilt about having been involved in such a terrible deed. That guilt was intensified greatly by this sermon. Jesus was raised; His body disappeared from the tomb in spite of all that the Jewish and Roman authorities had done. This fit with the prophecy of David who obviously was not talking about himself, but there was someone who was to be raised.

The apostles manifesting the miraculous gifts of God testified that Jesus was raised from the dead. “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?” (2:37). The multitude had heard the testimony; they knew it assuredly, or believed it, and now their guilt was full grown.

Peter’s answer: “Repent ye, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (2:38). Two things are required in this verse: repentance and baptism. The people hearing these words would have understood the exact meaning of these terms.

Both words were addressed to the same people: “Repent ye” and “be baptized everyone of you.” The purpose assigned is “unto the remission of sins” meaning “in order to obtain.” Everyone acknowledges that repentance is in order to obtain forgiveness of sins. No one would repent because his sins were forgiven.

But “repent” is joined to “be baptized” by the coordinating conjunction “and.” Therefore, whatever purpose is assigned to one of these is assigned to the other. To be saved from sins, one would have to be forgiven. To be forgiven one would have to repudiate sin, and be baptized.

“With many other words he testified, and exhorted them saying, ‘Save yourselves from this crooked generation’” (2:40). To “save yourselves” means to do what you are called upon to do for salvation. They that received his word were baptized and were added unto them – to the ranks of the believers.

Conclusion: What the people did on the day of Pentecost is exactly what Jesus commanded in the Great Commission, and what everyone else did in the Book of Acts. The conditions of salvation are clearly and simply set forth. It is the desire of men to teach their own way and to deny the way of God that adds the complications.