 The Lord overcame obstacles to establish His church.  He had been killed.  “I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt 16:18).  The Apostles did not believe.  “When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted” (Matt 28:17).  Pentecost was the beginning.  “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning” (Acts 11:15).  What began at Pentecost?

Pentecost was the Beginning of the Age of the Holy Spirit

 That’s what Peter means in Acts 11.  “I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 11:16).  Jesus promised the Apostles that they would receive the Holy Spirit.  “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).  “John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5).

 The Spirit is important in Acts 2.  Acts 2:1-4.  Peter’s message discusses the Holy Spirit at the beginning, middle, and end.  “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh” (v 17).  “Being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear” (v 33).  “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (v 38).

Pentecost was the Beginning of the Proclamation of Jesus as the Christ

 In the Gospels, Jesus told people not to tell that He is the Christ.  An evil spirit: “I know who You are--the Holy One of God!” (Mk 1:24).  “He commanded them strictly that no one should know it” (Mk 5:43).  “He commanded them that they should tell no one” (Mk 7:36).  “He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead” (Mk 9:9).

 It’s called the “Messianic Secret,” but why would Jesus do this?  Many suggestions.  People misunderstood what a Messiah was.  James & John wanting places of authority (Mk 10:37).  Peter.  “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt 16:16).  “Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ” (Matt 16:20).  Jesus began to explain that the Messiah would suffer, die, and be raised (v 20).  “Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!’” (Matt 16:22).

 Jesus commissioned His Apostles to proclaim the Christ as One who had suffered, died, and been raised.  Lk 24:  In Acts 2, the Apostles become witnesses of the Messiah’s suffering, death, and resurrection.  “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:32).  “Let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).

Pentecost was the Beginning of the Preaching of the Gospel

 “The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed’” (Gal 3:8).  Jesus had also preached the gospel of the kingdom in preparation of the church’s establishment (Mk 1:14-15).  Now, at Pentecost, the gospel is preached in its fullness as an accomplished fact.  Paul outlined the central facts of the gospel as Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and post-resurrection appearances (1 Cor 15:1-5).  That is the message of Peter at Pentecost--he declares how Jesus died, was buried, was raised, and appeared to him and the other apostles.

Pentecost was the Beginning of the Offer of Forgiveness in Jesus’ Name

 Forgiveness did come before Pentecost.  “He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, And did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, And did not stir up all His wrath” (Ps 78:38).  Jesus had the power to forgive sins (Mk 1:1-12).  Clear connection between reception of the Holy Spirit by the Apostles and the forgiveness of sins (Jn 20:21-23).  Pentecost saw the offer of forgiveness in Jesus’ name.  “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).

Pentecost was the Beginning of the New Covenant

 The new covenant began at the cross.  Eph 2:  Col 1:  Heb 9:  The terms of the covenant were not announced until Pentecost.

Pentecost was the Beginning of a Gathered Church

 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matt 28:19-20).  Same sequence in Acts 2:  “Those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:41).  “They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship” (Acts 2:42).  “Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common” (Acts 2:44).  “It was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts 11:26).

Pentecost was the Beginning of Corporate Worship

 After Pentecost, the church began to worship together.  “They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).  Acts 2:46-47.