The day of Pentecost
Pentecost is a history-shaping, history-dividing event. We have other history-shaping events in the scriptures, and even in our own lives. Scripture examples would be the Fall, Babel, the Exodus, the giving of the law at Mt Sinai, etc., Also the birth of Christ, His death, His resurrection, and His ascension. The day of Pentecost is an important day like that.
The Day of Pentecost has also been regarded as the day of the second Incarnation (because it was the day when the third Person of the Trinity was send to earth), the second creation (because the Spirit hovered over the people), the second Sinai-Covenant moment (because God was giving His people the terms of a new covenant), and also as the reversal of Babel (where people of different languages were brought together).
In our day, because of the relatively recent Pentecostal-church movement, the focus of the Day of Pentecost in Acts has unfortunately been shifted to the speaking of tongues.
What does Pentecost in fact mean for God's people, and how do the signs observed on that day point to that significance?
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DAY OF PENTECOST
[When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. Acts 2:1]
Why did Pentecost happen on Pentecost? The pragmatic answer as to why God would use this annual Jewish feast of Pentecost in this way is that this was a great opportunity for many to hear the gospel, as people from all over were gathered in Jerusalem at this time. We know that many do hear and 3000 are converted.
But we see that God has been intentional in His use of the feast days. Christ was crucified after observing the Passover (the FIRSTBORN bearing the wrath of God's judgement and the blood of the LAMB being made available for the redemption from slavery to sin). The Feast of Unleavened Bread was celebrated for a week from Passover (Sin was represented by leaven, which was to be completely absent during the feast). The Feast of Firstfruits was also celebrated with Pentecost (and we can see a connection with Christ the Firstfruits of the resurrection).
With so much intentionality, what else could Pentecost signify? Pentecost means 50, being celebrated 50 days after the Passover, and it was a feast to praise God at the beginning of harvest. Indeed, it marked the harvest of the people of God from the nations, to be gathered in, baked into a loaf—unified by the Holy Spirit—and waved before the Lord.
During the inter-testamental period, the Jews came to have another understanding about this day, and this was something that those gathered that day in Jerusalem would have shared, which was to regard the Day of Pentecost as a celebration of the Sinai covenant, which took place roughly 50 days after the Israelites left Egypt. That was the day when God met with His recently-redeemed people and gave them His terms of his new relationship with them. This reminds us of how God called to Himself a new people and how Peter stood up and declared the new terms of repentance and faith. And this body of worshippers, the church of God, would worship Him in spirit and in truth.
SIGNS GIVEN ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST
[And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance . Acts 2:2-4]
We see the signs of wind, fire, and the speaking in other tongues.
MIGHTY RUSHING WIND: This was not cool air but the SOUND of a mighty wind. People heard the sound of it rather than feel it. We see the wind analogy used of the Spirit in John 3:8. "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Signs and wonders accompanied the Lord's coming down on Mount Sinai and also His filling of the temple. Here again we see the glory of God as He fills the temples of human hearts.
TONGUES AS OF FIRE: Fire ILLUMINATES (being the light of the world, illuminating the word of God through the Spirit of God). The disciples had been asked to wait for the Holy Spirit for it was not of any use to go into a dark place with no light. Fire also REFINES and SANCTIFIES. Fire ENERGISES signifying passion and energy. The Laodicean church was warned for being lukewarm. They needed heat and spiritual energising.
SPEAKING IN TONGUES: This subject of Tongues has been misunderstood and misused. In many churches it sets apart a spiritual elite to the exclusion of others, whereas in the beginning, Tongues was meant to include not exclude. People heard the Lord being praised in their own languages. Tongues showed up again when the gospel crossed the border into Gentile territory, and it was a sign for unbelievers. [1 Cor 14:16] [1 Cor 14:21-22]. Another purpose of tongues would have been to give the apostles confidence that God would make God known to the nations through their mouths. Without such a demonstration, the apostles could well have felt inadequate to take the message to the ends of the earth. But now they knew that God would supernaturally see to it.
Even in our day, we struggle with evangelism, and there is much encouragement in this passage, that He is able to use our words to declare His glories and His gospel.