The Celebration of Pentecost

Written by Cody Bancroft

Just as the Jewish festival of Shavuot ¹ commemorated the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, the Christian festival of Pentecost commemorates the sending of the Holy Spirit ² and the birth of the Church. Recorded in the Book of Acts, chapter 2, we read: “When the Day of Pentecost came, they were altogether 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.”

In the account of the Great Commission in the Gospel of Mark, one of the signs that accompanied believers was the ability to speak “in new tongues.” ³ I think it's helpful to note the Greek word that gets used in both instances is the word glōssa, which means to speak an unacquired language. ⁴ Again, Acts 2 continues: “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Jumping down to verse 9, we read: “Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs–we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Here we witness the divine transcendence of the Gospel message.

Christianity transcends all cultures, customs, nationalities, and ethnicities. Believers in Brazil will not look exactly like believers in Russia, and Christians in America might not resemble Christians in Egypt. Unlike ancient Israel, we are no longer united by nationality or ethnicity; as Christians, we are united by the Holy Spirit. ⁵ The Christian Church is universal. Customs, rites, and cultures may differ, but we are all members of the Body of Christ. ⁶

Basil the Great, a Cappadocian himself, wrote: “Through the Holy Spirit comes our restoration to paradise, our ascension into the Kingdom of Heaven, our return to the adoption of sons, our liberty to call God our Father, our being made partakers of the grace of Christ, our being called children of light, our sharing in eternal glory, and, in a word, our being brought into a state of all fulness of blessing.” ⁷ Just as the Holy Spirit hovered over the waters of creation in Genesis, the Holy Spirit is present in the Church. When the Spirit, the breath of life, was breathed into Adam, he became a living soul; similarly, the Holy Spirit builds us living stones into a spiritual house. ⁸ Just as the Spirit enlightened the Prophets of old, the Holy Spirit now guides the Church. ⁹ At the tower of Babel, the wicked were thwarted and their language confused; at Pentecost, the promised Paraclete was poured out, bringing all believers into harmony. In the wise words of Cyril of Jerusalem: “A fiery sword, barred of old, the gates of Paradise, a fiery tongue, which brought salvation, restored the gift.” ¹⁰

You see, the celebration of Pentecost is truly the celebration of the Holy Spirit! The Third Person of the Most Holy Trinity, our Advocate, Counselor, and Comforter. Further down in the Book of Acts, the Apostle Peter declared: “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Upon this proclamation, they asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter responded, “Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” Thus, Peter echoes our Lord in the Gospels: “Repent and believe the good news!” ¹¹

Now, approximately 2,000 years later, we can continue the celebration of Pentecost. On Pentecost Sunday, we can join in the celebration of the Holy Spirit, because we are truly partakers of the very same Spirit. We, at Lockwood Community Church, like all true Christian churches everywhere, are endowed with the continual gifts of the Holy Spirit. ¹² When we confess with our mouths that Christ is Lord, we do so by the Spirit. The Apostle Paul reminds us, the same Spirit “who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you.” ¹³ Ultimately, we can take heart and persevere, because the Spirit will be with us forever. ¹⁴

I'll leave you all with a prayer from Augustine of Hippo: O Holy Spirit, Love of God, pour out your grace, and descend plentifully into my heart. Enlighten the dark corners of this neglected dwelling, and scatter there your cheerful beams. Dwell in that soul that longs to be your temple. ¹⁵

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¹ Leviticus 23:15-21, Deuteronomy 16:9-12.

² John 14:15-18, John 14:26, John 15:26, John 16:7-15, Acts 2.

³ Mark 16:17.

⁴ Strong’s Concordance: G1100

⁵ 1 Corinthians 6:19, 1 Corinthians 12:3.

⁶ 1 Corinthians 12:27-31, Romans 12:4-5, Ephesians 3:6.

⁷ Basil the Great, De Spiritu Sancto.

⁸ 1 Peter 2:4-5.

⁹ 2 Peter 1:21.

¹⁰ Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures.

¹¹ Mark 1:15.

¹² Galatians 5:22-23

¹³ Romans 8:11

¹⁴ John 14:15-17

¹⁵ Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953.

* Every verse quoted above comes from the New International Version.