The first mention of the Holy Spirit is found in the first chapter of Genesis [1:2], where we find the Holy Spirit hovering over the waters, bringing order, life and harmony to the newly formed earth. As you read through the Old Testament, you can see the Spirit’s influence on, and in, the people who’s stories are written there.
On Sunday we celebrated that same Holy Spirit, who came in power upon the disciples during the traditional Jewish celebration of Pentecost. What happened then is described in Acts 2:2-12:
2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
What the crowd witnessed was a fulfillment of Jesus’ promise in Acts 1:8 where he says “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.“
Pentecost marks the pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus’ followers and the birth of the Christian church. Through Christ, we share in the same Holy Spirit, who comes to comfort us, to lift us up, to empower us and to support us.
So how can we respond to this in a practical way? Well, the book of Acts continues to guide us: Acts 2:42-47:
The Fellowship of the Believers:
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Anyone else feeling inadequate? Just me then?
I’m not going to attempt to unpack any of that, I couldn’t if I tried, but I’d encourage you to read it, meditate on it, pray about it and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you about it.
If it helps you to pray, listen to this song*, one of those we sang on Sunday as you read the passage.
Here, to finish, is a fanciful, and historically very dubious, story: According to legend, King Arthur always gathered his knights at the round table for a feast and a quest on Pentecost. The king had a custom that at the feast of Pentecost he would not eat until he had heard or seen of a great marvel. It may be nonsense, but I like it!
