Recently, I saw some social media posts mentioning Pentecost Sunday and the significance of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit so that the church could receive private prayer languages. The very passage referenced when mentioning Pentecost and this miraculous event was Acts 2, “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 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 2:1-4 ESV)

This teaching was not foreign. These verses were commonly mentioned in a number of services I attended over the years. Typically, these very verses were read to those in attendance while expounding on them, talking about the power of the private prayer language and the Holy Spirit. It was not uncommon to have “blow-out” services at the mention of Acts 2 with invitations for others to come to the altar and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. There were other manifestations that would take place, but this was of focus and importance.

Looking back, I realized there were times only those verses were read when referencing this well-known account, leaving behind the proceeding verses telling of sixteen dialects and nations hearing Galileans supernaturally speaking in their languages exalting God, followed by the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ to those in attendance. This miraculous demonstration to the Jews of that time was a sign to unbelievers (1 Corinthians 14:22), and it was on this inauguration day of the church age that three thousand souls came to saving faith in Christ alone.

For those who have heard sermons centered around this teaching, the Biblical understanding of why those Jewish men were gathered in Jerusalem and the prophetic meaning in accordance with Scripture is lost in eisegesis. The focus is seemingly on personal experience and giving others that same experience, or the perceived experience. There is even the sentiment that another Pentecost is necessary today in order for the church to walk out of dead, dry religion and into revival power.

But is this what Acts 2 relays in the historical account by Luke? To understand more about Pentecost, we need to go back into the Old Testament.

The Feast of Weeks

Pentecost (“Fifty”) is identified in Scripture as the Feast of Weeks. The name comes from it being seven weeks or fifty days from the Feast of Firstfruits, and this was one of three feasts where Jewish men were to go to Jerusalem in celebration of the feast. The Feast of Weeks celebrated the firstfruits of the wheat harvest. Leviticus 23:15-17 talks about the feast of weeks/Pentecost, “You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the LORD. You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, as firstfruits to the LORD.”

It might interest some to know that the Jewish people in the first century and earlier had also come to celebrate Pentecost as the time of the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai. There are some fascinating parallels in Scripture and even some of the Jewish writings noting the supernatural account of Moses receiving the Law of God, along with the manifestation of God’s presence on the mountain, such as fire, thunder, and other elements. Exodus 19:16 provides the account of God coming to Mount Sinai before the people, “On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.” Some have noted parallels between the accounts in Exodus 19 and Acts 2.

It is believed the first Pentecost occurred at the giving of the Law, and what is fascinating about the instruction for this feast is that two loaves with leaven were made during the barley harvest. These loaves were waved before the Lord as a firstfruits to Him. Some scholars have seen the typology in this act as the two loaves representing the Jews and the Gentiles coming into the redemptive plan of God. The leaven represents sin, which it is interesting to note that no other feast instructs placing leaven in the bread.

Christ’s finished work on the cross and the sending of the Holy Spirit made a way for His people to be the firstfruits in the plan of redemption and the establishment of the church on the day of Pentecost. Joel 2 was indeed fulfilled and continues to be fulfilled as believers come into the kingdom of God and are empowered by the Holy Spirit for the work of service, which is proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and growing in spiritual maturity as Spirit filled believers, glorifying God.

The day of Pentecost established the church age. Jesus Christ kept His word to send the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-17). He is here. There is no need for another Pentecost, and to say such things truthfully devalues what transpired on the day of Pentecost. The text is gloriously plain in illuminating to us that God indeed performed a miraculous demonstration when the Holy Spirit arrived, and He filled them for the work of service in exalting Him in languages known in the earth but unlearned to them. It was not a private prayer language. Got provided the interpreters, the ones needing to hear the gospel. God’s work was fruitful, and His harvest continues!

It is vital we remain students of the Word of God so that we have right understanding and so we continue to have proper fellowship with God. There is nothing wrong in talking about Pentecost, as long as we have a proper Biblical understanding of it, and we do not make it into something it is not in order to further personal experience or spiritual classes of Christians.

Listen to this recent episode of The Lovesick Scribe podcast as we discuss this topic further: Understanding Pentecost – The Lovesick Scribe Podcast | Podcast on Spotify