The imagery of Pentecost may be important. Pentecost is a pilgrim-holiday also known as the Feast of Weeks or Shavuot. The holiday celebrated the Firstfruits of the harvest. The Festival of Weeks was the smallest of the three pilgrim festivals, falling 50 days after Passover (seven weeks), the late spring / early summer. This festival was an offering of two loaves made with the new wheat given in the firstfruit offering.
The point of the festival was “to declare God’s ownership of the land and his grace in bringing forth food. According to a tradition found in the book of Jubilees, Pentecost was the day on which Moses was given the Law (cf. Tob 2:1, 2 Mac 12:32). This tradition is based on the belief that the Israelites arrived at Sinai 50 days after the first Passover (Exod 19:1). Some scholars (Knox, Snaith) have made a connection between this tradition and the gift of the Holy Spirit (ie., Moses gave out the Law to Israel on this day, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to the church). Fitzmyer thinks Luke was aware of the tradition since there are some indirect allusions to the giving of the Law in Acts 2, not the least of which is the image of fire descending (Exod 19:18)(Acts, 234). Darrell Bock, on the other hand, points out, if Luke knew of this tradition he does not seem to make use of the imagery (Acts, 96).
It is at least possible to see the idea of “firstfruits” applied to the Holy Spirit. The new age has begun and the Holy Spirit has come for the first time. But we also need to consider two other potential “Pentecosts” in the book of Acts. In Acts 10 the Holy Spirit falls on Cornelius, a God-Fearing Gentile, and he speaks in tongues just like Pentecost. Peter makes this point clear in Acts 10:47, the Gentiles in Cornelius’ home received the Holy Spirit “just as we have.” But there is a third reference to Pentecost in Acts 20:16. Paul is adamant that he reach Jerusalem before Pentecost if possible. This return to Jerusalem was dangerous, but Paul wanted to deliver the Collection from the Gentile churches at Pentecost if at all possible. Why? Because the sharing of gifts from the Gentile churches indicates that they too have received the Holy Spirit. Paul’s return to Jerusalem at Pentecost is calculated to highlight his “harvest” among the Gentiles. Three references to Pentecost is not unexpected since there are other repetitions of events on Acts (Cornelius’ conversion, Paul’s conversion, the rejection of Israel, etc.)
Whatever the intended imagery, the day represents the largest crowd in the Temple area after Passover. Peter and the other apostles are able to preach to large crowds of biblically-minded Jews gathered to worship God in the Temple (Acts 2-3).
Bibliography: W. L. Knox, The Acts, (NCB, Oxford: Clarendon, 1967), 80-84; N. Snaith, “Pentecost, the Day of Power,” ExpTim 43 (1931-32): 379-80.
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January 24, 2011 at 12:17 pm
tammydykstra
I see very clearly the correlation between the giving of the Torah and the giving of the Holy Spirit. I also understand that Luke does not implicitly state this perceived symbolism as his intention, but looking at the education and credibility that Luke holds, I have to suspect that this is very likely. At the end of Luke 24, the author himself records Jesus’ words that the Scriptures would be fulfilled in Himself. If the Law was first given at the presumable first Pentecost at Sinai, one should conclude that the very fulfillment of the Law would come through Jesus (in the gift of the Holy Spirit) at Mt. Zion. This all comes together in Hebrews 12.18-29, concluding with yet another connection, that “our God is a consuming fire.”
January 25, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Cary J. Boehm
The Spirit of God came during Pentecost. His presence was “like a a surging wind and like tongues of fire” (Pg. 14). When the Spirit came, it went into the disciples, who started to speak and tell others about the good news. The day of Pentecost was a time for celebration, thanking God for what He had done for them that year. Along with that, they renewed their vow with God.
January 25, 2011 at 7:38 pm
jaredkusz
One thing that I have noticed through my increasingly in depth studying of Scripture is that the way in which God outworks his redemptive plan is ultimately more complex than any other “story” in history. That is to say that there is no novel or narative of any sort that matches the immesnely interwoven complexity of the plot of God’s story. To be more clear, the Bible is well endowed with symbolism, foreshadowing, and an accurate history that consistently mimicks God’s personality and plan. We see a simple and brief example of this in the recording of the first post-crucifixion Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost. The symbolism of this specific Pentecost is sufficient for great notice and praise, as we read, “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.” We can see what many theologians have argued (using Jeiwhs tradition) to be a connection to the Old Testament Law that was given to Moses on Pentecost and the giving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. There is also a significance of the image of fire that is used to describe the Holy Spirit’s coming. This gives a connection to the law and to the empowering capabilities that the Holy Spirit naturally gives (i.e., the ability to not only speak in many tongues at that moment, but to deliberatey and effectively preach the resurrection of the Christ.
January 25, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Leslie Pumford
God’s story is a mystery. It is not something that needs to be figured out or interpreted. As a Christian we are not expected to know every detail about the bible or how things came to be. Putting all of the information that we read in the bible and trying to figure out whether it is true or not, I feel, is why we interpret scripture the most. I have grown up knowing what is and what could be. I know God loves me and everything that He created. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10.
All the scripture that we read about and learn all comes from Christ. It all works together for His good…not our good. When God came to Moses and had him present that law, it seems to me that God was only foreshadowing of what is to come. The Law is presented through the Holy Spirit when Moses was given that law and once again at the Pentecost.
I can also see where scholars could see the connection between the Pentecost and the giving of the Holy Spirit. Since the first harvest is their way of life and survival. We can see that the Holy Spirit is presented and is life to them as well; even if it is not seen or under stood at that moment.
January 25, 2011 at 11:31 pm
Rachel Matychuk
One thing that continuously strikes me as I read Acts 2, is that the feast of Pentecost where Peter speaks and the Holy Spirit comes is different from the beginning of the Church, the Body of Christ. I know you, P. Long, will have an opinion pretty close to mine, but it never ceases to amaze me how confused other people get about it. As you said, “Some scholars (Knox, Snaith) have made a connection between this tradition and the gift of the Holy Spirit (ie., Moses gave out the Law to Israel on this day, Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to the church).” Clint Arnold also says in Acts (our textbook), “The coming of the Spirit marked the beginning of the church” (Arnold 15). I believe that yes, God did send the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (obviously), but that this did not start the Church, the Body of Christ. I believe that the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost to fulfill the prophecies and the things Jesus said and to give the Jews one last sign and chance to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. I believe that all the people who were “saved” that day believed that Jesus was the Messiah and that He did die and resurrect from the grave for them, but I don’t think they were in the Body of Christ. As I said, I don’t think it had started yet, and I think there needs to be a clarification for people on when the Body of Christ began because it is an important part of our faith and essentially the beginning of our faith for those born into the time of Grace.
May 27, 2012 at 9:46 am
John
Enjoyed reading all the thoughtful comments. I hope others will expand on whether or not the church began at Pentecost. I can see why that is said given that it’s the first time the crucified Chirst is preached and the offer of forgiveness and the gift of the Spirit are offered in his name. The 3,000 who respond (!) seem to form the new church. Later, Peter will refer to the outpouring as “the beginning”. Acts 2 ends with a compelling description of a new community. The KJV wrongly uses the word church (“the Lord added to the church…”) but it’s not hard to see why the translators thought of that word. Is not the church is not the body of those forgiven in whom the Spirit dwells? Is not that what we have for the first time in Acts2? I hope someone who things otherwise will expound. (and I know one need not grasp it all to share the blessings! just curious. ) thanks!!
May 27, 2012 at 11:31 am
Phillip J. Long
Hi John…this is about a year and a half old by now, so I doubt many of the original respondents are still following the thread. Let me respond for Rachel….
I think that you are correct in stating that the KJV over-translated the Greek ekklesia at the end of Acts 2, it might be “church”, but not in a contemporary sense. The common way of equating this assembly with the universal church is to point out (as you did) that these people receive the Holy Spirit, something which Paul later describes as something which identifies the members of the body of Christ (Rom 8, but also Eph 1).
On the other hand, the prophets (Jer 31 especially, but also Joel 2:28, etc.) describe the eschatological age as an out-pouring of the Holy Spirit. In fact, Joel 2 is specifically cited by Peter in Acts 2. At the very least, Peter is saying that the eschatological age anticipated by the Prophets has come, the Holy Spirit indicates this is the beginning of the new Covenant prophesied by Jeremiah.
In my view, Paul’s definition of “church” is that it is a universal body of believers, neither Jew nor Gentile, which participates in some elements of the New Covenant (the Holy Spirit) and anticipates the full consummation of the new covenant when Jesus returns.