Pentecost - The Coming of the Spirit
Pentecost marks the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the church. Jesus had promised that he would not leave his disciples as orphans. The Spirit came with power, and God's people were equipped to be witnesses for Jesus to the ends of the earth.
The Promise of the Spirit
Jesus promised that the Spirit would come after his ascension.
16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—
κἀγὼ ἐρωτήσω τὸν πατέρα καὶ ἄλλον παράκλητον δώσει ὑμῖν ἵνα ⸀ᾖ μεθʼ ὑμῶν εἰς τὸν ⸀αἰῶνα,
17the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he remains with you and will be in you.
τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας, ὃ ὁ κόσμος οὐ δύναται λαβεῖν, ὅτι οὐ θεωρεῖ αὐτὸ οὐδὲ ⸀γινώσκει· ⸀ὑμεῖς γινώσκετε αὐτό, ὅτι παρʼ ὑμῖν μένει καὶ ἐν ὑμῖν ⸀ἔσται.
26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.
ὁ δὲ παράκλητος, τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ὃ πέμψει ὁ πατὴρ ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου, ἐκεῖνος ὑμᾶς διδάξει πάντα καὶ ὑπομνήσει ὑμᾶς πάντα ἃ εἶπον ⸀ὑμῖν.
7Yet I am telling you the truth: it is for your good that I am going away. For if I do not go, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
ἀλλʼ ἐγὼ τὴν ἀλήθειαν λέγω ὑμῖν, συμφέρει ὑμῖν ἵνα ἐγὼ ἀπέλθω. ἐὰν ⸀γὰρ μὴ ἀπέλθω, ὁ παράκλητος ⸂οὐ μὴ ἔλθῃ⸃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς· ἐὰν δὲ πορευθῶ, πέμψω αὐτὸν πρὸς ὑμᾶς.
13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own; he will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are coming.
ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ἐκεῖνος, τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας, ὁδηγήσει ὑμᾶς ⸂ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ πάσῃ⸃, οὐ γὰρ λαλήσει ἀφʼ ἑαυτοῦ, ἀλλʼ ὅσα ⸀ἀκούσει λαλήσει, καὶ τὰ ἐρχόμενα ἀναγγελεῖ ὑμῖν.
4While he was eating with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised: "This is what you have heard me speak about."
καὶ συναλιζόμενος παρήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς ἀπὸ Ἱεροσολύμων μὴ χωρίζεσθαι, ἀλλὰ περιμένειν τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ πατρὸς ἣν ἠκούσατέ μου·
5"For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
ὅτι Ἰωάννης μὲν ἐβάπτισεν ὕδατι, ὑμεῖς δὲ ⸂ἐν πνεύματι βαπτισθήσεσθε⸃ ἁγίῳ οὐ μετὰ πολλὰς ταύτας ἡμέρας.
8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
ἀλλὰ λήμψεσθε δύναμιν ἐπελθόντος τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς, καὶ ἔσεσθέ ⸀μου μάρτυρες ἔν τε Ἰερουσαλὴμ καὶ ἐν πάσῃ τῇ Ἰουδαίᾳ καὶ Σαμαρείᾳ καὶ ἕως ἐσχάτου τῆς γῆς.
Pentecost Day
The Spirit fell upon the 120 gathered in Jerusalem with power.
1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
Καὶ ἐν τῷ συμπληροῦσθαι τὴν ἡμέραν τῆς πεντηκοστῆς ἦσαν ⸂πάντες ὁμοῦ⸃ ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό,
2Suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing, violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
καὶ ἐγένετο ἄφνω ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἦχος ὥσπερ φερομένης πνοῆς βιαίας καὶ ἐπλήρωσεν ὅλον τὸν οἶκον οὗ ἦσαν καθήμενοι,
3Tongues as of fire appeared to them, dividing, and one came to rest on each of them.
καὶ ὤφθησαν αὐτοῖς διαμεριζόμεναι γλῶσσαι ὡσεὶ πυρός, ⸂καὶ ἐκάθισεν⸃ ἐφʼ ἕνα ἕκαστον αὐτῶν,
4They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
καὶ ἐπλήσθησαν ⸀πάντες πνεύματος ἁγίου, καὶ ἤρξαντο λαλεῖν ἑτέραις γλώσσαις καθὼς τὸ πνεῦμα ἐδίδου ⸂ἀποφθέγγεσθαι αὐτοῖς⸃.
5Now there were devout Jews living in Jerusalem, from every nation under heaven.
Ἦσαν δὲ ⸀ἐν Ἰερουσαλὴμ κατοικοῦντες Ἰουδαῖοι, ἄνδρες εὐλαβεῖς ἀπὸ παντὸς ἔθνους τῶν ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν·
6When this sound was heard, the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
γενομένης δὲ τῆς φωνῆς ταύτης συνῆλθε τὸ πλῆθος καὶ συνεχύθη, ὅτι ⸀ἤκουον εἷς ἕκαστος τῇ ἰδίᾳ διαλέκτῳ λαλούντων αὐτῶν·
11both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the mighty works of God in our own tongues!"
Ἰουδαῖοί τε καὶ προσήλυτοι, Κρῆτες καὶ Ἄραβες, ἀκούομεν λαλούντων αὐτῶν ταῖς ἡμετέραις γλώσσαις τὰ μεγαλεῖα τοῦ θεοῦ.
Peter's Pentecost Sermon
Peter preached the gospel with boldness, and thousands were saved.
14Then Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice, and addressed them: "Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen carefully to my words.
Σταθεὶς δὲ ⸀ὁ Πέτρος σὺν τοῖς ἕνδεκα ἐπῆρεν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἀπεφθέγξατο αὐτοῖς· Ἄνδρες Ἰουδαῖοι καὶ οἱ κατοικοῦντες Ἰερουσαλὴμ ⸀πάντες, τοῦτο ὑμῖν γνωστὸν ἔστω καὶ ἐνωτίσασθε τὰ ῥήματά μου.
22"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth was a man attested to you by God through mighty works and wonders and signs that God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
Ἄνδρες Ἰσραηλῖται, ἀκούσατε τοὺς λόγους τούτους. Ἰησοῦν τὸν Ναζωραῖον, ἄνδρα ⸂ἀποδεδειγμένον ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ⸃ εἰς ὑμᾶς δυνάμεσι καὶ τέρασι καὶ σημείοις οἷς ἐποίησεν διʼ αὐτοῦ ὁ θεὸς ἐν μέσῳ ὑμῶν, ⸀καθὼς αὐτοὶ οἴδατε,
23This man, handed over by God's set purpose and foreknowledge, you nailed to a cross by the hands of lawless men and killed.
τοῦτον τῇ ὡρισμένῃ βουλῇ καὶ προγνώσει τοῦ θεοῦ ⸀ἔκδοτον διὰ ⸀χειρὸς ἀνόμων προσπήξαντες ἀνείλατε,
24But God raised him up, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to hold him in its grip.
ὃν ὁ θεὸς ἀνέστησεν λύσας τὰς ὠδῖνας τοῦ θανάτου, καθότι οὐκ ἦν δυνατὸν κρατεῖσθαι αὐτὸν ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ·
32This Jesus God has raised up, and of that we are all witnesses.
τοῦτον τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἀνέστησεν ὁ θεός, οὗ πάντες ἡμεῖς ἐσμεν μάρτυρες.
33Exalted therefore to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, he has poured out what you now see and hear.
τῇ δεξιᾷ οὖν τοῦ θεοῦ ὑψωθεὶς τήν τε ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ ⸂πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου⸃ λαβὼν παρὰ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐξέχεεν τοῦτο ⸀ὃ ⸀ὑμεῖς βλέπετε καὶ ἀκούετε.
36Therefore let all the house of Israel know beyond doubt: God has made him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified."
ἀσφαλῶς οὖν γινωσκέτω πᾶς οἶκος Ἰσραὴλ ὅτι καὶ κύριον ⸂αὐτὸν καὶ χριστὸν⸃ ⸂ἐποίησεν ὁ θεός⸃, τοῦτον τὸν Ἰησοῦν ὃν ὑμεῖς ἐσταυρώσατε.
37When they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
Ἀκούσαντες δὲ κατενύγησαν ⸂τὴν καρδίαν⸃, εἶπόν τε πρὸς τὸν Πέτρον καὶ τοὺς λοιποὺς ἀποστόλους· Τί ⸀ποιήσωμεν, ἄνδρες ἀδελφοί;
38Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Πέτρος δὲ ⸂πρὸς αὐτούς· Μετανοήσατε⸃, καὶ βαπτισθήτω ἕκαστος ὑμῶν ⸀ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ εἰς ἄφεσιν ⸀τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ⸀ὑμῶν, καὶ λήμψεσθε τὴν δωρεὰν τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος·
41So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and about three thousand souls were added that day.
οἱ μὲν ⸀οὖν ἀποδεξάμενοι τὸν λόγον αὐτοῦ ἐβαπτίσθησαν, καὶ προσετέθησαν ⸀ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ψυχαὶ ὡσεὶ τρισχίλιαι.
Fulfillment of Prophecy
Joel had prophesied that God would pour out his Spirit on all flesh.
1And afterward it will come to pass that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
וְהָיָ֣ה אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן אֶשְׁפּ֤וֹךְ אֶת־רוּחִי֙ עַל־כָּל־בָּשָׂ֔ר וְנִבְּא֖וּ בְּנֵיכֶ֣ם וּבְנֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם זִקְנֵיכֶם֙ חֲלֹמ֣וֹת יַחֲלֹמ֔וּן בַּח֣וּרֵיכֶ֔ם חֶזְיֹנ֖וֹת יִרְאֽוּ׃
2Even on the male and female servants I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
וְגַ֥ם עַל־הָֽעֲבָדִ֖ים וְעַל־הַשְּׁפָח֑וֹת בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔מָּה אֶשְׁפּ֖וֹךְ אֶת־רוּחִֽי׃
16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
ἀλλὰ τοῦτό ἐστιν τὸ εἰρημένον διὰ τοῦ προφήτου Ἰωήλ·
17"'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
Καὶ ἔσται ἐν ταῖς ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις, λέγει ὁ θεός, ἐκχεῶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματός μου ἐπὶ πᾶσαν σάρκα, καὶ προφητεύσουσιν οἱ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν καὶ αἱ θυγατέρες ὑμῶν, καὶ οἱ νεανίσκοι ὑμῶν ὁράσεις ὄψονται, καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ὑμῶν ⸀ἐνυπνίοις ἐνυπνιασθήσονται·
18Even on my male and female servants I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
καί γε ἐπὶ τοὺς δούλους μου καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς δούλας μου ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις ἐκχεῶ ἀπὸ τοῦ πνεύματός μου, καὶ προφητεύσουσιν.
The Spirit Today
The gift of Pentecost is for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord.
39For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God calls to himself."
ὑμῖν γάρ ἐστιν ἡ ἐπαγγελία καὶ τοῖς τέκνοις ὑμῶν καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς εἰς μακρὰν ὅσους ἂν προσκαλέσηται κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν.
13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and came to faith, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
ἐν ᾧ καὶ ὑμεῖς ἀκούσαντες τὸν λόγον τῆς ἀληθείας, τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τῆς σωτηρίας ὑμῶν, ἐν ᾧ καὶ πιστεύσαντες ἐσφραγίσθητε τῷ πνεύματι τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τῷ ἁγίῳ,
14who is the down payment of our inheritance until we take full possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
⸀ὅ ἐστιν ἀρραβὼν τῆς κληρονομίας ἡμῶν, εἰς ἀπολύτρωσιν τῆς περιποιήσεως, εἰς ἔπαινον τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ.
14He did this so that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, and so that by faith we might receive the promised Spirit.
ἵνα εἰς τὰ ἔθνη ἡ εὐλογία τοῦ Ἀβραὰμ γένηται ἐν ⸂Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ⸃, ἵνα τὴν ἐπαγγελίαν τοῦ πνεύματος λάβωμεν διὰ τῆς πίστεως.