Wednesday, November 20, 2013

As we enter into the New Testament book of Acts, it becomes very obvious how important the role of the Holy Spirit is in the life of a Believer. Once again, we can see the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament being fulfilled in the New Testament. Pentecost (Feast of Weeks) was celebrated in the Old Testament as a praise and thanks to God for the wheat harvest. The Holy Spirit came to dwell within the Believers at Pentecost to begin the new harvest. Jesus was very clear that the apostles were to wait in Jerusalem until they had been baptized with the Holy Spirit.  For new Believers at that time, the Holy Spirit came upon them at the moment of conversion.  At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within.

Pentecost, this second of the great Jewish national festivals was observed on the 50th day, or 7 weeks, plus one day past the Saturday Sabbath that occurs during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The Old Testament describes this celebration as The Feast of Weeks. In the New Testament it is called Pentecost.

At Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks, the ripe wheat was presented as a thanksgiving offering before the Lord. This was done early in the morning of that day by 9:00 am., which incidentally was around the same time that the Holy Spirit came to those believers in Jesus.

When the apostles began to speak in other languages, was it the Holy Spirit who interpreted for them?

Peter begins to teach the people from the prophecies of Joel and clearly points to the return of Jesus. Very soon after Jesus ascended into heaven, His followers were looking for His return.

"About three thousand were added to their number that day". They were baptized but it says nothing about water. They needed to be baptized with the Holy Spirit.  Interestingly this number three thousand is found in another place in Scripture.  It was during the "golden calf" incident.

Exo 32:28
And the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses. And there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. 

Three thousand perished that day and three thousand were saved at Pentecost.

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