Acts 1-10, 12

We’ve just finished the Gospels. Here, the long awaited King, Jesus Christ, arrived, lived the perfect life we were supposed to live, died the death we were condemned to die, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. 

End of the story, right? Not quite. There’s quite a bit more. Specifically, one important person still needs to come: The Holy Spirit.

Take a moment to read Acts 2:1-13 and 2:37-41.

Pentecost was a day that came 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection. Pentecost literally translates to “fifty”. Also called The Feast of Weeks, it marked the beginning of the wheat harvest and celebrated the giving of the Torah, God’s own words, to Israel in the Old Testament. There are two important words to remember here: “harvest” and “God’s words”. 

On Pentecost, all the disciples were gathered together in one place. It had been 10 days since the resurrection. Before leaving, Jesus told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the gift God promised to give them. (Acts 1:4). 

Then it happened. A rush of wind filled the room and tongues of fire came to rest on each of the disciples. The gift had arrived. The Holy Spirit had entered into each person who believed in Jesus as Lord and Savior. They began speaking in tongues, or different languages, so that people of all nations around them could understand what they were saying. (Acts 2:14-26) Can you imagine this? 

Then even more happened: Peter stood up and shared about the Word: Jesus Christ, God’s own Son. He gave a sermon that pointed directly to Jesus as Lord and Messiah, his sacrifice, his resurrection, and how he is available to all people. He even gave evidence from the Old Testament validating its truth! 

The coolest part in this story? The Spirit was speaking for these men so that all people could understand what was being said!

Something about Peter’s words, about Jesus Christ, cut to the hearts of those who were listening. (Acts 2:37) Peter planted a seed, and it grew fast!

Those listening asked, “What must we do to be saved?” 

Peter declared, “Repent and be baptized.”

The seeds that were planted in this moment grew to a harvest of 3000 new believers that day!

God’s WORD was shared again with people, through the power of the Holy Spirit. The first fruits of a HARVEST of people coming to faith in Jesus Christ was seen. What a powerful story!

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The Holy Spirit is available to all who profess Christ as their Lord and Savior. He enters into those who are baptized and believe! If you follow Christ, you have the Spirit living in you! 

Think about this:

Looking back at what you just read: what is one of the roles of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Believer? 

How have you seen the Holy Spirit working in or through you? Bless someone around you by sharing that story today!