What happened on the Day of Pentecost?

Pentecost, from the Greek word for "fiftieth," was the Jewish Feast of Weeks, a harvest festival held fifty days after Passover (Leviticus 23:15-16), when Jews from across the Roman world gathered in Jerusalem. Before his ascension, Jesus had told his disciples to stay in the city and "wait for the promise of the Father" (Acts 1:4). Acts 2 records what happened: "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1-4). The crowd of pilgrims was amazed "because that every man heard them speak in his own language" (Acts 2:6). Peter, who weeks earlier had denied Jesus, stood up and preached, explaining that this fulfilled Joel's prophecy, "I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh" (Acts 2:17), and proclaiming Jesus crucified, risen, and exalted. Deeply moved, the people asked what they should do, and Peter called them to repent and be baptized. Acts 2:41 says "the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." Christians often call Pentecost the birthday of the church. Many also see in it a reversal of Babel (Genesis 11), where languages divided people, and an echo of the giving of the law at Sinai, which later Jewish tradition linked to the same feast.

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