God’s Spirit at Pentecost
When we think of the Holy Spirit, we think immediately of Pentecost, the first time that God’s power was bestowed on a broad scale, openly, and for an extended period of time.
The picture of the Day of Pentecost is one of a group of expectant disciples gathered in Jerusalem. Of the occasion we read:
“And when the day of Pentecost had 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 the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:2-4). Jesus’ promise was fulfilled; the Holy Spirit had been given, they were now “endued with power from on high.” Jesus had been to the Father’s right hand, had been rewarded and glorified and had now bestowed upon His followers the same power, the power of the Spirit of God, by which He as a human being upon earth conducted His ministry and worked miracles.
They were now equipped to carry out the mandate Jesus had given them shortly before His ascension: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature….And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:15-18).
Only a few weeks before, the Eleven had scattered, cowering in fear as their Master was crucified; now their fear was turned to courage and they went forth boldly to proclaim the message of the Gospel. They were witnesses in the true sense of the word to all that had happened. They had seen their Lord crucified and buried and had been with Him forty days after He was raised triumphantly from the grave. They had witnessed His ascension, and according to His instructions had waited ten anxious days in Jerusalem for that which had just come to pass.