What Is Pentecost?
Pentecost comes from the Greek word for 'fiftieth' and names the festival kept fifty days after Passover; in the Old Testament this is the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot), when the firstfruits of the wheat harvest were offered. The second chapter of Acts tells the event that defined its Christian meaning: after Jesus' ascension, while the disciples were together, the Holy Spirit came upon them with the sound of a mighty wind and tongues as of fire, and a crowd from many lands heard the works of God each in their own language. Peter explains this as the fulfillment of the prophet Joel's word, 'I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,' and preaches the first gospel sermon; thousands joined the community that day. For this reason Pentecost is counted the church's birthday. The event shows that the gospel can be heard in every language and that witness is carried by the power of the Spirit; the church calendar keeps it fifty days after Easter.