Pentecost

== New Testament ==
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[[File:Cenacle on Mount Zion.jpg|thumb|The [[Cenacle]] in [[Jerusalem]] is claimed to be the location of the [[Last Supper]] and Pentecost.<ref>{{Cite book |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-411-8843-4 |last1=Maʻoz |first1=Moshe |last2=Nusseibeh |first2=Sari |title=Jerusalem: Points Beyond Friction, and Beyond |date=2000}}</ref>]]
The narrative in [[Acts 2]] of the Pentecost includes numerous references to earlier biblical narratives like the [[Tower of Babel]], and the [[Genesis flood narrative|flood]] and [[Genesis creation narrative|creation]] narratives from the Book of Genesis. It also includes references to certain [[theophany|theophanies]], with certain emphasis on God's incarnate appearance on [[biblical Mount Sinai]] when the [[Ten Commandments]] were presented to [[Moses]].<ref name=jansen /> Theologian Stephen Wilson has described the narrative as "exceptionally obscure" and various points of disagreement persist among bible scholars.<ref name=gilbert>{{Cite journal| doi = 10.2307/3268158| issn = 0021-9231| volume = 121| issue = 3| pages = 497–529| last = Gilbert| first = Gary| title = The List of Nations in Acts 2: Roman Propaganda and the Lukan Response| journal = Journal of Biblical Literature| date = 2002| jstor = 3268158}}</ref>

Some biblical commentators have sought to establish that the {{lang|grc|οἶκος}} ("house") given as the location of the events in Acts 2:2 was one of the thirty halls of the Temple where St Johns school is now placed (called {{lang|grc|οἶκοι}}), but the text itself is lacking in specific details. [[Richard C. H. Lenski]] and other scholars contend that the author of Acts could have chosen the word {{lang|grc|ἱερόν}} (sanctuary or temple) if this meaning were intended, rather than "house".<ref name=ebcacts /><ref name=Lenski>{{Cite book| publisher = Augsburg Fortress| isbn = 978-1-4514-1677-0| last = Lenski| first = R. C. H.| title = Commentary on the New Testament: The Interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles 1-14| date = 2008}}</ref> Some semantic details suggest that the "house" could be the "upper room" ({{lang|grc|ὑπερῷον}}) mentioned in {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Acts|chapter=1|verse=12|range=-26}}, but there is no literary evidence to confirm the location with certainty and it remains a subject of dispute amongst scholars.<ref name=jansen /><ref name=ebcacts />

[[File:Schnorr_von_Carolsfeld_Bibel_in_Bildern_1860_226.png|thumb|Pentecost by [[Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld]] ]]
[[File:1472 map of Jerusalem by Hugo Comminelli and Pietro del Massaio 01.jpg|thumb|This 1472 [[Cartography of Jerusalem|map of Jerusalem]] notes the place of the Pentecost, ''Ubi apostoli acceperunt spiritum sanctum'', at the location of the [[Cenacle]].]]
The events of Acts Chapter 2 are set against the backdrop of the celebration of Pentecost in Jerusalem. There are several major features to the Pentecost narrative presented in the second chapter of the [[Acts of the Apostles]]. The author begins by noting that the disciples of Jesus "were all together in one place" on the "day of Pentecost" ({{lang|grc|ἡμέρα τῆς Πεντηκοστῆς}}).<ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|2:1|ESV}}</ref> The verb used in Acts 2:1 to indicate the arrival of the day of Pentecost carries a connotation of fulfillment.<ref name=Lenski /><ref name=vine>{{Cite book| publisher = Thomas Nelson Incorporated| isbn = 978-0-7852-5054-8| last = Vine| first = W. E.| title = Vine's Expository Dictionary of the Old & New Testament Words| year = 2003}}</ref><ref name=Calvin>{{Cite book|last=Calvin |first=John |title = Commentary on Acts – Volume 1 – Christian Classics Ethereal Library| access-date = 2018-12-02| url = https://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom36.ix.i.html}}</ref>

There is a "mighty rushing wind" (wind is a common symbol for the Holy Spirit)<ref name=Calvin /><ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|2:2|ESV}}</ref> and "tongues as of fire" appear.<ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|2:3|NABRE}}</ref> The gathered disciples were "filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance".<ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|2:4|ESV}}</ref> Some scholars have interpreted the passage as a reference to the multitude of languages spoken by the gathered disciples,<ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|2:6–11|NABRE}}</ref> while others have taken the reference to "tongues" ({{lang|grc|γλῶσσαι}}) to signify [[speaking in tongues|ecstatic speech]].<ref name=gilbert /><ref>{{bibleverse|1 Corinthians|14|ESV}}</ref> 

In Christian tradition, this event represents fulfillment of the promise that Christ will [[baptize]] his followers with the Holy Spirit.<ref name=Lenski /><ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|1:5|ESV}}, {{bibleverse|John|14:16–17}}</ref> Out of the four New Testament gospels, the distinction between baptism by water and the baptism by Christ with "Holy Spirit and fire" is only found in [[The Book of Matthew|Matthew]] and Luke.<ref>{{bibleverse|Luke|3:16|ESV}}</ref><ref>''Expositor's Bible Commentary''</ref>

The narrative in Acts evokes the symbolism of Jesus' baptism in the [[Jordan River]], and the start of his ministry, by explicitly connecting the earlier prophecy of [[John the Baptist]] to the baptism of the disciples with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.<ref name=ebcacts /><ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|1:5|ESV}}, {{bibleverse|Acts|11:16|ESV}}</ref> The timing of the narrative during the law giving festival of Pentecost symbolizes both continuity with the giving of the law, but also the central role of the Holy Spirit for the early church. The central role of Christ in Christian faith signified a fundamental theological separation from the traditional Jewish faith, which was grounded in the Torah and Mosaic Law.<ref name=ebcacts />

Peter's sermon in {{Sourcetext|source=Bible|version=King James|book=Acts|chapter=2|verse=14|range=–36}} stresses the [[Resurrection of Jesus|resurrection]] and [[Session of Christ|exaltation]].<ref name=isbe /> In his sermon, Peter quotes [[Joel 2:28–32]] and [[Psalm 16]] to indicate that first Pentecost marks the start of the [[Messianic Age]]. About one hundred and twenty followers of Christ (Acts 1:15) were present, including the Twelve Apostles ([[Saint Matthias|Matthias]] was [[Judas]]' replacement) (Acts 1:13, 26), Jesus' mother Mary, other female disciples and his brothers ({{bibleref2|Acts|1:14|KJV}}). While those on whom the Spirit had descended were speaking in many languages, the [[Saint Peter|Apostle Peter]] stood up with the [[Apostles in the New Testament|eleven]] and proclaimed to the crowd that this event was the fulfillment of the prophecy.<ref>{{bibleverse|Joel|2:28–29|ESV}}</ref> 

In [[Acts 2#Verses 16–21|Acts 2:17]], it reads: "'And in the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out my spirit upon every sort of flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy and your young men will see visions and your old men will dream dreams." He also mentions ([[Acts 2:15]]) that it was the third hour of the day (about 9:00&nbsp;am). [[Acts 2:41]] then reports: "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."<ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|2:41|ESV}}</ref> 

Critical scholars believe some features of the narrative are theological constructions. Scholars believe that even if the Pentecost narrative is not literally true, it does signify an important event in the history of the early church which enabled the rapid spread of Christianity. Within a few decades important congregations had been established in all major cities of the Roman Empire.<ref name=isbe />

Biblical commentator [[Richard C. H. Lenski]] has noted that the use of the term "Pentecost" in Acts is a reference to the Jewish festival. He writes that a well-defined, distinct Christian celebration did not exist until later years, when Christians kept the name of "Pentecost" but began to calculate the date of the feast based on Easter rather than Passover.<ref name=Lenski />

Peter stated that this event was the beginning of a continual outpouring that would be available to all believers from that point on, Jews and Gentiles alike.<ref>{{bibleverse||Acts|2:39|KJV}}</ref>