Acts 2:1-13

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The birth of the Church was at Pentecost.

  2. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was at Pentecost.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Expect mixed reactions to your godly lifestyle.

QUESTIONS

  1. What is the history of Pentecost?

  2. How long after our Lord’s resurrection was Pentecost?

  3. How could so many Jews have gathered to hear the disciples?

  4. What is a “mystery” in the Bible?

ANSWERS

  1. Pentecost was one of the annual Jewish feasts. It was called Pentecost because it came fifty days after the Feast of the Firstfruits.

  2. Our Lord was crucified on the Jewish feast of Passover as the true Passover Lamb. He arose on the Feast of Firstfruits. Now fifty days have gone by till Pentecost.

  3. A multitude of Jews from all over the Roman Empire were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost at the Temple.

  4. A biblical mystery is something that was concealed in the Old Testament, but is revealed in the New Testament.

  5. Both! The Holy Spirit indwells each individual believer and He also dwells in the midst of believers united together as the Church.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Discuss the beginning of the Church at Pentecost. Many complications and misinterpretations would be avoided if believers clearly distinguished between Israel and the Church.

  2. Discuss three wonderful works of the Holy Spirit: indwelling, baptism, and filling. Every believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit from the moment of conversion and is baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body, the Church. There can be fillings of the Spirit after salvation. In fact, Ephesians 5:18 exhorts all believers to be continually filled with the Spirit.

CHALLENGE

  1. When the early Christians were filled with the Spirit, some believed and some thought they were drunk! Expect mixed reactions to your godly lifestyle.

KEY VERSES

  • “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:4

  • “And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.” Acts 2:6



Acts, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsActs 2:1-13