Page 14 - Acts Student Textbook

Study Section 3: Acts 2:1-13 - The Coming of the Holy Spirit

3.1 Connect.

Have you ever wondered why Christianity has continued to thrive since the first Centuries?
One would say ‘but Islam has thrived too since the 7 Century and they are the fastest
th
growing.’ Some even add that ‘even other religious groupings have thrived for ages.’ True,
but the difference between Christianity and other religious groupings is that it has persevered in the
presence of denial, rejection, even persecution. No other religion has that record! Christianity’s
growth never depended on force or manipulation as other religions do. Biblical Christianity has
thrived for two reasons: Firstly, because of its founder’s victory over death which we have already
seen. Secondly, due to the indwelling power and ministry of the Holy Spirit who enables to live
righteously and to witness for truth either through verbal or written. Today we will see where it all
started and how it happened. Let’s begin…

3.2 Objectives.

1. The student should be able to tell when, where and how the Holy Spirit came.

2. The student should be able to analyze the sign of tongues.

3. The student should be able to attend the first church service and have the privilege to hearing the
first sermon preached.

4. The student should be able to examine how the first converts came to the Christian faith and how
they lived their righteous lives and how that affects us today.

3.3 The Coming of the Holy Spirit

The table below shows the events and number of days adding up to the day of Pentecost when
the Holy Spirit came. Let’s follow through....

Events Time Total Time
Elapsed
From Jesus’ death on Passover to Jesus’ resurrection on 3 days 50 days
the first day of the week.

Jesus’ appearances. 40 days

From Jesus’ ascension to the coming of the Holy Spirit on Not many
Pentecost. days
6

6 Ibid, (p. 14).
13