Page 15 - Acts Student Textbook

The Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost (2:1). Uttly says, “Pentecost is an annual Jewish Feast
Which is also called "Feast of Weeks" (cf. Exod. 34:22; Deut. 16:10). The term "Pentecost" means
"fiftieth." This feast was held fifty days (seven weeks) after Passover (i.e., numbering from the
second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread). It had three purposes in Jesus' day: (1)
commemoration of giving of the Law to Moses (cf. Jubliees 1:1); (2) thanksgiving to God for the
harvest; (3) An offering of the first fruits (i.e., a sign of YHWH's ownership of the whole harvest) of
the grain harvest. The OT background is in Exod. 23:16-17; 34:22; Lev. 23:15-21; Num. 28:26-31 and
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Deut. 16:9-12.”

Pentecost was one of the three annual holy days for which all Jewish males over twenty years of age
were required by law to assemble in Jerusalem (see 2:5; Ex. 23:14-17; 2 Chron. 8:12,13). This is why
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we will find Jews from all over the world present on this day.

How was the Coming of the Holy Spirit?

At this point, it will be important that we break down the first four verses so that we have a better
understanding of this important event:
Let’s observe the text….1 “And when the day of Pentecost was now come, they were all together in
one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind, and
it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them tongues parting
asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” Acts 2:1-4 (ASV).

“was now come” This is literally "had been filled." It is a PRESENT PASSIVE INFINITIVE. This was a
divine appointment and fulfillment of divine purpose. It is used only in Luke's writings (cf. Luke 8:23;
9:51; here; and a similar metaphor in Luke 2:6). Human history is calendared by YHWH. Vincent
reminds us that “the Jews saw the day as a container to be filled. The time of Pentecost had fully
come! It was also the time of God's special inauguration of the Age of the Spirit, the beginning of the
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church.”

Luke says, "they were all together in one place" This phrase implies unity of both place and mind (cf.
1:14). It is not certain where this occurred. It was probably in the "upper room" (cf. Acts 1:13;
"house," v. 2), but at some point the Temple is involved in this experience
(cf. Luke 24:53; size of group in v. 47).

2:2 "came from heaven a sound as of the rushing of a mighty wind" In this
entire section the emphasis is on the sound, not the wind or fire. This is
similar to Gen. 3:8. Uttly gives us a helpful background here, “In the OT the
word ruah (BDB 924) is used of breath, wind, and Spirit (cf. Ezek. 37:9-14);
in the NT pneuma is used of wind and the Holy Spirit (cf. John 3:5-8). The
term wind in this verse is pnoē. It is used only here and in 17:25. The term
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pneuma is used of the Spirit in v. 4.”
2:3 " tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of
them." The text appears to describe a sound and light event. The light-like
fire was at first unified, but broke into separate manifestations and gathered on each believer. Each
person in the Upper Room—Apostles, Jesus' family members, and disciples—had visible confirmation
of their inclusion. The church was one!

7 Uttly, (Act 2:1).
Ibid
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9 Marvin R. Vincent, The Word Studies in the New Testament, V1, Philadelphia, 1887, (p. 224).
10 Uttly, (Acts 2:2).
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