Acts 2:1-4, The Day Christianity Began

Posted on Thursday, July 10, 2014 in Bible Commentary | 0 comments

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

//You’ve been reading the account of the descent of the Holy Spirit fifty days after Jesus resurrected. It’s fascinating to note that, for whatever reason, this is the event which triggers full evangelism.

The Gospel of Mark tells us that as soon as the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples went out and preached everywhere. But Luke contradicts this, saying that they did not; rather, they returned to Jerusalem and stayed continually at the temple, praising God. Then, in Acts (which was written by the same author as the gospel of Luke), Pentecost arrives, and something miraculous happens which stirs the disciples into an evangelistic fervor.

What really happened that day? What event could have overshadowed even the resurrection and the ascension, finally prompting believers to begin spreading the gospel? Paul tells of a time when 500 people at once saw the risen Jesus. Is he talking about Pentecost?

Whatever the nature of Jesus’ resurrection, it did not seem to influence anyone very strongly. But when an event of massive proportion occurred (Pentecost), which I admit sounds a lot like a mass hallucination, people were baptized in droves and evangelizing began in earnest. I sure am curious about that day.