Just before His ascension
into heaven, Jesus instructed the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the coming
of the Holy Spirit. This coming would supernaturally empower them to carry out
their mission of preaching the gospel to the world (Acts 1:8).
The Holy Spirit came upon the
apostles ten days later, on the feast day of Pentecost. Pentecost, called the
"Feast of Weeks" and "Feast of Harvest" in the Old
Testament, was one of three annual feasts that Jews were required to attend in
Jerusalem. The others were Passover and Tabernacles. Jerusalem was overflowing
with people on Pentecost. It has been estimated that the population in the
city swelled to nearly a million during the feast. In fact, there were so many
Jews in Jerusalem during this time that Roman governors, fearing a spontaneous
revolt, brought in extra troops for security. It is no wonder that God chose
Pentecost to begin the work of preaching the gospel to the world (Mark 16:15).
The place was packed! The symbolism in beginning the harvest of souls on the
feast day celebrating the harvest is also unmistakable.
Contrary to what many teach,
the apostles alone were filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Acts 1 ends
with Matthias being numbered "with the eleven apostles" (v. 26).
Then Acts 2 begins with the pronouns "they" and "them,"
which point back to the antecedent "apostles." There are other clear
indications as well. (1) The promise of Holy Spirit baptism was made to the
apostles (Acts 1:5). (2) Those baptized in the Holy Spirit were all Galileans
(Acts 2:7). (3) Only Peter and the eleven stood up to speak (Acts 2:14). (4)
The Jews directed their question to the apostles (Acts 2:37). The apostles
alone were baptized in the Holy Spirit that day.
