N. Hammersley ACTS 2:1-47 THE DAY OF PENTECOST. N. Hammersley INTRODUCTION Without coming of the Holy Spirit, Christian discipleship is impossible

N. HammersleyN. Hammersley

ACTS 2:1-47ACTS 2:1-47

THE DAY OF PENTECOSTTHE DAY OF PENTECOST


INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Without coming of the Holy Spirit, Christian Without coming of the Holy Spirit, Christian discipleship is impossible. No life without the discipleship is impossible. No life without the Life-Giver.Life-Giver.

Four ways to think about Pentecost;Four ways to think about Pentecost; Final saving act of Jesus’ ministry before Parousia.Final saving act of Jesus’ ministry before Parousia. Gave the Apostles “equipment” to witness.Gave the Apostles “equipment” to witness. Began the New Era of the Spirit.Began the New Era of the Spirit. First great consciousness of God’s immediacy.First great consciousness of God’s immediacy.


ACTS 2:1-13 The EventsACTS 2:1-13 The Events

They were all together in one place, They were all together in one place, Upper-room?Upper-room?

Pentecost is a) a harvest festival b) Pentecost is a) a harvest festival b) Anniversary of the giving of the Anniversary of the giving of the commandmentscommandments

So we can read this as “The New Law”/ So we can read this as “The New Law”/ covenant/ testamentcovenant/ testament



The Three PhenomenaThe Three Phenomena

Sound of a mighty Sound of a mighty windwind. . What seemed to be What seemed to be tongues of firetongues of fire Filled with the Holy Spirit and Filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in spoke in

other tongues.other tongues.

N.B. these phenomena N.B. these phenomena appearedappeared to be to be something which they were not.something which they were not.


The crowd was international, The crowd was international, “every nation” means the “every nation” means the Mediterranean world, and the list Mediterranean world, and the list means the four corners of the the means the four corners of the the Mediterranean.Mediterranean.


..


Glossolalia –speaking in tonguesGlossolalia –speaking in tongues

What is the language, if any?What is the language, if any? Not drink…too early in the day!Not drink…too early in the day! Do they lose control? Yet fruit of the Do they lose control? Yet fruit of the

Holy Spirit is self-control.Holy Spirit is self-control. It symbolises a new unity between It symbolises a new unity between

heaven and earth. It reverses the heaven and earth. It reverses the confusion of Babel (Genesis 11). confusion of Babel (Genesis 11). Eschatological language.Eschatological language.


Catechism of the Catholic ChurchCatechism of the Catholic Church

"Fire. While water signifies birth and the fruitfulness of life "Fire. While water signifies birth and the fruitfulness of life given in the Holy Spirit, fire symbolizes the transforming given in the Holy Spirit, fire symbolizes the transforming energy of the Holy Spirit's actions. The prayer of the energy of the Holy Spirit's actions. The prayer of the prophet Elijah, who 'arose like fire' and whose 'word burned prophet Elijah, who 'arose like fire' and whose 'word burned like a torch. This event was a 'figure' of the fire of the Holy like a torch. This event was a 'figure' of the fire of the Holy Spirit, who transforms what he touches. John the Baptist, Spirit, who transforms what he touches. John the Baptist, who goes 'before (the Lord) in the spirit and power of Elijah,' who goes 'before (the Lord) in the spirit and power of Elijah,' proclaims Christ as the one who 'will baptize you with the proclaims Christ as the one who 'will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.'[Holy Spirit and with fire.'[Lk 1:17Lk 1:17 ; ; Lk 3:16Lk 3:16 .] Jesus will say .] Jesus will say of the Spirit: 'I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would of the Spirit: 'I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!'[that it were already kindled!'[Lk 12:49Lk 12:49 .] In the form of .] In the form of tongues 'as of fire,' the Holy Spirit rests on the disciples on tongues 'as of fire,' the Holy Spirit rests on the disciples on the morning of PENTECOST and fills them with himself the morning of PENTECOST and fills them with himself [[Acts 2:3-4Acts 2:3-4 .] The spiritual tradition has retained this .] The spiritual tradition has retained this symbolism of fire as one of the most expressive images of symbolism of fire as one of the most expressive images of the Holy Spirit's actions. (CCC#696)the Holy Spirit's actions. (CCC#696)


ACTS 2:14-21 Peter’s SpeechACTS 2:14-21 Peter’s Speech

Quotation from JoelQuotation from Joel Peter explains the events as the Old Peter explains the events as the Old

Testament being fulfilled.Testament being fulfilled. The events are what Joel was talking The events are what Joel was talking

about.about. He changes Joel “afterwards” to “in the He changes Joel “afterwards” to “in the

last days”.last days”. He applies it to Jesus.He applies it to Jesus.


ACTS 2:22-41 Peter’s testimony to JesusACTS 2:22-41 Peter’s testimony to Jesus

Jesus’ life and MinistryJesus’ life and Ministry 2:22 A man – 2:22 A man – accredited by God, miraclesaccredited by God, miracles

His deathHis death 2:23 Killed, handed over – not by 2:23 Killed, handed over – not by Judas but God allowed it. Put to death by Judas but God allowed it. Put to death by nailing to a cross.nailing to a cross.

His resurrection 2:24-32 God raised Jesus His resurrection 2:24-32 God raised Jesus up from the dead. Use of the Psalms as proof up from the dead. Use of the Psalms as proof texts. To understand Peter’s use of scripture texts. To understand Peter’s use of scripture remember three points;remember three points;

All scripture bears witness to Christ.All scripture bears witness to Christ. References to Messiah , anointed one etc, point to JesusReferences to Messiah , anointed one etc, point to Jesus Therefore, Peter use of scripture is logical.Therefore, Peter use of scripture is logical.


Jesus’ ExaltationJesus’ Exaltation 2:33-36; Jesus is 2:33-36; Jesus is granted all power and honour.granted all power and honour.

Jesus’ SalvationJesus’ Salvation 2:37-39; The crowds 2:37-39; The crowds are promised two things, Forgiveness are promised two things, Forgiveness and the gift of the Holy Spirit. N.B. Giftand the gift of the Holy Spirit. N.B. Gift

Jesus’ New community 2:40-41; The Jesus’ New community 2:40-41; The Body of Christ in Jerusalem is multiplied Body of Christ in Jerusalem is multiplied 20x, from 120 < 3,120.20x, from 120 < 3,120.


THE EFFECT OF PENTECOSTTHE EFFECT OF PENTECOST

A “A “learning churchlearning church”. ”. (didache) (didache) That she is That she is engaged in recalling the Masters example and engaged in recalling the Masters example and learning from it, and as a result of Pentecost, learning from it, and as a result of Pentecost, the apostles themselves have teaching the apostles themselves have teaching authority (proved by the many signs and authority (proved by the many signs and wonders, for example Acts 2:43, 3:1-10, and so wonders, for example Acts 2:43, 3:1-10, and so on).on).

It is a “It is a “Loving churchLoving church”. ”. (koinonia)(koinonia) The church The church sees itself in fellowship, with each member and sees itself in fellowship, with each member and with the Holy Trinity, a divine and human with the Holy Trinity, a divine and human koinonia. koinonia.


The church was a “The church was a “worshipping worshipping churchchurch”. ”. (leiturgia)(leiturgia) The members The members “devoted themselves…to the breaking “devoted themselves…to the breaking of bread and to prayer”. This may refer of bread and to prayer”. This may refer to formal and informal worship. to formal and informal worship. Religion of the Temple and the home.Religion of the Temple and the home.

It was a prayerful and “It was a prayerful and “an evangelistic an evangelistic churchchurch”. ”. (diakonia) (diakonia) The Holy Spirit had The Holy Spirit had changed the disciples into a missionary, changed the disciples into a missionary, “loving, caring, sharing church”. (Stott, “loving, caring, sharing church”. (Stott, p87)p87)


THE EFFECT OF THE EFFECT OF PENTECOSTPENTECOST

EVANGELISTICCHURCH

LOVINGCHURCH

WORSHIPPINGCHURCH

LEARNINGCHURCH

HOLY SPIRIT Pentecost

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N. Hammersley ACTS 2:1-47 THE DAY OF PENTECOST. N. Hammersley INTRODUCTION Without coming of the Holy Spirit, Christian discipleship is impossible