THE DAY OF PENTECOST WAS FULLY COME

Acts 2:1-4 And when the Day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The Day of Pentecost, often referred to as the Feast of Weeks, was fully come on the day following the Sabbath of Weeks - the previous seven-week period of Passover - the fiftieth, or the day following the Passover feast. Although there is some philosophical controversy, Leviticus 23:15-22 described the Day of Pentecost as the day following the seventh Passover Sabbath. Therefore, the Day of Pentecost would occur on the day we refer to as Sunday. Jewish people from all over the known world would gather together in Jerusalem for the entire Passover festival. Some of the countries from which they would come are given in Acts 2:9-11. It was the final day to remember their trials and tribulations, as well as their escape from their bondage in Egypt. It was a day set aside to reconsecrate themselves to God. Various sacrifices were offered to the Lord on this day, but since it occurred at the end of the grain harvest season, it was also celebrated by presenting to the Lord two loaves of unleavened bread made from the first fruits of the wheat harvest. Although unknown to those gathered together on this holy day, it would be the last Feast of Passover and Day of Pentecost required by God to be celebrated under Jewish law.

It was on this fiftieth day following the Feast of the Passover; Sunday; the Day of Pentecost, that they were all assembled together. Here, "they" refers to, not only the twelve apostles of Christ, but also to the other disciples that made up the hundred and twenty men and women gathered together in the upper room and that were referred to in Acts 1:13-15. Not only were they assembled together, but they were all with one accord in one place. As Acts 1:14 says, they continued with one accord in prayer and supplication. Their minds, no doubt, were united and focused on a common objective, anticipating what their risen and ascended Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ held in store for them. The one place where they were assembled was probably, as Acts 2:46 suggests, in the Jewish temple, or a particular house in its vicinity.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. The sound they all heard, without a doubt, was unlike any sound originating from an earthly source - it was assuredly a sound from heaven that could only be described in earthly terms as of a rushing mighty wind. One can almost sense the tension this unearthly occurrence brought to this assembled body of Christ's followers as they anticipated a heavenly announcement that would surely follow this trumpeting sound from heaven.

As they sat filled with awe, there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. What each of them saw was something eerie and unnatural to earthly beings; something that had the appearance, and could only be described as cloven, or separate small flames of fire, with each flame having the shape similar to that of a tongue, which sat upon each of them. That is, these individual, small flames of fire appeared to rest on the heads of each person assembled in the house where they were sitting. It seems that immediately, as this took place, they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The unique appearance of small flames shaped like that of tongues, could very well be emblematic of the diversity of languages which was about to proclaim God's plan of salvation to all people of the world beginning in Jerusalem. Confirmed by Jesus (Acts 1:5), the prophecy of John the Baptist was fulfilled on this day - the Day of Pentecost. By inspiration, John knew this was true when he said, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire (Matt. 3:11). The Holy Spirit of God guided every word that was spoken by the apostles on this day. It was by His wisdom, not that of man, that God's plan of eternal salvation was revealed to the world. The Day of Pentecost was fully come!