I Will Pour Out My Spirit: The Gospel of the Great 50 Days

Ten days after the ascension of Christ and fifty days after his resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples on the day of Pentecost. Pentecost was an established Jewish festival also known as the Feast of Weeks, which drew people from many nations back to Jerusalem (Leviticus 23:15-21; Deuteronomy 16:16).

Pentecost symbolizes a new beginning. It celebrates the unleashing of the Holy Spirit on the world and the empowering of the church to reach the world with the gospel. In celebrating Pentecost, the church expresses its gratitude for the faithfulness of Christ in fulfilling his promise to send "another advocate" (John 14:16); celebrates the work of the Spirit in renewing all of creation; professes its confidence and security in knowing the Spirit's power is available for its mission; and grows in awareness of the immensity of its calling to reach the work with the gospel.

PENTECOST SUNDAY
REVISED COMMON LECTIONARY
ACTS 2:1-21

The Holy Spirit Comes

2 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.

7 They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! 9 Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” 12 They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.

13 But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”

Peter Preaches to the Crowd

14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. 16 No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:

17 ‘In the last days,’ God says,
    ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
    Your young men will see visions,
    and your old men will dream dreams.

18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit
    even on my servants—men and women alike—
    and they will prophesy.

19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below—
    blood and fire and clouds of smoke.

20 The sun will become dark,
    and the moon will turn blood red
    before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.

21 But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be   
    saved.’

PRAYER OF RENEWAL

Holy One, when Christ ascended into heaven
to reign with you in power and glory,
you sent the Spirit of truth to guide us
into the way, the truth, and the life of Christ.
Let your Spirit, our Advocate, guide us still -
preserving us from judgment,
protecting us from sin,
and leading us into righteousness,
so that we may testify to the good news:
fullness of life and joy;
through Jesus Christ our Savior
and in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

SONG OF RESPONSE