Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues] as the Spirit enabled them.

Pentecost Sunday will be June 8. Today’s blog is the first of three blogs about Pentecost.

Almost all commentaries recognize that Luke has the Old Testament in mind but may focus on only one passage. Some say he sees Pentecost as the reversal of Babel in Genesis 11. Others say that he has the giving of the Law in mind. Still others see God’s promise to Abraham to bless all nations being fulfilled at Pentecost. With the sound of wind at Pentecost, some see Ezekiel’s Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel 37. Finally, with the tongues of fire, some see a reference to God’s presence filling the Tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-45) and Temple (1 Kings 8:10-11).

I ask why we should limit Luke to only one of these passages? I think Luke sees Pentecost as fulfilling several promises, and, in fact, the Old Testament, itself. Luke’s gospel narrative emphasizes Jesus’ sense that in Him Scripture finds its fulfillment. Let’s look at some of these promises.

Babel and Abraham: The confusion of language at Babel contrasted with the understanding through multiple languages at Pentecost, has been an obvious connection for many. Perhaps, but let me suggest something larger at work. Genesis 1-11 deals with the entire world and its fallen nature which incurs God’s judgment. The climax to this is God’s judgment in scattering the world at Babel. Then comes Abraham (Abram). From here, the story narrows to one family. That family is Abraham’s family which in time becomes Israel.

As the story narrows its focus, it does so with a promise that through this family, God would bless all nations. At Pentecost, the mission to restore God’s Kingdom rule over Israel and spread His rule to the ends of the earth began. Babel is reversed in a more profound way than just language!
The giving of the Law—The giving of the Spirit: By the end of the first century, several Jewish writers saw Pentecost as the celebration of meeting God at Sinai and receiving the Torah from Him. Encountering God at Sinai was terrifying, but it gave the enormous blessing of the covenant. Prophets such as Jeremiah (31:31-34) and Ezekiel (36:26-27) looked forward to a New Covenant when God would put His Spirit within His people. At the Last Supper, Jesus passed the cup, which He said was the New Covenant in His blood. At Pentecost that promise became a reality.
Wind and Fire: In the Valley of the Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37), Ezekiel was told to prophesy that breath (the same word can mean wind or spirit) would give life to the lifeless bones of Israel in exile. The connection between wind, breath, and spirit/Spirit has made some see God bringing His life-giving Spirit to God’s Israel in the same way at Pentecost.

Fire was one symbol of God’s presence, often in judgment. The cloud which filled the Tabernacle contained fire (Exodus 4:38), and when it filled the Tabernacle, God’s Holy Presence filled it, and no human could enter. In contrast, at Pentecost, the fire of God’s holy presence filled not only the room, but also the very people in the room. Later on that day, Peter promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to those who were baptized, including those who “are far away” (Acts 2:49).

Luke may not have had each of these specific passages in mind, but he certainly saw in the events of Pentecost a fulfillment of the purposes of God, through Messiah, Jesus, declared throughout the Scriptures.

Next week, “The Church and the Spirit.”

Tim Kelley