John 14:15-21
Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
Acts 2:1-47
The Holy Spirit Comes on the Day of the Pentecost
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.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17
“‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19
I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20
The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21
And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him:
“‘I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest in hope,
27
because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
you will not let your holy one see decay.
28
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
29 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
35
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”’
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
The Fellowship of the Believers
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Jesus told His Disciples before His arrest, death, resurrection, and ascension that if they loved Him they would keep His commands...And if they kept His commands He would ask His Father, and He would give them another Advocate to help them and this Advocate would be with them forever— He is also called the Spirit of Truth...The world cannot accept the Spirit of Truth, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him...But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you...I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you...Before long, the world will not see Me no more, but you will see Me...Because I will continue to live, you also will live...On that day you will realize that I AM in My Father, and you are in Me, and I AM in you...Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who continues to love Me...The one who loves Me will be LOVED by My Father, and I too will LOVE them and I will show Myself to them after My death...
The Spirit of Truth would come on that day...And that day is the Day of the Pentecost after His death and ascension...And on the Day of Pentecost the Disciples realized that Jesus was and is in the Father, and His Disciples are in Him, and Jesus was in His Disciples...Jesus had planted Himself in their hearts and dwelling in them now was the Holy Spirit...The Advocate that would guide them now to all Truth...And the Holy Spirit would arrive on that day of the Pentecost as Jesus had said...
And on that Day when the day of Pentecost did come, the Disciples were all together in the same place...So quickly and suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from the heavens and filled the whole house where the Disciples were sitting...They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them...All of the Disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Holy Spirit enabled them...On that Day, in the town of Jerusalem, there were many God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven...When the different people heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken....Many different languages were being spoken by the Disciples...The crowd was utterly amazed...They asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?...Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?...Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”...Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”...Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”...
So Peter got up and spoke and tried to help the crowd make sense of all this amazement, bewilderment, and confusion...“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a Man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know...This Man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross...But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him...David said about Him: “‘I saw the LORD always before me...Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken...Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your Holy One see decay...You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’...“Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day...But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne...Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that He was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did His body see decay...God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it...Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear...For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’...“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”...When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”...Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins...And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit...The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”...With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”...Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day....
The people felt the Holy Spirit in their hearts on that day...On that Day, the Day of the Pentecost the Holy Spirit arrived and brought many believers together...The birth of the Church of Jesus, and followers of the Messiah had begun...