The 50 days following Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection had been an unforgettable time for His disciples. Their Teacher had come back from the dead after a brutal execution and had taught them for 40 days. More than 500 at one time had seen Him (1 Corinthians 15:6). The disciples ate with Him, talked with Him and even touched the wounds where His body had been pierced.
But that was not all. After 40 dramatic days of instruction, the Savior ascended into the clouds, while His disciples watched with wonder and amazement. But He did not leave them alone—He promised to give them something that would empower them with spiritual vitality they had never before experienced (Luke 24:49).
The disciple Luke describes Christ’s encouraging words. “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now’’’ (Acts 1:4–5).
What event was the risen Christ speaking of? What was this “promise” to come? Most Bible students know the basic story, but many are not fully aware of the profound impact this momentous 50th day would have on the Church of God from that point forward. It was the day of Pentecost—the day of miracles—the day the New Testament Church began!
What happened on that amazing Day of Pentecost in 31ad? Luke records the day’s events: “When the Day of Pentecost had 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 the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1–4).
The beginning of the New Testament Church was characterized by astonishing sights and sounds. It was a powerful display of divine power, reminiscent of the awesome sights God had shown on the day He gave Moses the law on Mount Sinai (Hebrews 12:18-21). In fact, according to Jewish tradition, the law of God at Mount Sinai was given on the Day of Pentecost many centuries earlier!
But more important than the sights and sounds were the events that could not be seen or heard. These manifestations of God’s majesty signaled the outpouring of the power of the universe—God’s Spirit! The same power that ignited the sun and the stars—the power that formed and set the planets in motion—would now literally abide in human beings on Earth (John 14:17).