Topical Encyclopedia IntroductionPentecost, also known as the Feast of Harvest, is a significant event in the biblical narrative, deeply rooted in the agricultural and spiritual life of Israel. It is one of the three major pilgrimage festivals in the Jewish calendar, alongside Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles. The term "Pentecost" is derived from the Greek word "Pentēkostē," meaning "fiftieth," as it occurs fifty days after the Passover. In Hebrew, it is known as "Shavuot," which means "weeks," reflecting the seven-week counting period from Passover. Old Testament Background The Feast of Harvest is first mentioned in the Torah, where it is established as a time to celebrate the firstfruits of the wheat harvest. In Exodus 23:16 , it is written: "You are to celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field." This festival was a time of thanksgiving and offering, where the Israelites presented the firstfruits of their labor to God as an acknowledgment of His provision and blessing. Leviticus 23:15-21 provides further instructions for the observance of this feast: "From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, you are to count seven full weeks. You shall count fifty days until the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD." This passage outlines the specific timing and offerings associated with the Feast of Harvest, emphasizing its role as a time of communal worship and gratitude. New Testament Significance In the New Testament, Pentecost takes on additional significance as the day when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the apostles, marking the birth of the Christian Church. Acts 2:1-4 describes this pivotal event: "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw tongues like flames of a fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." This outpouring of the Holy Spirit fulfilled the promise of Jesus to send a Helper (John 14:16-17) and empowered the apostles to preach the gospel with boldness. The miraculous events of that day led to the conversion of about three thousand people, as recorded in Acts 2:41 : "Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day." Theological Implications Pentecost is a profound demonstration of God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises. It signifies the transition from the old covenant, centered on the law, to the new covenant, characterized by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Feast of Harvest, with its focus on firstfruits, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the spiritual harvest of souls brought into the Kingdom of God through the preaching of the gospel. The event also underscores the universality of the Christian message, as the apostles spoke in various languages, symbolizing the breaking down of ethnic and linguistic barriers. This aligns with the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), where Jesus commands His followers to "go and make disciples of all nations." Conclusion Pentecost, as the Feast of Harvest, holds a dual significance in the biblical narrative. It is both a celebration of God's provision in the agricultural cycle and a pivotal moment in redemptive history, marking the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. Through this event, the early believers were empowered to carry forth the message of Christ, initiating a spiritual harvest that continues to this day. Nave's Topical Index Exodus 23:16And the feast of harvest, the first fruits of your labors, which you have sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when you have gathered in your labors out of the field. Nave's Topical Index Library The Miracle of Pentecost and the Birthday of the Christian At the Feast of Tabernacles - First Discourse in the Temple Concerning the Festivals; and How Each Day of Such Festival is to ... Pentecost The Two Sabbath-Controversies - the Plucking of the Ears of Corn ... Way-Marks in John's Narrative. Jesus Heals on the Sabbath Day and Defends his Act. The Passover visit The Foundation of the Church. The Book of Jubilees Resources What is the day of Pentecost? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Pentecost Sunday? | GotQuestions.org What is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit? | GotQuestions.org Pentecost: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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