Jesus’ Apostles Filled with the Holy Spirit on Pentecost
About This Entry
This passage describes the apostles’ reception of the holy spirit when they are gathered in Jerusalem on Shavuot (Pentecost). The imagery of fire as a sign of divine presence echoes Exodus 3:2 and 14:24, and other passages in the Hebrew Bible.
1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each.
Translation from the New Revised Standard Version.
Credits
New Revised Standard Version Bible copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.
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In this passage, Judah Maccabee and his forces go to Jerusalem to observe Shavuot before heading to battle in Idumea.
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In this passage, Antiochus VII grants the request of high priest and ethnarch John Hyrcanus for a pause in fighting to observe a Jewish festival.
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