In continuation from yesterday, Pentecost is a Christian celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit through the miracle of speaking in tongues. In the Jewish tradition, it began with scripture readings at 9:00 a.m.. It is traditionally taught that the gift was given in what people call the upper room. This is mentioned in the first chapter of Acts as the place the disciples were gathered.

The disciples were actually assembled in the temple or in the house as the Jews would say. This is where the Christian holiday of Pentecost was birthed as mentioned in Acts chapter two. Imagine the crowd of thousands of people being drawn into God’s house, as they heard the sound of all of them being filled with the Holy Spirit. When you think about Pentecost happening actually in the temple, rather than happening in an upper room, it confirms the scripture saying “the whole house was full of the spirit,” which gives more life and meaning to the biblical account.

In Jerusalem at that time were God-fearing Jews and converts from every nation under heaven. The text states believers were represented from all over the globe including Asia, Rome, Egypt, Libya, Judea and Arabia, to name a few. From each of these countries, cities and regions the delegates heard those filled with the Holy Spirit declaring the wonders of God in their own language!

Friend, this account of Pentecost is an amazing story, and it’s God’s fulfillment of His promise. On this day that was traditionally a celebration of the giving of the law, for believers, it became the day of the giving of the spirit. We need to celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit.