Bible Timeline · AD 30 or 33

The Ascension and the Day of Pentecost

Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus was taken up into heaven from the Mount of Olives and told His followers to wait in Jerusalem. Ten days later, on the Jewish feast of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came with wind and fire, the believers spoke in other languages, Peter preached, and about 3,000 people were baptized. Christians call it the birthday of the church.

Read it in the Bible: Acts 1-2 Joel 2:28-32 Luke 24:50-53 Leviticus 23:15-21 Genesis 11:1-9

Forty days after rising from the dead, in AD 30 or 33, Jesus led His followers out to the Mount of Olives, gave them their mission, and was taken up into heaven before their eyes. Ten days later, on the Jewish feast of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came on about 120 believers in Jerusalem with the sound of wind and tongues like fire. Peter preached his first sermon, and about 3,000 people believed and were baptized. That day, Christians of every tradition agree, the church was born.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

What Happened at the Ascension of Jesus?

For forty days after Easter, Jesus kept appearing to His disciples and teaching them about the kingdom of God, Acts 1:3. He told them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the gift the Father had promised. Then, on the Mount of Olives near Bethany, He blessed them and went up.

After He had said this, they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9 to 11

The angels’ question has a little humor in it. Don’t just stand there staring at the clouds. He is coming back, and you have work to do. Many churches mark Ascension Day forty days after Easter, always on a Thursday.

Why Did Jesus Have to Go Away?

The disciples did not want Jesus to leave. But He had already told them it was better this way.

But I tell you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. John 16:7

While Jesus walked the earth in a body, He could be in only one place at a time. The Holy Spirit would live inside every believer, everywhere at once. The ascension also means Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father, ruling and praying for His people, Hebrews 7:25.

In the ten days between, the eleven apostles, the women, Mary the mother of Jesus and His brothers all prayed together, Acts 1:14. They also chose Matthias to take Judas’ place, so the Twelve were complete again.

What Is Pentecost?

Pentecost was not invented by the church. It was already a major Jewish feast called Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks. The Law told Israel to count seven weeks, or fifty days, from the Passover offering, Leviticus 23:15 to 16. The Greek word Pentecost simply means fiftieth.

Shavuot was a harvest festival when the firstfruits of the wheat were offered to God. Later Jewish tradition also linked it with the giving of the law at Mount Sinai. It was one of three feasts when Jewish men came to Jerusalem, so the city was packed with pilgrims from all over the Roman world and beyond. God picked the perfect day for a worldwide announcement.

What Happened on the Day of Pentecost?

The believers were gathered in one place when heaven broke in.

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 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. Acts 2:1 to 4

A crowd rushed over, and people from at least fifteen regions heard these Galilean fishermen praising God in their own native languages. Luke lists them, from Parthians and Medes in the east to visitors from Rome in the west. Some were amazed. Others joked that the disciples were drunk. Peter pointed out that it was only nine in the morning, which is not a great time to be drunk.

What Did Peter Preach at Pentecost?

Just seven weeks earlier Peter had denied knowing Jesus three times. Now he stood up in front of thousands. He said this was what the prophet Joel had promised centuries before.

And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Joel 2:28

Peter told them about Jesus: His miracles, His death by God’s plan, and His resurrection, which they had all witnessed. He quoted David in Psalms 16 and 110 to show the Messiah would rise and reign. Then he landed the point that cut the crowd to the heart: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked 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. Acts 2:37 to 38

Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day. Acts 2:41

Here is a striking detail. At Mount Sinai, after the golden calf, about three thousand people died, Exodus 32:28. At the Pentecost that Jewish tradition tied to Sinai, about three thousand people received new life. The law shows us our sin. The Spirit gives life.

How Is Pentecost the Reverse of Babel?

Back in Genesis 11, people built a tower to make a name for themselves, and God confused their language and scattered them. At Pentecost God did the opposite. People from many nations gathered in one place and each heard the good news about Jesus in his own language. At Babel, languages divided people. At Pentecost, God used languages to bring them together around the name of Jesus.

It also previews the end of the story. Revelation 7:9 pictures a crowd from every nation, tribe, people and tongue worshiping together. Pentecost was the first taste.

What Pentecost Means for You Today

The first church was simple and powerful. Acts 2:42 says they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to breaking bread and to prayer. They shared what they had with anyone in need, and the Lord added to their number daily.

Christians today still debate some things about the Spirit, like whether gifts such as tongues continue now. Pentecostal and charismatic churches say yes, and many other churches believe those sign gifts were mainly for the founding of the church. The Pentecostal Movement article on this site tells that story. But every church agrees that the same Spirit who came at Pentecost lives in every believer today. Peter said the promise was for you and your children and for all who are far off. That still includes all of us.

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Questions People Ask

How many days after Easter is Pentecost?

Pentecost comes fifty days after Easter, counting Easter Sunday, which is why the Greek name means fiftieth. Jesus ascended forty days after His resurrection, Acts 1:3, and the Spirit came ten days later on the Jewish Feast of Weeks.

Where did Jesus ascend into heaven?

Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives, near Bethany, just east of Jerusalem. Luke 24:50 to 51 says He led them out as far as Bethany, and Acts 1:12 says they returned from the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city.

Why is Pentecost called the birthday of the church?

On Pentecost the Holy Spirit came to live in Jesus' followers, Peter preached the first gospel sermon, and about 3,000 people were baptized, Acts 2:41. From that day the believers met together as a community, so Christians of all traditions see it as the start of the church.

What is the Jewish holiday of Pentecost?

The Jewish feast is called Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks. It falls seven weeks after Passover and began as a wheat harvest festival, Leviticus 23:15 to 21. Later Jewish tradition also connected it with God giving the law at Mount Sinai.

What did the tongues of fire mean at Pentecost?

The tongues like fire showed God's presence coming on each believer, much as fire marked His presence at the burning bush and at Sinai. John the Baptist had said Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire, Matthew 3:11. The speaking in other languages showed the gospel was for every nation.

Sources

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