Pentecost was known as the "feast of weeks" in the Old Testament. Duet. 16:10. Pentecost means fifty and always came on the 50th day after the Passover. Duet. 16:9,10; Lev. 23:15. The Holy Spirit descended on the apostles, on the day of Pentecost, in Jerusalem. Acts 2:1-4. In the late 4th century Pentecost became known as Whitsunday. (The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, p. 1738). The day of Pentecost, in Jerusalem recorded in Acts 2, marks the beginning of the church/kingdom which Jesus had promised to set up. Mt. 16:18; Mk. 9:1; Jo. 18:36. This was the first day anyone could be in the church/kingdom of Christ. Acts 2:41,47. Christ promised to give the keys of the kingdom to the apostles so they could open it to mankind. Mt. 16:19. This was to be the preaching of the apostles on the day of Pentecost. Mt. 16:19; Acts 2. Peter's great sermon on Pentecost day was heard and believed by thousands and they asked, "what shall we do." Acts 2:37. "The Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38. About 3000 obeyed his words and were baptized. Acts 2:41. Those being baptized for the remission of sins were added by Jesus to his church. Acts 2:47. If we will read this second chapter of Acts, carefully and without prejudice, we will see that Peter gave only one way to be saved. The saved were added to only one church. The same gospel is being preached today by churches of Christ and if men will obey this gospel they also will be cleansed of their sins and added to the church by Christ.

 

By Earl B. Claud