The Day of Pentecost
Acts 2:1-21
Guest Pastor Dave Bloedel
5/15/2016
Series:
2016-sunday-study
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/lXO0-eP3B2A
Light on the Lessons
The Day of Pentecost; Cycle C; May 15, 2016
Getting Started
When we think of “church,” our first thought, often, is of our own congregation. How important for you is the vision of a world-wide, universal church embracing many languages and nationalities?
Acts 2:1-21
The Feast of Weeks was the second of the great pilgrimage festivals. Originally a harvest festival, it gained the Greek title Pentecost (meaning 50th day) because it came 50 days after Passover. In Luke’s day, Pentecost was viewed as a celebration of giving the Law on Sinai.
A. Read Leviticus 23:15-22, describing the harvest festival.
1. What verses describe the ritual of thanksgiving?
2. How did seven weeks become 50 days?
3. What verse describes a social justice concern at harvest time?
B. How does this passage fulfill the promise spoken by John the Baptist (Luke 3:16)?
C. Read Exodus 19:16-25, the giving of the Law (Torah).
1. With what verses in Acts does it compare?
2. Why do you think this resemblance was important for Luke to mention?
D. Read Genesis 11:1-9.
1. What similarities and differences do you see between the Tower of Babel and Pentecost?
E. What the apostles spoke has been subject to dispute. The word “tongue” can refer to language or ecstatic speech, as in Corinth. Read 1 Corinthians 14:1-19. What in the Luke narrative suggests ecstatic speech? What suggests real languages?
F. Why do you think Luke lists all the nations in verses 9-11? (Clue: Compare Acts 1:8.) How does the quotation from Joel support this purpose?
What Does It All Mean?
Talk about times when you have experienced these actions of the Spirit:
(A) The Spirit gives the words we need to comfort another or to testify to Christ.
(B) The Spirit makes real to us the things of God, such as the resurrection and the Eucharist.
(C) The Spirit keeps our spirits intact through difficult times.
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