The following is an excerpt from An Appointed Time.
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. [Acts 2:1 NKJV]
Scriptures: Exodus 5:1; 10:9; 19–20; 23:16–17; 24; Leviticus 23:15–21; Numbers 28:26–31; Acts 2; 2 Corinthians 3; Hebrews 8.
The fourth feast of the Hebrew religious year is the Feast of Weeks, or in Hebrew, Shavuot. It is also commonly known as the Feast (or Day) of Pentecost. It is the second of three required pilgrimage feasts.
Summary: It is the Feast of Weeks that the Lord seemed to have in mind when he told Moses that Pharaoh was to let the people go so that they could “hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.”[1] As part of the Exodus from Egypt, and having crossed the Red Sea, the children of Israel arrived at Mt. Sinai, where the celebrated the Feast of Weeks. At Sinai, the Law,[2] the Tabernacle,[3]the Aaronic priesthood,[4] and the sacrificial system were all established.[5]
Key features of the Feast of Weeks/Pentecost: The number 50 [(7×7) +1]. Once the Hebrews were settled in the Promised Land and could harvest crops, they were commanded to count seven sabbaths from the waving of the sheaf on Firstfruits (7×7), and then add one more day. The number 50 represents freedom, liberty, and deliverance.
Fulfillment/antitype: In the New Testament, Jesus was seen in his resurrected body for 40 days (he was resurrected on the feast of Firstfruits), and then ascended. Then the disciples tarried for 10 days in Jerusalem until the “day of Pentecost was fully come.” The Feast of Weeks for Israel, 50 days after their departure from Egypt, was a celebration of their freedom from the house of bondage. The Feast of Weeks for New Covenant believers, 50 days after Christ was raised from the dead, is a celebration of freedom from the Old Covenant, and discovery of the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
The Feast of Weeks is a profound typical/anti-typical enactment of God’s plan of redemption, setting forth the contrast between the coming of the Law on Mount Sinai, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the Temple in Jerusalem.
(1) When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. (2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. (3) Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (5) And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. (6) And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. (7) Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? (8) And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? (9) Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, (10) Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, (11) Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” [Acts 2:1–11 NKJV]
What occurred on the feast of Pentecost was an extraordinary miracle–the fire of God, that had not been seen to descend in the Temple for centuries, descended to “consume” the sacrifice, and sat as “tongues of fire” on the disciples of Jesus of Nazareth. Ironically however, we miss part of the impact due to not reading carefully and thinking critically. Most expositors claim that the events of Acts 2 occurred in the upper room where the disciples were staying (Acts 1:13), but careful reading reveals they were in the Temple.
Verse one clearly tells us this was a feast day (one of the three required feasts), while verse 15 tells us is was “the third hour of the day,” which is 9:00 AM—an hour of prayer. Also, verse 5–11 tells us about all the different nations that were represented and that these devout men (keyword) were close enough to what was occurring that they immediately rushed to see what was going on. Where were this many devout Hebrews at an hour of prayer on a required feast day? In the upper room and scattered throughout the city? No! They were in the Temple.
The fire of God descending to consume the sacrifice had always been a sign of God’s approval. When was the last time the fire of God had descended in the Temple? This event truly was a game changer. With the outpouring and indwelling of the Holy Spirit on Shavout/Pentecost, God demonstrated that He is making His home in people–the true temple of God.
[1] Exodus 5:1; 10:9.
[2] Sacred code.
[3] Sacred space.
[4] Holy people.
[5] Blood sacrifice.