Welcome! Because we just passed Ascension Day, let’s find out what happens between then and Pentecost.
Pentecost is my favorite, outside of Easter, holiday. And no, I’ve never lived anywhere that celebrated it as a holiday. But in my life, I try to. For the record, the date for it this year is May 31st.
Originally it fell within the Feast of Weeks, Shavuot, for those of you who want to know the name of it. You can read about the appointed festivals in Leviticus 23. It’s fun reading. Try it in the Message… BibleGateway has lots of versions you can choose from.
As Christians, there is much value in learning more about these festivals. Let’s lean in and see how the apostles spent the intervening time.
The time between Ascension Day and Pentecost.
It’s ten days.
Because it’s meant to be 50 days after Easter Sunday.
Wow, we haven’t been in church since March 15th. Easter was April 12th. Now we’re going to still be home church-ing for Pentecost too.
I hope you are spending your time learning and growing your faith. There’s nothing more valuable. Nothing more beneficial. Nothing more rewarded than faith.
The Feast of Weeks moves a bit so this year it actually ends the evening before Pentecost. But back the very first time, Pentecost fell right inside those few days of Shavuot. That’s why there are so many people on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.
Back to Acts 1, down starting with verse 12.
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.
A Sabbath day’s walk, that is, about 5/8 mile or about 1 kilometer. Thanks for study footnotes.
Acts 1:13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
I am so grateful to read Mary and Jesus’ brothers were in this group. We don’t hear a lot about them with Jesus very much before the Crucifixion but by now, we know, they really believed too. Though Mary would likely have been wherever John, the beloved disciple, was because he’d been given responsibility for her by Jesus. You can read about that in John 19:26-27.
Acts 1:15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus.
17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”
Acts 1:18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
Matthew 27:5-10
5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 10 and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
This particular field is mentioned in several Old Testament places. It’s in the Valley of Hinnom, also called Ben Hinnom. There’s a reference to it being the Potter’s field in Zecharariah 11:12-13. If you want to learn more, you can look up Akeldama in Wikipedia. Or just search Bible Gateway for Ben Hinnom. Lots of awful happened there, but it’s mostly known as a cemetery for foreigners.
Acts 1:20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:
“‘May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,’
and,
“‘May another take his place of leadership.’
21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
A witness of His resurrection.
That’s why the disciples are now known as apostles. The resurrected Jesus changed them into apostles when He gave them the great commission. Apostle literally it means “One who is sent off.”
Matthew 28:16-20
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Acts 1:23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
“Lord, you know everyone’s heart.”
Yes, He does.
Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, you know everyone’s heart. You know how I want to make these days leading up to Pentecost special but make Pentecost even more special. Show me how to mark it in such a way that I will remember it the entire rest of my life.
That question this morning, the one Charles Stanley posed, “What are you doing right now that could have lifelong consequences?” Thank You for that question, Lord. While he was referring to Esau selling his birthright to Jacob, I know You meant it to mean what am I doing right now, today, to last my whole life long. Back on March 15th I turned 47, the majority of my life is likely over already. Yet I know every day gets us closer to Your return. And I very much want to see it. Your return is my greatest desire. Though I know You are always with me, even now, precisely now. That’s why it’s called the present. You are the present. The gift.
So for all of those you will lead to read this, Lord, I pray, You know their hearts as well, I ask for an extra dose of faith. I ask that Your Spirit within them reveals himself during the reading because it is wonderful to me, but not terrifically so, if the joy I feel You bring in this doesn’t also bring the readers joy. So please, Lord, I pray, bless each of them with faith and joy and most of all, an active Spirit to confirm Your Presence with them too. Let them feel an only-from-You drop of joy. That’s something everyone who has faith desperately needs to know they’ve received at least once in a while. A real, definitive drop of joy, direct from obedience to You. Because Lord, we know there is fullness of joy in Your Presence. And we desperately need some authentic God-given Joy. Thank You, Jesus, for these words and this time and for Your constant and glorious presence. In Your holy and precious name, I pray. Amen.