For his month’s Pastor’s notes, I will be sharing some personal notes on a verse or two based on the Epistle Readings following the Anglican Sunday Lectionary. Today is Pentecost Sunday (also known as Whitsunday – literally “white Sunday”), and the reading is Acts 2:1-11.
11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” (Acts 2:11)
The Holy Spirit came with power during Pentecost (Feast of Weeks). For Jews, this festival was important as it was associated with the renewal of the covenant made with Noah and then later with Moses, and later for some associated with the day the law was given at Sinai. And so, Jews and people who feared God (Jewish proselytes) would come from afar to celebrate and worship during this festival.
One of the amazing things about this passage that I love is how God himself starts the world evangelism movement that Jesus gave to His disciples in the well-known verse of Acts 1:8: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
I do not know how many of the disciples (120 were there that day) were great preachers but they were great worshippers. They were clearly filled with praise and worship and allowed God’s Spirit to use them to miraculously speak in different languages. Before any preaching came, there was praise and worship, and testimonies of the mighty works of God. This is something all of us can do – praise and worship God and testify of His mighty works in our lives. And the best part is, the Holy Spirit will be there to help us.