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Question: What does the Bible mean by "Pentecost"?

1. The word derives from the Greek for "the fiftieth day." It was
the Jewish Feast of Weeks (Ex.34:22; Deut.16:9-11) also called the
feast of Harvest (Ex.23:16) or the Day of First-Fruits (Num.28:26).


2. It was the second of the three great annual feasts on which all
the males were required to assemble at the tabernacle/temple. The
first was Passover, the second was Pentecost, the third was the
Feast of Tabernacles. The second was came to be called Pentecost,
because it was observed 50 days after Passover (Lev.23:15,16).
Pentecost always fell on Sunday, the first day of the week, because
they would number 7 complete weeks, making 49 days, ending on a
sabbath, and then that next day, Sunday, would be Pentecost.

3. You will recall that Jesus was crucified during the Feast of
Passover.  The special significance for us attached to the
Pentecost after Jesus' crucifixion (recorded in Acts 2), is that He
sent forth the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, to guide them into
all the truth, and gave them power to confirm the word with
miracles.  On that Pentecost, Jesus was proclaimed to be both Lord
and Christ, and the Gospel plan of salvation, with conditions of
forgiveness was preached.On that day, the kingdom came with power.
On that day the church was established.

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