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Pentecost

Definition
The name is derived from the Greek word for 'fiftieth' (pentecostos) because it was seven weeks after Passover that the 'Feast of Weeks' Exodus 34:22 Deuteronomy 16:10 or the 'Feast of Harvest' Exodus 23:15-22 was observed. It marked the end of the barley harvest and the beginning of the wheat harvest. It was one of the three occasions in the year on which male Israelites were to appear before the Lord but it was much less observed as an occasion of pilgrimage than the feasts of Passover and Tabernacle. Numbers 28:26-31

Jewish Tradition
Preparations for the feast were very specific. According to Jewish tradition the flour for the loaves had to be sifted twelve times before it could be used. The bread was made the day before, the two lambs, used in the peace offering had to be waved by the priest before they were to be slaughtered. One loaf was given to the High-priest and then the other had to be given to the other priests. The bread had to be eaten in the temple that same night, and nothing could remain until morning. Pentecost was regarded in later Judaism as the conclusion of the Passover rather than as a harvest festival. Then after the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. it was taken to commemorate the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai.

New Testament
Acts 2 records how the Holy Spirit was given to the first Christians on the day of Pentecost, which no doubt symbolised both the completion of the redemptive act of Good Friday and Easter and the beginning of the harvest of the nations.

This event was accompanied by tongues of fire representing the Holy Spirit coming down and abiding with the gathered disciples. This event would be connected with the Jewish significance of the giving of the law and God speaking to Moses and the mountain burned with fire. Exodus 19:11. It was the fiery characteristic of Sinai. It was in the form of tongues to symbolise that God was speaking and also endowing His people with the gift of communication. It is called glossolalia in the Greek.

This gift was immediately put to use and Jerusalem was filled with people from many nations representing many languages. God gave his disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit in order to spread the Gospel throughout the then known world, and God miraculously removed all language barriers. It was the essential tool for the carrying out of the Great Commission in the Early Church. This was another way in which the Gospel was accredited in the birth of the Church. Paul's correction of the Church of Corinth indicates that this gift was grossly misused and misunderstood. 1 Corinthians 14:1-39

Early Church
Pentecost was observed by the second century as a Christian feast, second only in importance to Easter. The name 'Whitsunday' came to be attached to it because of it being a major occasion for baptisms and the candidates for baptism being clothed in white.

The Church Fathers highly regarded Pentecost. Easter was always on Sunday, so Pentecost followed in this tradition. Between Easter and Pentecost there was to be no fasting and praying was to be done standing rather than kneeling.