Pentecost
Giving of the Law, Sending of the Comforter
The word “Pentecost” occurs 3 times in the New Testament in the King James Version.
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place, Acts 2:1.
For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost, Acts 20:16.
But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost, 1 Cor. 16:8.
Pentecost is the translation of the Greek word pentekoste (pen-tay-kos-tay') nt:4005; feminine of the ord. of nt:4004; fiftieth (nt:2250 being implied – (day)) from Passover, i.e. the festival of "Pentecost."
The commentaries seem to go along with this reference that the counting for Pentecost starts the day after Passover. This would say that since Passover can occur any day of the week, then Pentecost can occur any day of the week also. As the Bible tells us, we will find out differently.
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place, Acts 2:1.
For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost, Acts 20:16.
But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost, 1 Cor. 16:8.
Pentecost is the translation of the Greek word pentekoste (pen-tay-kos-tay') nt:4005; feminine of the ord. of nt:4004; fiftieth (nt:2250 being implied – (day)) from Passover, i.e. the festival of "Pentecost."
The commentaries seem to go along with this reference that the counting for Pentecost starts the day after Passover. This would say that since Passover can occur any day of the week, then Pentecost can occur any day of the week also. As the Bible tells us, we will find out differently.
Count Fifty
This definition of pentecoste means to count to fifty. Now, where does one start to count?
And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete: even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto Yahweh, Lev. 23:15-16.
Since the day after a Sabbath is the fiftieth day, then the day where one begins to count is the first day of the week. Now, which first day is it?
These are the feasts of Yahweh, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is Yahweh's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto Yahweh: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Yahweh seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: and he shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto Yahweh, Lev. 23:4-12.
Sabbath in verse 11 is the translation of the Hebrew shab-bawth, Strong’s #7676. This is the weekly Sabbath, as a high Sabbath is Strong’s #7677, shab-baw-thone’.
Lev. 23:15 says we are to count from the morrow after the weekly Sabbath and verse 16 says that the day after the weekly Sabbath is the fiftieth day:
And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete. Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto Yahweh.
Lev. 23:21 calls this day a holy convocation – a high Sabbath – Pentecost, as the New Testament names it:
And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be a holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
In Ex. 19:1-2 we read,
In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the Mount, Ex. 19:1-2.
Eleven of the 12 versions I have access to, say the same thing as the KJV, except Today’s English Version, which says – “the people of Israel left Rephidim, and on the first day of the third month after they had left Egypt they came to the desert of Sinai.”
Counting, this would make the first day of the 3rd month to be some 45 days after they left Egypt when they camped before the mount. Thus, the following day:
This definition of pentecoste means to count to fifty. Now, where does one start to count?
And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete: even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto Yahweh, Lev. 23:15-16.
Since the day after a Sabbath is the fiftieth day, then the day where one begins to count is the first day of the week. Now, which first day is it?
These are the feasts of Yahweh, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is Yahweh's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto Yahweh: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Yahweh seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: and he shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto Yahweh, Lev. 23:4-12.
Sabbath in verse 11 is the translation of the Hebrew shab-bawth, Strong’s #7676. This is the weekly Sabbath, as a high Sabbath is Strong’s #7677, shab-baw-thone’.
Lev. 23:15 says we are to count from the morrow after the weekly Sabbath and verse 16 says that the day after the weekly Sabbath is the fiftieth day:
And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete. Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto Yahweh.
Lev. 23:21 calls this day a holy convocation – a high Sabbath – Pentecost, as the New Testament names it:
And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be a holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
In Ex. 19:1-2 we read,
In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the Mount, Ex. 19:1-2.
Eleven of the 12 versions I have access to, say the same thing as the KJV, except Today’s English Version, which says – “the people of Israel left Rephidim, and on the first day of the third month after they had left Egypt they came to the desert of Sinai.”
Counting, this would make the first day of the 3rd month to be some 45 days after they left Egypt when they camped before the mount. Thus, the following day:
Day 46 (third month – first day)
And Moses went up unto Elohim, and Yahweh called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which Yahweh commanded him, Ex. 19:3-7.
Moses went up the mount (first ascent), came down (first descent), and told the elders what Yahweh had said.
And Moses went up unto Elohim, and Yahweh called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which Yahweh commanded him, Ex. 19:3-7.
Moses went up the mount (first ascent), came down (first descent), and told the elders what Yahweh had said.
Day 47
And all the people answered together, and said, All that Yahweh hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto Yahweh. And Yahweh said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto Yahweh. And Yahweh said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes, and be ready against the third day: for the third day Yahweh will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai. And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: there shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes, Ex. 19:8-14.
At the end of day 47, Moses came down from the mount, sanctified the people and had them wash their clothes. The purpose of having the people wash their clothes was to symbolize washing their heart to sanctify them because of what was about to happen.
In Ex. 19:15 Moses also tells the people to “be ready against the third day and stay away from your wives.” Therefore, day 48 is day 1 of those three days; day 49 is day 2 of those three, and day 50 is day 3 of those three days.
And all the people answered together, and said, All that Yahweh hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto Yahweh. And Yahweh said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto Yahweh. And Yahweh said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes, and be ready against the third day: for the third day Yahweh will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai. And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: there shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount. And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes, Ex. 19:8-14.
At the end of day 47, Moses came down from the mount, sanctified the people and had them wash their clothes. The purpose of having the people wash their clothes was to symbolize washing their heart to sanctify them because of what was about to happen.
In Ex. 19:15 Moses also tells the people to “be ready against the third day and stay away from your wives.” Therefore, day 48 is day 1 of those three days; day 49 is day 2 of those three, and day 50 is day 3 of those three days.
Day 50
Ex. 19:16 speaks of that third day,
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that werein the camp trembled.
Ex. 19:16-25 relates the result of Moses’ ascent and descent on that third day, and,
So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them, Ex. 19:25.
On this day, the fiftieth day since leaving Egypt, Pentecost as the name used in the New Testament, Exodus 20 is what he told the Israelites. And, Exodus 20 is the law.
Ex. 19:16 speaks of that third day,
And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that werein the camp trembled.
Ex. 19:16-25 relates the result of Moses’ ascent and descent on that third day, and,
So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them, Ex. 19:25.
On this day, the fiftieth day since leaving Egypt, Pentecost as the name used in the New Testament, Exodus 20 is what he told the Israelites. And, Exodus 20 is the law.
Pentecost – Old Testament Times
When was the day of Pentecost, Feast of Weeks or Feast of Firstfruits inaugurated?
And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: and he shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf and he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto Yahweh. And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto Yahweh for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin. And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your Elohim: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto Yahweh, Lev. 23:9-16.
Lev. 23:10 says that this named day will first occur when the Israelites cross over the river Jordan and enter the land promised them. The reason for this delay was because of the necessary grain offerings required at this time – mainly the wave sheaf offering.
When was the day of Pentecost, Feast of Weeks or Feast of Firstfruits inaugurated?
And Yahweh spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: and he shall wave the sheaf before Yahweh, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf and he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto Yahweh. And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto Yahweh for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin. And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your Elohim: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto Yahweh, Lev. 23:9-16.
Lev. 23:10 says that this named day will first occur when the Israelites cross over the river Jordan and enter the land promised them. The reason for this delay was because of the necessary grain offerings required at this time – mainly the wave sheaf offering.
Pentecost – New Testament Times
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance, Acts 2:1-4.
This indicates the general outpouring of the Holy Spirit to man. In Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit was given only for specific events and when the event was finished, the Holy Spirit was withdrawn.
In New Testament times, when a person is baptized and the elders laid hands on them, then they were to receive their share of the Holy Spirit.
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of Elohim, they sent unto them Peter and John, who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of Master Yahshua.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit, Acts 8:14-17.
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance, Acts 2:1-4.
This indicates the general outpouring of the Holy Spirit to man. In Old Testament times, the Holy Spirit was given only for specific events and when the event was finished, the Holy Spirit was withdrawn.
In New Testament times, when a person is baptized and the elders laid hands on them, then they were to receive their share of the Holy Spirit.
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of Elohim, they sent unto them Peter and John, who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of Master Yahshua.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit, Acts 8:14-17.
The Comforter
When Yahshua knew that His time was getting short for Him to be with His apostles, He revealed that He would not leave them comfortless, but that Yahweh would be sending a Comforter to remain with them forever.
And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that [it] may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; [which] the world cannot receive, because [the world] seeth [it] not, neither knoweth [it]: but ye know [it]; for [it] dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you, John 14:16-18.
What did Yahshua mean when He told them that Yahweh would be sending them another Comforter?
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, [which] the Father will send in My name, [it] shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you, John 14:26.
Scriptures indicate there are numerous gifts bestowed upon mankind because of Yahweh’s Holy Spirit He promises to those who are obedient:
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as [it] will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Messiah. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit, 1 Cor. 12:7-13.
And Yahweh hath set some in the assembly, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way, 1 Cor. 12:28-31.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered, Rom. 8:26.
The word “infirmities” is the translation of the Greek asqenei/a|, astheneía, Strong’s #769, meaning feebleness (of mind or body); by implication, malady; morally, frailty. So, whatever shortcomings we may have, Yahweh’s Holy Spirit is available to help us out. Yahweh’s Holy Spirit will guide us in our search of truth, John 16:13.
When Yahshua knew that His time was getting short for Him to be with His apostles, He revealed that He would not leave them comfortless, but that Yahweh would be sending a Comforter to remain with them forever.
And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that [it] may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; [which] the world cannot receive, because [the world] seeth [it] not, neither knoweth [it]: but ye know [it]; for [it] dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you, John 14:16-18.
What did Yahshua mean when He told them that Yahweh would be sending them another Comforter?
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, [which] the Father will send in My name, [it] shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you, John 14:26.
Scriptures indicate there are numerous gifts bestowed upon mankind because of Yahweh’s Holy Spirit He promises to those who are obedient:
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as [it] will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Messiah. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit, 1 Cor. 12:7-13.
And Yahweh hath set some in the assembly, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way, 1 Cor. 12:28-31.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered, Rom. 8:26.
The word “infirmities” is the translation of the Greek asqenei/a|, astheneía, Strong’s #769, meaning feebleness (of mind or body); by implication, malady; morally, frailty. So, whatever shortcomings we may have, Yahweh’s Holy Spirit is available to help us out. Yahweh’s Holy Spirit will guide us in our search of truth, John 16:13.
Conclusion
What we have seen here is when Pentecost was made a high day in the list of high days, how that day was found in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, and what it should mean to us today.
What we have seen here is when Pentecost was made a high day in the list of high days, how that day was found in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, and what it should mean to us today.
-Elder Roger G. Meyer
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