RD 101 - Lesson #54 - Taking a Look at Pentecost
/By Jack Eberle
Deuteronomy 26:9-11 tells us the beginning of the Pentecost story. From the time for the harvester to put the sickle to the corn came to pass, seven weeks were numbered. A feast followed and an appropriate offering was offered to the Lord, God.  It was time for the whole family to rejoice. But not just the individual families, but the Levites and the servants of the Lord also. Leviticus 23 tells us more about this important feast. Seven of the feasts are noted on the Jewish calendars. The number seven is closely associated with the purpose of the ages. Further, the feasts have a prophetic element in them. Read Leviticus 23:3, 15, 24 to see what is meant. Key to further understanding is PENTECOST WAS AN ANTICIPATION OF HARVEST. A singular feature of Pentecost was a new meal offering. Two loaves were to be offered, probably as prophetic of the division of the nation. Although they would be divided they would come together again. Read Ezekiel 37:22. Peter spoke at the feast recorded in the Scriptures. The audience is found in Acts 2:14, 22, 36 and projecting on to verse 39. A GENTILE found at the feast would be totally unacceptable. See Acts 11:18-19. Contrary to tradition then, the church of the one body did not begin at Pentecost.
When we read the short book of Joel, we see that it deals with a nation and nations. There is nothing there about a church where there is neither Greek nor Jew. Peter in his quotation of Joel, intersperses Ye men of ISRAEL (Acts 2:22-24). Peter, who had been sent to the Jews spoke to them in his epistles, quotes David, Isaiah, etc. Indeed, he speaks of Christ’s right to the throne of David. Is this pertaining to Athe church of the one body? Rather, he is teaching of the earthly kingdom which Christ will be King of here with his chosen earthly people, chosen in Abraham and reigning through David. Read Matthew 21:41-46. Peter is speaking to His people Israel. John is sent with water baptism and the message of repentance. See Matt. 3:2. This is not a church who is His body message. Pentecost was a witness that Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God, His Son, yet Lord of David was Lord and Christ. His day was called the day of the Lord.
Peters’ ministry at Pentecost immediately bore fruit, for in the following verses of chapter 2, we find an abundance of souls added to the Israeli believers 3,000. They not only came to Christ, but did so gladly. The apostles teaching had been accepted and reveled in by these, formerly hard-hearted Jews. They accepted His bodily resurrection in proper and repentant awe. The Apostles Doctrine included His Kingship, His coming and their need to prepare their hearts for that day. Breaking bread from house to house (they) did eat their meat with gladness (Acts 2:46). This was the common way of expression of eating a meal in the Jewish household.
