Lectionary Bible Commentary - May 19 (Pentecost Sunday)

 

Sunday, May 19 (Pentecost Sunday)

Acts 2:1-21

The Book of Acts is the 2^nd part of a two-part volume by St. Luke.

Luke is good at telling us about significant times in how God is at work in the world. See Luke 2:6 & 9:51 & Acts 2:1.  “When the day of Pentecost had come…”

Pentecost fulfills Jesus’ promise in Acts 1:8.

The gospel (good news of Christ) for the whole world and for all languages is a central theme of the Book of Acts.  It begins at Pentecost with the Holy Spirit reaching Jewish people of many nations and will eventually extend to the Gentile world.

v. 19 – This is the way the ancient language described the ending one era leading into a new era.

Thought: Pentecost and the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the church was the beginning of a new era for the church to continue to share the good news of Jesus Christ after he ascended to his throne in heaven. How important is the Holy Spirit in your life? Do you sense the strength of the Spirit prompting you to extend the gospel beyond any boundaries?

John 20:19-23

Jesus gives the Holy Spirit to the disciples. The Holy Spirit will help the disciples to continue the ministry of Jesus in the world.  It’s a commission! (v. 21)

Jesus breathing the Holy Spirit upon the disciples reminds us of the creation story  in Genesis.  The words wind, breath, and spirit are the same in both Hebrew and Greek.

The Spirit is connected with God’s peace (20:21).

Forgiving and retaining are pronounced in God’s name. Forgiving is offering God’s healing love to the world and retaining sins is warning the world of how serious sin is.

Pentecost Questions:

1. How can the church remember to depend on the Holy Spirit for mission and ministry?

2. Think of a time when you sought to serve in Jesus’ name without depending on the Holy Spirit at work in your life. What was that like?

3. Focusing on the Holy Spirit leads us to a discussion of the mystery of the Trinity, God known as three persons and yet as one Being. This is why the church calendar includes Trinity Sunday on the Sunday after Pentecost.