The Bible reports that on Shavuot, the day on which the Jewish people remember the receiving of the Torah, the followers of Jesus received the Holy Spirit. What does this mean?

On the fiftieth day (Pentecost), the Feast of Weeks, Shavuot, is to be celebrated. The number 50 stands for union. According to rabbinical tradition, on the 50th day after the first Passover, Israel received the revelation of the Torah on Mount Sinai. They promised to do everything that the Lord had commanded them (Exodus 19:8). They were to be a people of priests for the living God (Exodus 19:6).

Just as God appeared to the people of Israel in fire when he gave them the law (Exodus 19:18), God’s new law (Jeremiah 31:31-33 / Ezekiel 36:26-27 / Romans 8:2) was made visible on Shavuot in Jerusalem through tongues of fire.

Peter explained to the astonished spectators that the prophecy of Joel 3:1-2, 5 was being fulfilled, in that all could receive God’s Spirit.

This enabled them to live a holy, Spirit-led life and to be His witnesses.

God’s Spirit gives us a new perspective on God and our fellow human beings. We are in a constant process of change.

God is not distant, but works in and through us.

Jesus’ disciples now understood God’s work and told of God’s great deeds (Acts 2:11).