What was the nation of Israel's prospect at Pentecost?
At Pentecost, Israel’s prospect was to experience the Holy Spirit’s power and continue as believing Jews what Christ had done for three years, performing miracles, signs, and wonders. Jesus would be the baptizer, and Israel the baptizees, placed into the very power of the Holy Spirit.
Les explains that Pentecost was a Jewish feast day, and the nation of Israel was gathered. The Holy Spirit came down with power, and this was the Jews’ valid offer again to experience the Spirit’s power to do miracles, signs, and wonders as Jesus had done. Israel’s prospect was that individual believing Jews could literally carry on what Christ had been doing for three years, manifested by being placed into the very power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus would be the baptizer, and Israel the baptizees. Les then points to the flip side in 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul writes to the basically Gentile church at Corinth with a strictly Pauline term.