The Day of Pentecost was an established Jewish feast day, given to Israel in Leviticus 23 as one of the seven feasts of Jehovah, and it was the 50th day after Passover.
Les Feldick explains that Pentecost was not something new in the Book of Acts; it was one of the seven feasts of Jehovah listed in Leviticus 23, where God gave Israel instructions for their feast days. In Acts 2, the day of Pentecost provided the setting for Peter's sermon, as Jews from all over the then-known world gathered in the temple area. Les emphasizes that it was a Jewish holiday with a Jewish crowd and a Jewish speaker, and he maintains that Acts 2 is not the birth of the Church.
Leviticus 23:4 — This verse introduces the seven feasts of Jehovah that God gave to Israel, including the feast of Pentecost.
Leviticus 23:16 — This verse establishes that the feast falls on the fiftieth day, which is why it is called Pentecost.
Acts 2:1 — This verse records the arrival of the day of Pentecost, the setting for the events of Acts 2.
Leviticus 23 records the seven feasts of Jehovah that God gave to the nation of Israel, beginning with Passover. Among them is the Feast of Pentecost, which was to be observed on the fiftieth day after the wave offering, as Israel counted seven complete sabbaths. The order in Leviticus 23 places Pentecost after Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Firstfruits. Acts 2:1 records that 'when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.' The day of Pentecost was therefore an established Jewish feast day, not a new event introduced in the New Testament.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the Day of Pentecost was one of the seven feasts of Jehovah given to the nation of Israel in Leviticus 23, when God also gave instructions for the tabernacle and the priesthood at Sinai. Pentecost was the fiftieth day after Passover, and it is in this setting — with Jews gathered from all over the then-known world to celebrate the feast — that the events of Acts 2 take place. Les points out that on this Jewish feast day, the nation of Israel was gathered, and the Holy Spirit came down with power. He teaches that this was the Jews' valid offer to experience the power of the Holy Spirit, enabling them to do the miracles, signs, and wonders that Jesus had done — the nation's prospect of carrying on what Christ had been doing for three years. Les also maintains that Pentecost in Acts 2 was a Jewish holiday: a Jewish crowd, a Jewish speaker (Peter), and a Jewish feast day. He notes that although 90–95% of Christendom believes Acts 2 is the birth of the Church, he is convinced it is not, because the language of the chapter does not correlate with what we understand as Church doctrines.
Les explains that Pentecost was one of the seven feasts listed in Leviticus 23 — along with Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Firstfruits — and that it was the 50th day after Passover. The seven feasts of Jehovah were given to the nation of Israel at Sinai, so Pentecost was an established Jewish feast day long before Acts 2.
Les teaches that the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost because it was a Jewish feast day and the nation of Israel was gathered. It was Israel's valid offer to experience the power of the Holy Spirit to perform miracles, signs, and wonders, just as Jesus had done — the nation's prospect of carrying on Christ's three-year ministry through individual believing Jews.
Les acknowledges that 90–95% of Christendom believes Acts chapter 2 is the birth of the Church, the Body of Christ, and that he himself taught that way for a long time. But he was always uncomfortable because the language in Acts 2 does not correlate with what we understand as Church doctrines. He maintains that Pentecost is a Jewish holiday — a Jewish crowd and a Jewish speaker — and therefore not the birth of the Church.
Peter was the spokesman on the day of Pentecost, addressing a huge crowd of Jews that had gathered from all over the Roman Empire to celebrate the feast. Les emphasizes that Peter was speaking through the power of the Holy Spirit, with every person hearing in their own language, and that Peter continued the frame of reference that Christ came to the nation of Israel to fulfill the Old Testament promises and covenants — making a claim on the nation even after His crucifixion and resurrection.
What Really Happened at Pentecost? Acts 2 Explained
Because look at the qualifications, that�s all you have to do. Just look at the qualifications. It had to be someone who had been a follower of Christ from John the Baptist at the very beginning of his earthly ministry, and he had to have been a follower all through the three years right up until the Ascension. Paul wouldn�t have fit that.
Pentecost: A Jewish Feast Day
Les identifies the Day of Pentecost as one of the seven feasts listed in Leviticus 23 — the 50th day after Passover — and describes how Jews from all over the known world had gathered in the temple area, where Peter preached through the Holy Spirit's power.
Israel's Offer of the Spirit's Power
Les explains that the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost because the nation of Israel was gathered for the feast; it was Israel's valid offer to experience the Spirit's power for miracles, signs, and wonders as Jesus had done.
The Seven Feasts at Sinai
Les shows that the seven feasts of Jehovah, including Pentecost, were given to Israel at Sinai in Leviticus 23, beginning with Passover — the feast being celebrated at the crucifixion.
Peter Addresses the Temple Crowd
Les notes that Peter on the day of Pentecost addressed a great mob of Jews gathered in the temple complex for the feast.
Peter's Claim on Israel
Les emphasizes that Peter spoke to a huge crowd of Jews from across the Roman Empire, continuing the theme that Christ came to fulfill Old Testament promises and covenants to Israel.
Acts 2 Is Not the Church's Birth
Les maintains that Acts 2 is a Jewish holiday with a Jewish crowd and a Jewish speaker, and although most of Christendom calls it the birth of the Church, he says the language does not fit Church doctrines.
Fifty Days After the Crucifixion
Les reminds readers that Pentecost was only fifty days after the crucifixion — still fresh on everyone's mind — when Peter preached in Acts 2.
Leviticus 23:4: These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
This verse introduces the seven feasts of the LORD given to Israel, the chapter Les cites when explaining that Pentecost was one of them.
Leviticus 23:16: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
This verse shows why the feast is called Pentecost — it fell on the fiftieth day after the wave offering.
Acts 2:1: And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
This verse records the arrival of the Day of Pentecost, the setting for the events Les discusses in Acts 2.
Yes. The Day of Pentecost was one of the seven feasts of Jehovah listed in Leviticus 23, given to the nation of Israel. It was the 50th day after Passover, and Jews from all over the then-known world traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate it.
On the Day of Pentecost, the nation of Israel was gathered in the temple area. Peter, through the power of the Holy Spirit, spoke to the crowd, and everyone heard him in their own language. Les teaches that the Holy Spirit came down with power as Israel's valid offer to experience miracles, signs, and wonders.
Les Feldick says no. While he acknowledges that 90–95% of Christendom calls Acts 2 the birth of the Church, he maintains that it was a Jewish holiday with a Jewish crowd and a Jewish speaker, and the language of the chapter does not correlate with Church doctrines.
Because it was the feast that fell on the fiftieth day after Passover. In Leviticus 23, Israel was instructed to count to the fiftieth day, which is why the feast is called Pentecost.
Watch the Teaching: What Really Happened at Pentecost? Acts 2 Explained