By the way Luke notes the arrival of the day of Pentecost, he marks it as a key event in salvation history (symplerousthai, "was fulfilled" [NIV came]; see Lk 9:51). Pentecost, the Feast of the Firstfruits, was a most appropriate time for the Spirit to come. It was closely connected with Passover, just as the Spirit's coming would be associated with the saving events of the Lord's crucifixion and exaltation. The feast celebrated the first produce of the Promised Land, Israel's inheritance, just as the Spirit is the "firstfruits" of the salvation blessings to the believer (see Deut 26:1-11, especially vv. 9-11).

All together in one place, probably the upper room, the disciples in prayerful unity await the Spirit (Acts 1:14). Suddenly God gives signs of sound and sight. Their divine origin and supernatural character is clear. The sound is from heaven and is like the blowing of a violent wind. The tongues that appear seemed to be flames of fire. In the Old Testament such a loud sound often accompanied a theophany (Ex 19:16, 19; 20:18; compare Heb 12:19). A violent, rushing wind symbolizes the Holy Spirit (Ezek 37:9-14; compare Lk 16:16). The sound fills the whole house. What has arrived is an all-encompassing divine presence. The divided tongues like flames of fire, resting on each, also symbolize the Spirit of God, especially his power (Lk 3:16; compare Acts 1:8).

Those on whom the outward sign rests experience an inner filling with the Holy Spirit. This leads to a further external manifestation of his presence. Luke uses the verb filled in order to emphasize that although this is the initial endowment of the Spirit on the church, it is also an equipping with inspired speech for ministry. It is the first of many fillings the believers will know (4:8, 31; 9:17; 13:9).

As the Spirit inspires their speech, the believers are speaking in human languages other than their own native tongues. Here is a further sign that something extraordinary has happened. Acts 1:8 is being fulfilled all at once.

What of Pentecost does God want the church to expect in its life today? What is repeatable? What is unrepeatable? Those aspects of Pentecost that marked the inauguration of the Spirit's presence indiscriminately among the people of God appear to have fulfilled their purpose in the first Pentecost. We should not necessarily expect to see them again. The external signs of sound and sight and the foreign languages fall into this category. But in any age we should expect to find a church filled with the Holy Spirit, powerfully enabled to bear witness to Christ and his gospel.

If we are not so experiencing the Spirit's filling, why? Have we met the conditions of expectant prayer and cleansed lives? That is Pentecost's challenge. But what is its comfort? God has not abandoned his church. If he sent his Spirit before, he can do it again.