Acts 2:1-4 Following the crucifixion of Jesus, the believers are afraid, so they meet together in secret – probably in the upper room at the home of John Mark in Jerusalem (see 1 on Map 13). Suddenly, quite by surprise, they are filled with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost – 28th May 30AD.
St Mark’s Church, in the Armenian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, is believed to mark the spot where the Holy Spirit filled the disciples at Pentecost.
Acts 2:5-41 Enlivened by the Holy Spirit, these unschooled believers (see Acts 4:13) go out onto the streets of Jerusalem. They begin speaking in languages they’ve not learned to the crowds of Jews who have assembled from all over the known world for the Feast of Weeks (the Jewish harvest festival, held at Pentecost).
The Jewish pilgrims have come from Parthia, Media, Elam and Mesopotamia to the east; Cappadocia, Pontus, Phrygia and Pamphylia in the Roman province of Asia to the north; Egypt, Libya and Arabia to the south; and Rome and Crete to the west (see Map 16). They’re all amazed that they can hear the Good News being preached in their own native tongues.
Map 16 The message explodes
Peter explains how God has promised to pour out his Holy Spirit on all who believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins (see Joel 2:28-29). About three thousand Jews – including both Aramaic and Greek-speaking Jews – accept the message and become believers on the Day of Pentecost.