Pentecost Assembly

Last week was half-term - although it seemed much like the week before - so there was no Wednesday assembly. But today we're back, looking at Peter's story. This week we're looking at Pentecost, as Peter's story moves from the gospels into the book of Acts.



Although Christians now celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, originally Pentecost was a Jewish harvest festival celebrated 50 days after the Sabbath after Passover - or seven weeks after Easter Sunday. You can find all the details in Leviticus 23:15-22 and similar passages in Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Over time Pentecost became the day when Israel celebrated the giving of the law, which was given to Moses.

The Holy Spirit coming on the day when Isreal was celebrating the giving of the law adds significance to Jeremiah's prophecy in Jeremiah 31:31-34.

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,”
declares the Lord.
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
No longer will they teach their neighbour,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness

and will remember their sins no more.”