NT 1: Day of Pentecost

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Those who were there on the day of Pentecost would remember it for the rest of their lives.

Everyone could understand--in their own tongue--the words that were preached that day.
And they marveled.

Some doubted. Others mocked.
But no one would forget the day that the Spirit was poured upon them--upon all flesh, as it had been prophesied.

Here was a group of people, some of which who had known the Savior on the earth, receiving the Spirit for the first time. Peter taught what having this Spirit meant--

It meant that young men would see visions
Old men would dream holy dreams
Servants and handmaidens would prophesy
Wonders in heaven and earth would be shown.

And the Lord would come again, just as he had before.

Peter recognized that this Spirit did not stand on its own--it was a divine witness of Christ.

Peter had been with Jesus, followed him, and seen his miracles and wonders. He had seen his Lord risen up on the cross and crucified. He had seen what he thought was the end. He thought he had been separated from him.

But now everything had changed.
Peter had seen the risen Lord!

His testimony now was that the Lord was always before his face, always on his right hand. And Peter rejoiced.

The joy that Peter felt when he saw his Savior, as a returned resurrected being would have been all encompassing. Yet, this joy did not end when the Savior left. Because now, Peter knew that his Savior would always be with him.

This was the testimony of the day of Pentecost--the promise that Jesus Christ, the risen Savior of the World, could be with you.
Always.

This testimony wasn't limited to those who had seen the Savior in his life.
It was here.
It was in the Spirit that was born out that day.

It was in the rushing of the wind
It was in the words of Peter
And now it was in the hearts and minds of the people.

That feeling--
The power of the Holy Spirit
The testimony of the Risen Lord
Led three thousand to be baptized that day
And thousands to be baptized the next.

It not only led them to baptism, it led them to take of the Sacrament, to follow the apostles, to pray, to sell their possessions for those in need.
It led them to worship in the temple.
It led them to praise God.

The Christ that was dead
Now lived.

The Spirit of the day of Pentecost was His Spirit.
And it was changing their lives.