Where in the Bible is Pentecost? Pentecost, also known as the Festival of Weeks or Shavuot, is a significant event in both Jewish and Christian traditions. It commemorates the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai and is celebrated 50 days after Passover. In the Bible, Pentecost is primarily mentioned in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, but its significance in the New Testament is what connects it to Christian faith and practice.
The biblical account of Pentecost begins in the book of Exodus. In Exodus 19:1, we are introduced to the event: “In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on this very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.” This marks the beginning of the journey to Mount Sinai, where God would give the Ten Commandments to Moses. The book of Leviticus further elaborates on the laws and rituals associated with Pentecost, including the requirement for the Israelites to bring the firstfruits of their harvest to the temple (Leviticus 23:15-22).
In the book of Numbers, we find a detailed account of the Israelites’ journey to Mount Sinai and the subsequent giving of the Law. Numbers 28:26-31 describes the offerings and sacrifices required for the Festival of Weeks: “Also on the day of the firstfruits, when you offer a new grain offering to the Lord at your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any laborious work.”
The New Testament connects Pentecost to the birth of the Christian church. Acts 2:1-4 recounts the event: “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” This event is seen as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples, marking the beginning of the church and the spread of the Christian faith.
In conclusion, Pentecost is mentioned in the Bible primarily in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers, where it is associated with the giving of the Law and the Festival of Weeks. However, its significance in the New Testament, particularly in the book of Acts, connects it to the birth of the Christian church and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples.
