The Miracle of Pentecost

On the morning of Pentecost, in 33 AD, there were maybe 500 followers of Jesus in the world. By the end of the great day, 3,000 people had been baptized. The Church grew sixfold in one day. It was the greatest day in the history of evangelization.

How did it happen?

People woke up in the morning knowing Jesus died on the cross. They went to bed that night believing He had risen from the dead.

They had not seen the risen Lord. Why did they believe?

Catholics hear Luke's account of Pentecost each year at mass. But one interesting verse is left out of the gospel reading.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.” They were all astounded and bewildered, and said to one another, “What does this mean?” But others said, scoffing, “They have had too much new wine.” (Acts 2:5-13)

The gospel reading for Pentecost Sunday omits verse 13, where the skeptics claim the apostles are drunk. Isn't it interesting that as soon as the gospel is proclaimed, there are skeptics? And isn't it interesting that the arguments of these skeptics are as flimsy as those of modern skeptics who deny the Resurrection? How on earth would drinking new wine give someone the ability to speak and be understood in a wide variety of different languages?

The crowd at Pentecost was witnessing a genuine miracle. And many of them grasped that. And the miracle surely attuned them to listen to what Peter and the apostles had to say.

Peter's testimony was just as necessary for the salvation of souls. The miracle was necessary, but the crowd also needed someone to explain to them what it was all about.

How does Peter sway the crowd? First, he appeals to Scripture. (Actually, the first thing he says is, "It's nine in the morning. We're not drunk.") He explains that what is happening now was foreseen by the prophets long ago. The prophet Joel said that "in the last days" God spoke of a day when He would "pour out a portion of my spirit upon all flesh" (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:17). That prophecy is fulfilled beginning with Pentecost. King David spoke of His Lord, who would sit at the right of God the Father (Psalm 110:1, Acts 2:34-35). Peter explains that King David's Lord is Jesus. David likewise prophesied that "you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption" (Psalm 16:10, Acts 2:27). Peter explains that David cannot be speaking of himself, for "he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day." David "foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of Jesus" (Acts 2:29-31).

Peter places the story of Jesus in the context of salvation history. His Jewish audience was well versed in Scripture and could see how the prophecies spoke of Jesus. The apostles would not take the same approach when speaking with Gentile audiences that were not as familiar with Sacred Scripture. Yet with any audience, at any time, there is a need to place the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus within the larger context of salvation history. The redemption of sinful mankind by Jesus only makes sense in the context of God's loving creation and humanity's fall.

Peter also reminds his audience of who Jesus was: "Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know" (Acts 2:22). The miracles of Jesus were well-known. Some had seen them and more had heard about them. Some had heard Jesus preach in Galilee and some had heard Him in Jerusalem. Some of those in the crowd on that first Pentecost may have welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Some of those in the crowd may have been calling for Jesus' blood on Good Friday. Jesus had (and has) real enemies. But I think Peter's basic point here is that it was (and is) evident from the words and deeds of Jesus that He is a holy man. It is self-evident from the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus is a profound moral teacher. It is self-evident from the miracles that have accompanied the Church in every age that the Holy Spirit is leading the Church. Not least among these miracles is the perseverance and growth of the Church over two millennia.

Having talked about the prophecies and reminded his audience of who Jesus was, Peter comes to the most important point: "God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses" (Acts 2:32). The Good News, at the most basic level, is that a man rose from the dead. He is Jesus of Nazareth. The apostles, the holy women, and other disciples saw Him after His Resurrection. They ate and drank and spoke with Him. He has ascended to Heaven and has been given all power and authority by God the Father. We will rise from the dead and be with Him in Heaven if we believe in Him and follow Him.

The Good News changes everything. The Good News gives us hope. We need not succumb to despair and we need not fear death. Our lives have incredible value, for God Himself has deigned to become one of us in order to save us. Our actions have incredible value, for we can participate in God's saving action, just as Peter and the apostles did at Pentecost. Jesus has accomplished the work of our salvation.

The apostles, with the exception of John, were killed for preaching the Good News. Their willingness to die for their beliefs is powerful testimony that they had truly seen the risen Jesus. On the day of Pentecost, they weren't martyrs yet. But the crowd surely recalled that Jesus had been killed and that the apostles were risking their own lives by speaking out on His behalf. That too made them powerful witnesses.

The crowd was "cut to the heart" by Peter's speech (Acts 2:37). The miracle of the gift of tongues, the Old Testament prophecies, the miracles and teachings of Jesus, the eyewitness testimony (and fearless courage) of Peter and the apostles - all of these convicted the crowd that they had through their sins killed the Son of God, and yet the same Messiah and Lord was offering them redemption and salvation. They asked Peter what they should do, and he told them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).

Three thousand souls were baptized that day. Praise be to God, it was only the beginning.

Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet every day for the salvation of souls.