Sunday, May 19 is Pentecost—the birthday of the church. On the original Pentecost, fifty days after the resurrection of Christ, Peter famously preached while he and his fellow disciples were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

The events of Pentecost are recorded in the second chapter of Acts.

“On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”

The multitudes in Jerusalem were baffled by the behavior of the followers of Christ at that time. They seemed drunk with the spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit imparted to them. Then Peter stepped forward.

 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.”

Peter also said, 

“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.”

“So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”

Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

Today we are still the church born on Pentecost. Like the believers of this time, we devote ourselves to Biblical teaching, to fellowship, to sharing meals including the Lord’s Supper which is open to all, to charity, and to prayer.

Come celebrate Pentecost with us. It’s a tradition at Galilee to wear red on Pentecost.