1. The Church as Pentecostal Community Acts 1-2 Session 3

2. This session Pentecost as kingdom event: inaugurated eschatology
Pentecost as succession narrative: Elijah-Elisha
Pentecost as birth narrative: parallel to Luke 1-2
Pentecost as prophetic anointing: prophetic community
Pentecost as the New Temple: a theophany
Pentecost as new covenant community formation
Pentecost as missional paradigm event

3. 1. Pentecost as kingdom event

4. What is Pentecost?
A “last days” event happening now: the decisive beginning of the new era of the Spirit.
The communication of the ‘already’ reign of the ascended Christ. The power to execute his rule. More than forgiveness and new life.
Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear (2:33-36).

5. 2. Pentecost as succession narrative

6. The Elijah-Elisha narrative is the closest parallel to the ministry of Jesus:
Multiplication of food/oil.
Healing of leprosy.
Raising to life of a dead child.
Exercise of prophetic gifts of knowledge.
Power flowing out involuntarily.
Being transported by the Spirit.
The taking up to heaven as the moment of succession and anointing of the Spirit.

7. Pentecost as succession narrative
The “double-portion” of the Spirit on Jesus is poured out on his disciples, because they “see” him ascend!

8. 3. Pentecost as birth narrative

9. Luke & Acts in Parallel
Item
Luke
Acts
Beginning
Birth, Anointing of Jesus
Baptism, filling of disciples
Inaugural message
Jesus’ Nazareth sermon
Peter’ Pentecostal sermon
Confirmatory signs
Casting out demons and healing sick in Capernaum
Healing lame man at beautiful gate
Success
Widespread popular acclaim
Opposition
Pharisees, leaders of the Jews
Sanhedrin, Jews of the dispersion
Travel/spread
Itinerant ministry in Galilee and Judea
Missionary journeys of Peter and Paul
Arrest and trial
Threefold trial: Sanhedrin, Pilate and Herod
Threefold trial: Felix, Festus and Agrippa
Consummation
The Cross
Rome …?

10. Phenomena of the Spirit in Jesus’ birth narrative:
Angelic revelation to Zechariah, John’s father
Angelic revelation to Mary, Jesus’ mother
Jesus conceived by the Holy Spirit
Elizabeth, John’s mother, filled with the Spirit
Zechariah prophesies, filled with the Spirit
Simeon prophesies about Jesus’ future
Anna prophesies about Jesus’ future
Climax: The power of the Holy Spirit comes on Jesus at his baptism

11. Phenomena of the Spirit prepare the disciples for Pentecost:
Jesus gives them power and authority to heal the sick and drive out demons.
The risen Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit into them.
Climax: The Holy Spirit comes on them at Pentecost, in parallel to Jesus’ baptism:
The era of the Spirit begins, decisively for them.
They are now successors of the anointing that was on him.

12. 4. Pentecost as prophetic anointing

13. Old Testament phenomena of the power of the Spirit:
Bands of prophets who come under the power of the Spirit through worship.
Prophesying (as inspired utterance) under the power of the Spirit.
Being overcome by the Spirit.
Being empowered by the Spirit for battle = ministry.
With Elijah/Elisha: healing, multiplication of food, gifts of knowledge, raising the dead, bodily transportation.

14. Early church prophetic phenomena:
Clothed with power from on high, the Spirit “coming on” the disciples = Old Testament prophetic language.
They utter inspired praise to God, like the Old Testament sons of the prophets.
They appear to be drunk = overcome, like the sons of the prophets.
They experience ecstatic utterance (= prophecy).
From then on they heal the sick, exorcise demons, have gifts of knowledge, raise the dead―just like Jesus/Elijah/Elisha.

15. 5. Pentecost as the New Temple

16. Old Testament phenomena: Theophany
Mount Sinai: Fire, loud sound, quaking, glory of God on the mountain.
When Solomon’s temple inaugurated, cloud filled the temple, priests collapsed (1 Kings 8:11).
Isaiah 6, the vision of the temple, “filled with smoke/cloud”.
After Solomon’s temple was destroyed, the glory of God never filled the post-exilic temple.
Old Testament prophets and inter-testamental writings hoped for a New, eschatological temple.

17. The New Temple:
Jesus is the New Temple, which “tabernacled” with us (John 1:15).
He said he would build a New Temple - “his body.”
The phenomena at Pentecost indicate that a New Temple has come down. Just as the priest could not stand, so the disciples appear to be overcome.
Paul theologizes this in Ephesians 2:19-22, explaining that the church is the New Temple.
The Pentecostal Temple is the inauguration in advance of the final Temple/City/Bride in Revelation 21:1-22:5.

18. 6. Pentecost as the New Covenant community formation

19. New Covenant Community Formation
The selection of Matthias, the 12th apostle. The 12 apostles are the representatives of the New Israel.
This New Israel incorporates the entire diaspora, but more, “every nation under heaven” signifies the reversal of Babel (2:5-11).
It is multicultural (international): includes “sons and daughters” (2:17; 1:12-14), “young and old” (2:17), masters and servants (1:18).
Paul: it includes Jews and Gentiles, males and females, slaves and free, more or less civilized.
The eschatological community is a priesthood of every tribe, tongue, people and nation (Revelation 5:9; 7:9).

20. 7. Pentecost as the missional paradigm event

21. Is Pentecost once-off, or repeated?
In one sense, it is unrepeatable. The new era of the Spirit can only start, decisively, once.
But, as new people groups are reached with the gospel, new Pentecost’s come: The Jews (2). The Samaritans (8:15-18) The Gentiles (10:44-48) The Ephesians (19:1-7)
Also, the disciples are filled again and again (Acts 2; 4:31; 13:52).
Individuals, like Paul, have their own Pentecost (9:17).