Quote:
Originally Posted by good samaritan
Different sources say that the feast of Pentecost is for commemoration of the law given at Sinai, but it is interesting it is the giving of the Holy Ghost the Pentecost following Jesus Ascension.
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Yes, we looked into that. Here's what we found:
Psalm 68 connects with the Exodus. Verse 1 ("Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered") connects with Moses saying "Let God arise" etc whenever the cloudy pillar moved and the camp followed.
Verse 6 speaks of God delivering from bondage, as well of the rebellious being condemned to the wilderness.
Verses 7 and 8 are clear references to the Exodus and to Sinai.
Verse 11 speaks of God giving his Word, and of it being "published".
Verses 15-16 contain a reference to Mt. Zion (this is important, hang on a moment...)
Verse 17 refers to Sinai.
Verse 18 then says " thou ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive. Thou hast received gifts for men, even for the rebellious, that the LORD God might dwell among them."
Now, later Jewish rabbinic speculation assumed this referred to Moses ascending up on Sinai and receiving the Law, as well as the additional sacrificial rites which were imposed to the people's rebellion (golden calf, etc.).
BUT Paul references this verse in
Ephesians 4, applies it to Christ ascending into heaven and, through the gift of the Holy Ghost giving various gifts or charisms to the church (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors/teachers), which in turn is referenced later in the chapter to the operation of the Spirit through each member of the Body.
Therefore, we see that Pentecost is the New Sinai experience, where Christ the mediator ascends on high, gives the Spirit to men thus making it possible for God to dwell among the people. As God spoke from heaven at Sinai, He spoke from heaven in the upper room (via the disciples' speaking in tongues). The rebellious (those convicted by Peter's preaching) were given gifts as well (3000 of them got added to the church). Pentecost represents the new covenant Sinai, or, to be more specific, MOUNT ZION (see Hebrews "we have come to Zion" etc) the typological picture of the Davidic tabernacle, in opposition to Sinai's Mosaic tabernacle.
So the association of Pentecost with Sinai
only makes sense in the context of Acts 2, in a Christian, new covenant context.
Apparently, there is no source older than the second century AD for a rabbinic tradition of Pentecost being the day the Lord thundered from Sinai. That may be a post-resurrection Jewish apologetic against Christian evangelistic preaching concerning Christ and the outpouring of the Spirit.
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