Pentecost is not merely an event, a liturgical date, or a historical highlight to be remembered once a year. For Apostolic Pentecostals, Pentecost represents the very foundation of our faith, the birthplace of the Church, and the beginning of the Spirit-empowered life that Jesus promised to all believers. It serves as the grand finale of His earthly ministry and the opening chapter of a Spirit-filled Church age that continues to burn with power today.
More Than Memory: My First Pentecost.
I was only eleven years old, a boy at the Ohio District UPCI summer church camp in Millersport, when I experienced Pentecost for myself. During the evening service, surrounded by worship and faith, I received the gift of the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues as the Spirit gave the utterance, just like in Acts 2. Later, I was baptized by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ, completing what I now understand to be the full New Testament pattern of salvation.
That moment shaped my faith for eternity. It was not based on emotionalism, and it wasn’t rooted in tradition. It was genuine. Life-changing. Scriptural.
The Grand Finale That Was Only the Beginning
Before His ascension, Jesus made a simple yet powerful promise:
“And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” — Luke 24:49 (KJV)
Pentecost was the fulfillment of that promise. It wasn’t random, nor was it incidental. It occurred on a Jewish feast day 50 days after Passover—a day already symbolically rich in meaning as a harvest celebration. But this time, God wasn’t harvesting wheat. He was gathering souls.
Acts 2 depicts the scene: a sound from heaven like a rushing mighty wind, cloven tongues like as of fire, and believers speaking in languages they had never learned. Some mocked, while others marveled. But when Peter stood to preach, he didn’t offer a vague invitation; he gave divine instruction:
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” — Acts 2:38 (KJV)
This wasn’t an ending; it was the beginning. The Church was born in that upper room, baptized in power, and destined to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth.
It wasn’t a one-time thing
Some believe Pentecost was a unique event—beautiful but limited to the early church era. However, the Book of Acts presents a different narrative. We observe the same experience repeated:
- Acts 8: Believers in Samaria received the Holy Ghost after Peter and John laid hands on them.
- Acts 10: In Cornelius’ house, Gentiles received the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues, shocking the Jewish believers.
- Acts 19: Paul meets disciples in Ephesus who were only familiar with John’s baptism. He baptizes them in Jesus’ name, and they receive the Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues.
Repeatedly, the pattern remained consistent: repentance, water baptism in Jesus’ name, and infilling the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. Not once was this characterized as symbolic or optional—it was essential, powerful, and accessible.
And it still is.
A Gift for the Whole World
Missionary Kevin Blake shared a moment that vividly illustrates the enduring global impact of Pentecost:
“We traveled two hours down the coast for service in a village called Patoforpey. The service was blessed with one baptized in the Atlantic Ocean and five receiving the Holy Ghost. When I gave the invitation, a lady stepped out and was immediately shaken by the power of God. She received the Holy Ghost, speaking in fluent English! Part of what she said was, ‘This is my gift to my children. I give it freely that I might bring you to live with me in the home I have prepared for you!’ This is perfect English from an uneducated woman in a little fishing village on the west coast of Ghana. God is good.”
That’s Pentecost. That’s the same Spirit. It’s still happening across oceans, generations, and languages.
The Power of Pentecost Is for You
Many people today settle for an intellectual belief system that lacks the power Jesus promised. However, the same Spirit that filled the upper room continues to fill hungry hearts. The promise Peter declared on the Day of Pentecost is still true today:
“For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” — Acts 2:39 (KJV)
Pentecost is not merely a memory. It is not a denominational label. It is the divine gateway to Spirit-filled living—a new birth (John 3:5), a new walk (Romans 8:1), and a new power (Acts 1:8).
Don’t Just Learn About Pentecost—Experience It
If you have never experienced the Holy Ghost, today can be your day. It is not reserved for the spiritual elite or solely for those in a specific church. It is for you. God desires to fill your life with His Spirit, transform your heart, and empower you to walk in truth and victory.
Don’t let Pentecost just be a date you remember. Let the power of Pentecost become the experience everything changed.
If you’ve never experienced the Power of Pentecost, I invite you to join me at Calvary Apostolic Church in Westerville, Ohio.
Additional REading
- Full Salvation Requires Full Obedience: Why Acts 2:38 Still Matters
- Why Apostolics Celebrate Easter Differently
Credits
Credit: OpenAI helped create my article outlines and generate the imagery. Grammarly fixed my writing errors, and Quillbot makes everything better.