Brian and Cathy Gray Bible study

Pentecost

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Acts 2:1-2

Pentecost is the 5th of eight feasts, sometimes called the second of three Great Feasts of the Lord established before God created man.

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,

Genesis 1:14

Seasons in Hebrew is mow`ed, an appointed time, meeting, or feast. A place of, assembly, congregation… God appointed These Feasts, which were formally established in Leviticus 23.

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts.

Leviticus 23:1

Convocations is miqra’ something called out, i.e. a public meeting, a rehearsal.

Pentecost is the conclusion of the Feast of Weeks. A week is seven days. Seven weeks is 49 days. The fiftieth day is Pentecost. Pente is fifty. The Feast of Weeks follows the Feast of First Fruits, the beginning of the forty-nine-day harvest marked by a daily counting of the Omer. An Omer was a dry measure that would be about two quarts of wheat today. The counting of the Omer signified the connection between Passover and the giving of the Torah (The Ten Commandments) to Moses on Mount Sinai or Shavuot. Shavuot was the first Pentecost.

It is important to note that the Great Feast of Passover, which originated in Exodus 12, contains three feasts, Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits. Jesus was the fulfillment of all three feasts. Biblically speaking, Fulfillment means to give the correct interpretation of something. Think of it as the difference between seeing a photograph of someone and then meeting them for the first time in person. The meeting is the fulfillment. Jesus fulfilled all three Feasts. He was crucified on the day of Passover. He was in the tomb during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. He was resurrected at the commencement of the Feast of First Fruits. Hence, Paul is speaking literally in 1 Corinthians 15.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:20

The God’s chosen people were rehearsing the death and resurrection of Jesus for at least 1500 years but missed Jesus when He came. That should give all of us reason to pause and reflect.

Shavuot

On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. 

Exodus 19:16

The giving of the Law, the Torah, the Ten Commandments came amidst a storm after three days of consecration. Some versions say sanctify.

When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.

Exodus 19:10-11

Consecrate is qadash –  prepare, dedicate, be hallowed, be holy, be sanctified, be separate.

In Acts chapter two, the 120 had consecrated themselves in prayer. They were of one accord. Accord in Greek is homothymadón

Homothymadón is a unique Greek word, used 10 of its 12 New Testament occurrences in the Book of Acts, helps us understand the uniqueness of the Christian community. Homothumadon is a compound of two words meaning to “rushalong” and “in unison”. The image is almost musical; a number of notes are sounded which, while different, harmonise in pitch and tone. As the instruments of a great concert under the direction of a concert master, so the Holy Spirit blends together the lives of members of Christ’s church.

– Strongs Concordance-

The first Pentecost was characterized by rebellion of all involved, including Moses, who broke the first tablets in a fit of rage when he saw the Israelites worshipping the golden calf. In contrast, the fulfillment of Pentecost was characterized by radical obedience to the command of Jesus among all involved. The first Pentecost took place after three days of waiting for the law. It seems to me those three days were a foreshadowing of three days in the tomb before the fulfillment of the law came in the resurrected Jesus.

The fulfillment of Pentecost came after ten days in the upper room. We know it was ten days because Jesus ascended on the 40th day of the Feast of Weeks. Pentecost came ten days later. The first Pentecost began with thunder and lightning, a thick cloud, and a very loud trumpet blast... The fulfillment of Pentecost came with a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, that filled all the house… The people were terrified on the first Pentecost. The fulfillment of Pentecost  brought the comforter.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 14:26

The promised Holy Spirit came. Then Galilaens, Parthians, and Medes, Elamites, and Mesopotamians, Judaeans and Cappadocians, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, Egypt, Libya, Cyrene, strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, heard everyone speak the in their own language.

Approximately two thousand years after God confounded the language of men at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11, Holy Spirit restores the understanding of the very same people groups at Pentecost.

The motivation for building a tower to heaven was self glorification.

And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

Genesis 11:4

Name is Shem, ironically pronounced Shame.  It means reputation, fame, and glory. They wanted to glorify their name, not God’s.

And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

Genesis 11:6

The people in Genesis 11 were of one accord to glorify themselves. Therefore God broke the accord.

Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

Genesis 11:7

In contrast, the 120 were in one accord. Holy Spirit came, restored thier understanding and they did

hear them speak in their tongues the wonderful works of God.

Acts 2:11

How ironic that the root issue in Genesis 11 is rectified in verse 11 of Acts 2.  It’s no coincidence that self-glorification remains the core struggle for the body of Christ today. Let’s pay attention as we move on in Acts. Are the Apostles and disciples primarily focused on their identity, authority, gifting, and power? Or does their spiritual self-esteem take a back seat for His namesake and glory?

Maranatha

Brian and Cathy Gray Bible study

Acts: Background and Mystery

The Gospel of Luke was written by Luke. However, Luke was not one of the original 12 Disciples and never saw Jesus face to face. That said, Luke is regarded as the most credible historical source for this time and casts himself in the role of a historian in Luke 1:1-4. More than a few scholars like William Mitchel Ramsay, have tried to refute Luke’s authorship. Yet archaeological discoveries have repeatedly verified Luke’s accounts in Acts. This matters because Acts is in fact, a continuation of the book of Luke.

What other evidence do we have that Luke wrote Acts?


The “we” narratives in Acts 16:10–17; 20:5–15; 21:1–18; 27:1–28:16 indicate that the author was a traveling companion of Paul on his missionary journeys. Luke is named as one of Paul’s closest associates in Col. 4:14; Phlm 24:2, Tim 4:11. 

Acts was regarded as a continuation of the Gospel of Luke because the prologue of Acts 1:1-2 references a former account, the book of Luke. This is further supported by the fact that Acts is addressed to Theophilus, Acts 1:1, as is the Gospel of Luke. Luke 1:3. Theophilus translates to “Lover of God” in Greek. It is questionable whether Theophilus was a specific individual or if Luke was addressing his general readership as “lovers of God”. In any case, both books share a similar writing style, vocabulary, and theological theme, suggesting a common author. 

Irenaeus, who was discipled by Polycarp, who was discipled by John, explicitly attributes Acts to Luke in his book “Against Heresies”.  Other early witnesses include Clement of Alexandria, Tertullian, Origen, and Eusebius, all affirming Luke’s authorship. No early Christian accounts attribute Acts to anyone but Luke.

We could go on with more evidence, but I think it’s safe to say that Luke wrote Acts. Still, it is more important to grasp the underlying Acts 17:11 Berean supporting argument presented as proof of Luke’s authorship. The reason is that disputing authorship is often the enemy’s first mode of attack on the credibility of God’s word. The argument usually begins along the lines of, “If the author is fake, then how can we say the book isn’t fake?” At the end of the day, Acts is an apologetic work rooted in verified history and the fulfillment of scripture. Our chief underlying presupposition remains the same.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

Hence, the book of Acts is a work of Holy Spirit.

Luke begins Acts with a reiteration of the forty days following Jesus’s resurrection covered in Luke 24. Jesus promises the baptism of Holy Spirit. Luke 24:50 tells us that the ascension took place in Bethany less than half a mile from Jerusalem. Luke expands on the ascension beginning in Acts 1:6

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 

Acts 1:6-7

As it says in 1 Corinthians 1:23, the crucifixion was a stumbling block to the Jews. The Jewish disciples were expecting a warrior king for a messiah who would restore Jewish rule over Israel. Even the disciples whom Jesus personally taught in Mat 24:3-31 didn’t understand. Now that He was resurrected they thought He would establish His Kingdom on earth. Instead, in verse 8, Jesus tells them they will receive the power to lay the foundation for the eventual Heavenly Kingdom.

They remain confused.

And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Acts 1:9-11

This is deeply powerful. The angel reiterated the very thing that had so enraged Caiaphas when Jesus was first arrested as the disciples witnessed a partial fulfillment of prophecy.

But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

Mathew 26:63-68

Caiaphas understood that Jesus had declared He was God via His quotation of Daniel.

 “I saw in the night visions,and behold, with the clouds of heaven
    there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
    and was presented before him.
 And to him was given dominion
    and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
    should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
    which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
    that shall not be destroyed.

Daniel 7:13-14

Unlike most of the book of Daniel that was written in Hebrew, Daniel 7 was written in Aramaic. This is significant because “Son of Man” in Hebrew (ben adam) means “son of Adam”. “Son of Man” in Aramaic bar ‘ěnoš is a declaration of deity. Jesus spoke Aramaic to Caiaphas and declared His deity. Hence the violent reaction that followed.

Before His crucifixion, Jesus quoted Daniel 7 when explaining His return following the tribulation, Mathew 24.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Mathew 24:29-31

The partial fulfillment of prophecy in the ascension points to the partial fulfillment of Jesus’s earthly purpose. Sin and eternal death are conquered on the cross. The Kingdom of God remains to be fulfilled. Consider this mind-boggling mystery and prophetic confirmation, and we are only eleven verses into the book of Acts!

Buckle up!

Maranatha

Here is a timeline of the book of Acts for historical and contextual reference. I will print hard copies for our regular Bible study attendees. Let me know if you want a copy.

Tiberius is the Emperor of Rome – 14-37 AD 

 

Pontius Pilate Governor of Judaea – 26-37 AD 

 

Jesus’ Death, Burial, and Ascension – 29 AD – Luke 23-Acts 1

 

Matthias is Chosen as the 12th Apostle – 29 AD – Acts 1:15-26

 

The Day of Pentecost – 29 AD – Acts 2

 

3,000 People Baptized – 29 AD – Acts 2:41

 

The Disciples Enjoy Daily Fellowship – 29 AD – Acts 2:42-47

 

Peter and John Heal a Lame Man at the Temple – 29 AD – Acts 3:1-10

 

Peter Preaches in the Portico of Solomon – 29 AD – Acts 3:26

 

Peter and John Arrested by the Council – 29 AD – Acts 4:1-22

 

The Holy Spirit Fills the Disciples – 29 AD – Acts 4:23-31

 

The Believers Share Their Possessions – 29-31 AD – Acts 4:32-35

 

Barnabas Sells a Field and Contributes the Money – 29-31 AD – Acts 4:36-37

 

Ananias and Sapphira Die for Lying – 29-31 AD – Acts 5:11

 

 

The Disciples Grow in Number and Work Miracles – 29-31 AD – Acts 5:12-16

 

The Apostles are Arrested but Freed by an Angel – 29-35 AD – Acts 5:17-25

 

The Apostles are Questioned by the Council – 29-35 AD – Acts 5:26-42

 

7 Men Chosen to Care for the Neglected Widows – 31-35 AD – Acts 6:1-7

 

Stephen Arrested and Stoned – 33-35 AD – Acts 6:8-7:60

 

Paul Persecutes the Church – 33-35 AD – Acts 8:1-3

 

Philip Preaches in Samaria – 33-35 AD – Acts 8:4-25

 

Philip Preaches to the Ethiopian Eunuch – 33-35 AD – Acts 8:26-40

 

Saul’s (Paul) Conversion – 35-36 AD – Acts 9:1-18

 

*Caligula Emperor in Rome – 37-41 AD

 

Saul in Damascus and Arabia (Gal 1:17-18) – 36-39 AD – Acts 9:19-25

 

Saul Visits Jerusalem for 15 days – 39 AD – Gal 1:18

 

Saul Goes to Preach in Syria and Cilicia – 39-43 AD – Gal 1:21-24

 

Peter Shares the Gospel with Cornelius – 39-40 AD – Acts 10:1-48

 

 

Peter Visits Jerusalem – 39-40 AD – Acts 11:1-18

 

*Claudius is Emperor in Rome – 41-54 AD

 

Barnabas Works with the Church in Antioch – 41-43 AD – Acts 11:19-24

 

Barnabas Finds Saul and Returns to Antioch – 43-44 AD – Acts 11:25-27

 

Agabus Prophesies a Famine – 43-44 AD – Acts 11:28-30

 

Herod Agrippa I Kills the Apostle James – 44 AD – Acts 12:1-2

 

Peter Imprisoned but Released by an Angel – 44 AD – Acts 12:3-19

 

God Kills Herod Agrippa I – 44 AD – Acts 12:20-25

 

1st Missionary Journey of Paul & Barnabas – 46-47 AD – Acts 13:1-14:27

 

Paul & Barnabas Stay in Antioch – 47-48 AD – Acts 14:28

 

The Council at Jerusalem – 48 AD – Acts 15:1-29

 

Paul & Barnabas Return to Antioch – 48-49 AD – Acts 15:30-35

 

Emperor Claudius Expels Jews from Rome – 49-51 AD – Acts 18:2

 

Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey – 49-52 AD – Acts 16:1-18:22

 

 

Herod Agrippa II made a King by Claudius – 53 AD

 

Conversion of Apollos – 52-54 AD – Acts 18:24-28

 

Nero is Emperor in Rome – 54-68 AD

 

Paul’s 3rd Missionary Journey – 53-57 AD – Acts 18:23-21:14

 

Paul Goes to Jerusalem and is Arrested – 57 AD – Acts 21:15-37

 

Paul Preaches to the Jews from the Barracks – 57 AD – Acts 21:38-22:22

 

Paul Imprisoned and on Trial Before the Council – 57 AD – Acts 22:23-23:10

 

The Jews Plot to Kill Paul – 57 AD – Acts 23:11-22

 

Paul is Moved to Caesarea – 57 AD – Acts 23:23-35

 

Paul on Trial Before Governor Felix – 57 AD – Acts 24:1-21

 

Felix Keeps Paul in Prison for 2 Years – 57-59 AD – Acts 24:22-27

 

Paul Appears Before Festus and Appeals to Caesar – 59 AD – Acts 25:1-12

 

Paul Appears Before King Agrippa – 59 AD – Acts 25:13-26:32

 

Paul Leaves on a Ship for Rome – 59 AD – Acts 27:1-12

 

 

Paul Shipwrecked on the Island of Malta – 59 AD – Acts 27:13-28:1

 

Paul Winters on Malta before Arriving in Rome – 59-60 AD – Acts 28:1-28

 

Paul Remained in House Arrest for 2 Years – 60-62 AD – Acts 28:19-31

       

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brian and Cathy Gray Rants from the Fig Tree, Red Pill Diaries

Pentecost and the Pomegranate.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… Hosea 4:6

Sunday, May 19, 2024, will be Pentecost. Pente is 50. Pentecost occurs 50 days after The Feast of First Fruits, the last Feast in the season of Passover that Jesus fulfilled when He resurrected. Pentecost comes at the end of The Feast of Weeks. Moses received the law on Pentecost. Pentecost was fulfilled when Holy Spirit was given in Acts 2.

“FULFILLED” means to give the “CORRECT INTERPRETATION”.

If you are watching mainstream and social media, then you have probably heard myriad attempts at separating Zionism from Judaism. The idea is that Zionism is a political force divorced from true Judaism. The overarching theme is that Zionists are not true Jews. Yet, Zion is mentioned 163 times in the Old and New Testament, beginning with

Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 2 Sam 5:7

Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ houses of the people of Israel, in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion. 2 Chron 5:2

A Zionist is a person who supports Israel’s spiritual heritage and right to the land. PERIOD! That said, the Bible promises a blessing or a curse, according to one’s stance on this issue. Num 24:9  Recent attempts to divorce Zionism from Judaism are just more of the same marginalization of Jews as has been done in the past with things like  Kazarian conspiracy theories and The Protocols of the Elders of Zion published in 1903 by “Author Unknown”. These inspired Adolf Hitler’s Mein Kampf and the philosophical. justification for the Jewish Holocaust, 1933-45. Attempts have also been made to associate the star of David on the Israeli flag with the above conspiracy theories and others to include those associating contemporary Israel with Freemasonry and even Moloch worship.

Thid Nonsense!

I’m writing about this now because Pomegranates are traditionally eaten during the Feast of Pentecost.  Pomegranates are first mentioned in Exodus 28 regarding the construction of the priestly robe.

On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, around its hem, with bells of gold between them, a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe. And it shall be on Aaron when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the Holy Place before the Lord, and when he comes out, so that he does not die. Exodus 28:33-35

Pomegranates are one of the seven blessings of the land resulting from obedience. Deut 8:6-10

The Star of David represents the top of Pomegranate.

Also when it is cut.

“Pomegranates, unlike the Menorah, were visible to the non-priestly Israelites and were therefore associated with the glory of God’s Temple far more than the Menorah, which they were never able to look at. Nowadays, that imagery is stylistically represented in the Star of David, the Magen David, the symbol of Israel, by a people fervently hoping for the Messiah to return – it is also a symbol of faith that one day the pomegranate would again be seen by all Israelites, once more adorning a Temple upon Mt Moriah, on the Temple Mount.” The Ancient Bridge

The Pomegranate as represented on the Israeli flag symbolizes the hope of Zion which is the Nation of Israel.

Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps,  and they were singing a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and before the elders. No one could learn that song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. It is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. Rev 14:1-5

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. Rev 12:10

Once again, accuse katēgoréō the Greek word from which the English word category is derived. The enemy would like to recategorize a Zionist as an evil political entity that is separate from Judaism.

Don’t Be Duped by the Enemy’s Narrative.

So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.  Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! Rom 11:11-12

We will continue to bless Israel this Pentecost as we await Jesus’s future fulfillment of The Feasts of Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles the day and hour of which no one knows.

MARANATHA!