In 31 AD, after His crucifixion, Jesus appeared to His disciples and breathed on them, declaring, Receive you the Holy Spirit. He instructed them that this was a gift from their Father and urged them to wait in Jerusalem to receive it. With the receiving of the Holy Spirit comes the responsibility of living in a manner that reflects God's way, serving as a light to the world. This responsibility is vital, as it influences Jesus Christ's decision to save the world for the sake of the elect. On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples were assembled in unity when a mighty wind sound filled the house, though no air moved. Above them, fire appeared as cloven, tongue-shaped flames, resting on each of them without heat. They were filled with the Holy Spirit, and the power of God manifested in an awesome miracle as they began to speak in unfamiliar languages. A multitude gathered, and through God's Spirit, every man understood the message in his own language and dialect, marveling at the refined speech from the Galileans, known for their crude language. This event marked the introduction of God's Holy Spirit to the world, making it available to mankind upon being called by God the Father. God's Holy Spirit is the power of God in action, inspiring and accomplishing feats through individuals. It filled men with superhuman strength and great courage, enabling impossible deeds. This Spirit teaches on a personal level, shaping the will of the individual by communicating righteous knowledge. It reveals Jesus Christ's personality, obedience, faith, and character, prompting disciples to obey His commandments and bear witness to His way of living. The Holy Spirit amplifies truth, providing a foundation for right living amidst a world of persecution and hatred. The Spirit also convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, bringing an acute sense of guilt and awareness that cannot be ignored. It guides into divine truth, setting individuals free from false justifications and revealing God's will specifically for each person. Given as a gift to the called, the Holy Spirit brings understanding of Jesus as Redeemer and the plan of salvation, removing the veil from their comprehension. God's intent in giving His Spirit is to seal the called with a mark of authenticity and approval, as a down payment of their inheritance to live as members of the God family. This gift, first received by the first fruits, is meant to influence thinking in obedience, filling with hope and anticipation for the final transformation into Spirit beings.

The Day of Pentecost holds profound significance as it marks the moment when the Holy Spirit was first given to humanity in a collective, spiritual sense, initiating the birth of God's church. On that day in AD 31, the Holy Spirit descended upon the first 120 members with power and abundance, accompanied by extraordinary manifestations such as the sound of a mighty rushing wind and tongues as of fire resting on each disciple, symbolizing God's presence, holiness, and the proclamation of His truth. This event, described in Acts 2:1-4, united the church in peace, countering the disunity of Babel, and confirmed that it is God who calls individuals to receive His Spirit, adding them to His church without the apostles soliciting converts. The rapid growth of the church soon after, with 3,000 and later 2,000 more added, underscores that it was God's predestined plan to call these individuals at that time. The giving of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost also represents the restoration of contact with God the Father and Jesus Christ, which had been severed since Adam's disobedience cut humanity off from the Tree of Life, symbolizing access to the Holy Spirit. This day reminds us annually that we, the church, are the first small harvest of God's calling for salvation, predestined to receive His Spirit now in a world otherwise cut off from Him. The Holy Spirit combines with the human spirit to enable understanding of God's deep truths, regenerates us into God-life as His children, imparts spiritual intellect, instills divine love, grants the faith of Christ, provides power to overcome self-centeredness, and fuels the development of holy, righteous character. These effects, essential for preparing for the coming Kingdom of God, highlight the unique responsibility and opportunity given to those called now to receive His Spirit and grow in accordance with His plan.

Pentecost holds a unique and profound significance among the holy days, marked by a brilliance that stands out amidst other observances. It is seen as central, akin to the most important traveler among three journeying together, symbolizing spiritual freedom in contrast to the political and economic freedoms represented by Passover and Tabernacles. The counting of days leading to Pentecost underscores its importance, emphasizing a deliberate anticipation of a pivotal divine act. Under the Old Covenant, as noted in Deuteronomy 29:2-4, the majority of Israelites did not receive God's Holy Spirit, a lack that limited their spiritual understanding. This absence set the stage for a transformative event in the New Covenant. In Acts 1:4-5, even before the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was not yet given, but a promise lingered. On that day, as described in Acts 2, a sound like a mighty rushing wind from heaven filled the house—likely the Temple—where the disciples were gathered, signifying the arrival of God's Spirit. Flames of fire appeared on those receiving the Spirit, marking them as set apart, a visible sanctification distinct from any later experiences. Those filled with the Holy Spirit spoke in recognizable languages, heard by foreign-born inhabitants of Jerusalem, facilitating a powerful connection to the diverse crowd present. This event, accompanied by Peter's sermon, led to the repentance and baptism of many who had witnessed Jesus Christ's ministry, their minds opened by God's Spirit to the truth of what they had seen and heard over the preceding years. The giving of the Holy Spirit, as recounted in Acts 11:15, brought power to the recipients, a theme echoed in II Timothy 1:7, where it is shown as the source of empowerment and hope. Psalm 104:30 illustrates the Spirit as the channel of God's creative energy, essential for creation and renewal. Without God's Spirit, as expressed in Isaiah 32:13-18 and Ezekiel 37:12-14, transformation from destruction to order would not occur. God's ongoing work, as Jesus states in John 5:17, continues through the Spirit, shaping and molding individuals as a potter works clay, facilitating a new creation from a state of confusion to one of purity and order, as seen in Genesis 1. The purpose of the Holy Spirit's giving is multifaceted. Primarily, it serves as a bridge for God to continue His creative work within individuals, transforming them into the righteousness of God, as noted in Galatians 6:15 and II Corinthians 3:18. Secondly, it benefits the church, apportioned by God's will for the common good, as stated in I Corinthians 12:7. Thirdly, it fosters personal spiritual growth, equipping individuals with essential truths about relationships and destiny, empowering them for God's Kingdom, as highlighted in II Peter 1:2-4 and Romans 15:13. The Spirit instills hope, a powerful motivator, and love, as seen in Romans 5:5, culminating in a prayer for inward strength and the fullness of God through the Spirit's power, as expressed in Ephesians 3:14-21. However, the Spirit is not a power to be controlled for personal gain, as illustrated by Simon's misguided request in Acts 8. His desire to use the Spirit for self-glorification was met with severe rebuke, revealing a fundamental misunderstanding of God's nature and gifts. God grants His Spirit abundantly to those who seek it for the right reasons—to glorify Him and not for selfish ends, as warned in I Corinthians 14:1. The quality of desire determines the reception of the Spirit, ensuring it aligns with God's purpose rather than human idolatry.

Acts 2 records the remarkable event of God pouring out His Spirit on the church, accompanied by dramatic manifestations that testified to something extraordinary taking place. The Holy Spirit emerges as a significant theme throughout the rest of Acts, as the gospel was preached and more individuals were called into the church. The epistles of Paul, Peter, and John also frequently highlight the Holy Spirit. Returning to I Corinthians 2:12, Paul mentions a spirit that we have received, distinct from the spirit in man with which we were born and in opposition to the spirit of the world. This additional spirit is from, and of, God, representing the essence of His incredible mind, including His attitude, principles, thoughts, feelings, temperament, character, disposition, and will. It is the mind of Christ that we receive, allowing us to know the things of God, what He has prepared for us, and the things given to us. This Spirit is bestowed when we are baptized and have hands laid on us, enabling us to begin understanding the things of God, which the world cannot comprehend. Because God is holy, His Spirit is also holy, inclining His people toward holiness in conduct, attitude, speech, and every facet of living. Paul further describes the Holy Spirit in II Timothy 1:6-7 as a gift of God, given through the laying on of hands, which can be stirred up. It is not a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind, guiding our minds to be disciplined, self-controlled, sensible, sober, balanced, and restrained, operating in a way often incomprehensible to the world. The Spirit of God is also a spirit of love, with the love of God poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, enabling us to do the right thing toward God or others, regardless of personal cost. Additionally, it is a spirit of power, providing the capacity for God's will and work to be done through a person, though this power is the outworking of God the Father, constrained by the love and sound-mindedness of God's Spirit, ensuring it is not used for self-gratification or self-glorification. Acts 1:8 reveals the purpose of this power, as the resurrected Christ tells the apostles that they shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, to be witnesses to Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth. This capability extends to everyone who has received God's Spirit, imparting spiritual knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, impelling us toward holiness, and enabling the outworking of His will. As we yield to and make use of God's Spirit, seeking His direction and instruction, His character image takes shape in us, and our lives become testimonies of His goodness, mind, love, holiness, and stability, reflecting His glory to the world.

God gives His Holy Spirit to those who obey Him, as clearly stated by the apostle Peter in Acts 5:32. Peter explains to the Sanhedrin that they were guilty of murdering Jesus Christ, the Anointed One, whom God exalted to be Prince and Savior, offering repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. He declares that both he and the Holy Spirit, given by God to those who obey Him, are witnesses to these truths. This straightforward message indicates that those who respond to the gospel through repentance from sin and active faith in Christ's sacrifice will live in obedience to God's commandments, and thus receive His Spirit. The Bible outlines the requirements for receiving God's Spirit in Acts 2:38, where Peter instructs, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." This reveals two fundamental conditions: repentance and faith in Christ's sacrifice, with baptism as an outward confession of that faith. Repentance involves a deep remorse for sins, which caused the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, and a sincere desire to change one's life to avoid repeating those sins. This desire naturally leads to beginning to align one's lifestyle with God's commandments. Even before the Holy Spirit was given, John the Baptist emphasized the need for genuine repentance by demanding that people demonstrate changes in their lives, as seen in Luke 3:8. Similarly, repentance is described as turning from sin, which is the transgression of God's law, and starting to obey that law, followed by receiving forgiveness through faith in Christ's sacrifice. Paul reinforces this in his teachings to the Galatians, reminding them that the Holy Spirit is not received through lawkeeping alone but through faith in Christ's sacrifice, without which no one can be justified or forgiven. Thus, both repentance and faith in Christ are essential before one can receive God's Spirit, confirming that God grants His Spirit to His humble, faithful people who keep His commandments and hold to the faith of Jesus.