Student Choice Assignment, Introduction Week, New Testament Class

This semester I am taking a class on the New Testament. Some of you may remember that I took a class on the New Testament a year ago, that class covered the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; this class covers the books from Acts to Revelation. You may also remember that I had to complete a "Student Choice Assignment" each week and in order to complete that assignment, I posted some thoughts about that week's material to my blog. It looks like I will have the same assignment to complete, so here are my thoughts on a portion of this week's material.

Choice 3: Acts 2. The Day of Pentecost

Read Acts 2 and the institute student manual commentary for Acts 2:1, “What was the Day of Pentecost?” (pp. 243-44). Then respond in writing to the following items:

  

  o   Briefly describe the meaning of the day of Pentecost.

 “Pentecost” comes from the Greek work pentekoste which translates to “fifty”. For fifty days, or seven      seeks following the Passover feast, faithful Jews observed the Pentecost celebration. During the celebration, God poured out his Spirit upon the people as they were pouring out their gratitude to him.

  o   List two or three of Peter’s teachings on this day.

1.       Before the Lord comes again, “the sun will be turned into darkness and the moon into blood”. (Acts 2:20)

2.       Whoever believes in Christ and “shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved”. (Acts 2:21)

3.       Peter testifies of the resurrection of Christ. (Acts2:24)

  o   In what ways did Peter fulfill his role as a special witness of Jesus Christ?

Peter preached of, and testified of Christ and exhorted the people to repent and be baptized.

  o   What gifts of the Spirit were made manifest on the day of Pentecost?

There were many people present who all spoke their own native tongue. The Holy Ghost gave them the power to speak in tongues so that they could all understand one another.

  o   How did the people respond to what occurred on this day?

Those who did not believe mocked those speaking in tongues saying they must be drunk. Those who believed (about 3,000 souls) were baptized.