Congregation Book Study, Week of December 4, 2023, Chapter 3, paragraphs 1-3 and boxes on pages. 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27. “They were filled with holy spirit”, Answers.

Study of the Book of the congregation, December 4-10, 2023, Chapter 3, paragraphs 1-3 and boxes on pages. 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27, “They were filled with holy spirit”, Answers.

Congregation Bible study (30 mins.): bt chap. 3 paras. 1-3 and boxes on pages. 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27.

“They were filled with holy spirit”

Based on Acts 2:1-47

1. Describe the atmosphere at the Feast of Pentecost.

The atmosphere at the feast of Pentecost was a whirlwind of activity and joy in Jerusalem. In the temple, the air was filled with the aroma of smoke from the altar while the Levites chanted Psalms 113 to 118. The streets were filled with life with the presence of foreigners from distant lands such as Elam, Mesopotamia, Cappadocia, Pontus, Egypt and Rome, all united to celebrate this special holiday that marked the beginning of the wheat harvest, a moment of reunion and joy shared between diverse cultures.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The festival of Pentecost was a time of great rejoicing, this festival marked the end of the barley harvest and the beginning of the wheat harvest. This annual holiday was imbued with joy and meaning, symbolizing recognition and gratitude for the first ripe fruits of the Earth.

The aforementioned songs from Psalms 113 to 118 were probably performed antiphonally, where one group sang a part and another responded, creating a very dynamic musical harmony.

During the festival of Pentecost there was a lot of movement in Jerusalem, and that was because it was one of the three occasions in which Jewish men had to appear before Jehovah in the place that he had chosen, in this case, the temple of Jerusalem. . Hence its importance, since the Jews offered sacrifices and celebrated the wheat harvest. All this generated a large influx of people from various regions and a festive atmosphere.

We must remember that Jerusalem was the place designated by Jehovah where Jewish men were to appear and worship him in the temple. Additionally, Jerusalem was home to the great Sanhedrin, the supreme court, and the administrative council of the nation, making Jerusalem the center of Judaism. The same way. Both the Temple of Jerusalem and Mount Moria, which were sacred places for the Jews, were located there. Therefore, the large influx of visitors from other regions during the Pentecost festival. 

On this special occasion, many people gathered in Jerusalem to worship at the temple and celebrate the festival. Among these people were the descendants of the tribes of Israel who had been deported to Mesopotamia and Egypt, as well as Jews who lived in those regions. In addition, the Jews from Pontus, in the northern district of Asia Minor, also came to the festival, who had returned to their land bringing the good news.

The fact that the atmosphere during the festival of Pentecost was joyful and festive had to do with the command recorded in Numbers 28:26. There Jehovah commanded that his people would celebrate a Holy Meeting where they would offer the first ripe fruits of wheat and celebrate the festival all together in the same place.

2. What surprising event occurred on Pentecost in the year 33 AD?

On Pentecost in the year 33, it is reported in the scriptures that an extraordinary event occurred. According to biblical accounts, while about 120 disciples of Jesus were gathered, suddenly a noise like a strong wind was heard and filled the house. The amazing thing was that similar tongues of fire appeared and landed on each of them. After this, the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in languages ​​they did not know. This ability to speak in different languages ​​perplexed the foreigners who heard them, since they could understand them in their own languages, which generated great astonishment among those present.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

This surprising event was recorded in Acts 2:1-6, where it is mentioned that the Holy Spirit was upon the disciples of Jesus. On this day, while the disciples were gathered, there was a sudden noise from heaven, resembling a strong wind, and the text mentions that tongues of fire seemed to fall upon each of them. This event is considered the beginning of the work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian congregation.

It is important to note that the Bible in Acts 2:1-6 says that they saw something similar to tongues of fire appear. This indicates that when the holy spirit was poured out on each of the disciples, it was seen as fire, but it was not a palpable physical fire, but a spiritual fire that could be seen, but not touched.

3. a) Why was Pentecost of the year 33 a historic event in pure worship? 

Pentecost of the year 33 was a historic event in pure worship, because it marked the foundation of spiritual Israel, that is, the congregation of anointed Christians.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

It was the founding of spiritual Israel, the congregation of anointed Christians, as mentioned in Galatians 6:16. This event marked the beginning of the community of Christ Followers who would be anointed with the spirit and hope to be part of the messianic kingdom as rulers and priests.

This event was crucial in establishing the hope of becoming rulers and priests in the messianic kingdom for the Jews and proselytes who accepted the good news and were Spirit Anointed.

3. b) How did Peter use one of “the keys of the Kingdom” at Pentecost?

Peter used one of the keys to the kingdom as he addressed the crowd. This First Key opened the opportunity for Jews and proselytes to accept the good news, be Anointed with spirit, and become members of spiritual Israel. This meant that Christ's message was spread to different groups, offering special opportunities for salvation.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

This allowed them to be part of spiritual Israel and hope to be part of the messianic Kingdom as rulers and priests.

That same opportunity was opened secondly to the Samaritans, and thirdly to the Gentiles, that is, those who were neither Jews nor proselytes.

Thus, what Jesus had said in Matthew 16 18 19. his prediction of the formation of the Christian congregation composed of anointed Christians was being partially fulfilled. So, Peter used the first key or authority entrusted to him to give the Jews and Samaritans and Gentiles the opportunity to receive the spirit of God and enter the heavenly Kingdom.

It is interesting that the proselytes were non-Jews who had converted to Judaism, so they were considered Jews. They had abandoned their false gods and accepted Jehovah, the God of Israel. They also complied with the Mosaic law, had joined the nation of Israel and in the case of the males, had been circumcised. 

PAGE BOXES. 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27.

JERUSALEM, THE CENTER OF JUDAISM

We see that the geographical location of Jerusalem is among the hills of the central Judean Mountain Range about 55 km east of the Mediterranean Sea in the first chapters of Acts, Jerusalem is the main setting for the events narrated.

Jerusalem was established as the capital of Ancient Israel when King David conquered the fortress on top of Mount Zion around 1700 BC. The city later grew around this fortress.

Jewish tradition associates Mount Moriah, including the episode in which Abraham was about to sacrifice Isaac. This Mount was inside Jerusalem and is related to events as it is mentioned as a significant place in the religious history of the Jews.

The temple of Jehovah in Jerusalem was the center of the daily and religious activities of the Jews, being the place where they offered sacrifices, worshiped Jehovah and celebrated their festivities.

The Jews traveled to Jerusalem to fulfill the mandate to appear before Jehovah, in the temple they carried out activities such as offering sacrifices, worshiping and celebrating festivities.  

The religious mandate mentioned in Deuteronomy 16:16 established that three times a year all men must appear before Jehovah in the place he chose. We see that this mandate was fulfilled through the periodic pilgrimages of the Jews to Jerusalem.

The Sanhedrin was the supreme court and administrative council of the Jewish nation playing a crucial role in making judicial and administrative decisions on important matters.

The geographical location of Jerusalem is fundamental in Biblical history, especially in the events narrated in Acts, since the city serves as the main setting for many of these events.

Historical evidence supporting the events reported in Acts includes contemporary biblical records and other historical sources that provide details about life in Jerusalem at that time.

The presence of Jerusalem along with its religious and judicial institutions exerted a strong influence on the laws and beliefs of the Jews as it was the spiritual and judicial center of their nation, shaping their identity and religious practice. 

ROME, THE CAPITAL OF THE EMPIRE

Rome was the largest city and most important political center at the time of the Acts accounts, it was the capital of a vast empire that stretched from present-day Britain to North Africa and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Persian Gulf. .

In Rome in terms of culture, race, language and religion, people from different cultures, races, language and religion lived in Rome, since the city was a Crucible of the diversity of the Roman Empire.

Rome's excellent road system facilitated the arrival of travelers and products from all corners of the empire, contributing to the connectivity and integrity of the different regions.

The port of Ostia was crucial for the supply of food and luxury goods to the city of Rome, as many ships that traveled the trade route arrived at that port, allowing the entry of essential goods for the city.

By the first century AD, Rome already had more than a million inhabitants.

Half of Rome's population in that period was made up of slaves, which included criminals, sold or abandoned children, and prisoners of war. Factors such as military conquests such as that of Jerusalem by Pompey contributed to the increase in population.

Despite the construction of imposing public buildings, the majority of the free population in Rome was poor, lived crowded in multi-story buildings and depended on financial aid from the Government to survive. 

The Roman emperors dedicated themselves to building some of the most important public buildings in history, including theaters and stadiums that offered various performances and shows to entertain the masses.

Free shows were offered in the theaters and stadiums of Rome, including dramatic performances, gladiator fights, chariot races, and other events to keep people distracted.

THE JEWISH PRESENCE IN MESOPOTAMIA AND EGYPT

According to Emil Schürer, The descendants of the tribe of Israel resided in middle Mesopotamia and Babylon after being deported by the Assyrians and Babylonians.

According to Ezra 2:64, only 42,360 Israelites returned to Jerusalem after leaving exile in Babylon, and the return of the Israelites from Babylon occurred in the year 537 BC.

According to Josephus in the first century AD, there were tens of thousands of Jews living in the region of Babylon.

Jeremiah addressed a message to the Jews who lived in various locations in Egypt including Noph, that is, Memphis, in the sixth century before our era.

According to Josephus, it is likely that a large number of Jews arrived in Egypt after the year 323 and the year 30 BC.

Philo indicated that a million Israelites lived in Egypt from the slope of Libya to the limits of Ethiopia in the First Century AD, the number specifically in Alexandria is not specified. Eventually an entire section of the city of Alexandria was granted to the Jews.

CHRISTIANS IN THE POINT

The evidence indicating that the Jews who heard Peter's speech on the day of Pentecost brought the good news to their land is found in the fact that the apostle Peter addressed his first letter to the believers scattered throughout Pontus and other places. suggesting that some of the listeners of the Pentecost discourse returned to their homeland and became followers of Christ.

But he addressed his first letter to believers scattered throughout Pontus and elsewhere indicating that the Christian community had spread to that region and possibly to other areas.

The Christians of Pontus faced attacks and persecutions which are mentioned in the letters between Emperor Trajan and Pliny the Younger.

According to Pliny, the contagion of Christianity represented a threat to everyone regardless of their sex, age or social level.

Pliny the Younger allowed those accused of being Christians to choose between denying Christ and being executed.

Pliny let someone accused of being a Christian go free, if he cursed Christ, worshiped the gods or the statues of Trajan, since according to him, true Christians would not perform such actions. 

The word scattered refers to the diaspora, indicating the dispersion of Jewish communities outside their place of origin. 

The word scattered refers to the diaspora, indicating the dispersion of Jewish communities outside their place of origin.

The use of the word scattered suggests that many of the first people who became Christians could have been of Jewish origin, as the diaspora is commonly associated with Jewish communities. 

The ethnic origin of many of the first people who converted to Christianity was probably Jewish as the use of the word spread in relation to Christian communities suggests. 

WHO WERE THE PROSELYTES?

Among the faithful men charged with the “necessary task” of distributing food each day was “a proselyte from Antioch” named Nicholas. Proselytes were non-Jews who had converted to Judaism. They were considered Jews because they had accepted the God of Israel and the Mosaic Law, had abandoned false gods, had joined the nation of Israel, and, if male, had been circumcised.

Peter's Pentecost speech was impactful because it was delivered at a key moment on the day of Pentecost and was heard by Jews and proselytes, which contributed to the expansion of the Christian message among different groups.

Faithful men were given the necessary task of contributing food every day as mentioned in Acts 6:3-5.

In ancient times, being a proselyte meant being a non-Jewish person who had converted to Judaism. 

To be considered a Jew as a proselyte, the person was expected to accept the God of Israel, follow the Mosaic law, abandon false gods and, in the case of men, be circumcised. 

After being liberated from Babylon in 537, many Jews settled outside their country, but continued to practice their religion. dispersing throughout various regions

Jewish belief was known throughout the Near East and even further afield, due to the dispersion of the Jews and their continued practice of the religion outside their homeland.

Some ancient writers such as Horace and Seneca confirmed the interest of many people in the Jewish religion and their attraction to the Jewish community. 

People from different countries joined the Jewish community attracted by the Jewish religion and the beliefs of this community.

Proselytes played a crucial role in the Jewish community, as they were individuals converted to Judaism who contributed to the expansion of the Jewish faith, and later to the emergence of Christianity, by choosing Peter's message at Pentecost and participating in Christian communities.