Pentecost is celebrated fifty days after Easter Sunday. Because it is counted from Easter, Western and Orthodox churches keep it on different Sundays in the years their Easter dates differ.

Why is Pentecost called the birthday of the church?

Because on that day the Holy Spirit came upon the first believers and Peter preached to the crowd, and about three thousand were baptized (Acts 2). It marks the church being empowered and going public in the world.

What is the meaning of the tongues of fire?

Acts describes what looked like tongues of fire resting on the believers as the Holy Spirit came. Fire is a biblical sign of God's presence and purifying power, and the 'tongues' point to the many languages in which they began to proclaim Christ.

The Church Year

What Is Pentecost?

Pentecost is the day the church celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the first believers, fifty days after Easter. According to Acts 2, the Spirit came like wind and fire, and the disciples began to proclaim Christ in many languages, and about three thousand believed. It is often called the birthday of the church. Its date follows Easter, so Western and Orthodox churches keep it on different Sundays when their Easter dates differ.

What Pentecost celebrates

Pentecost falls fifty days after Easter (the name means ‘fiftieth’) and originally marked a Jewish harvest festival, Shavuot, which is why so many pilgrims were in Jerusalem. On that day, according to Acts 2, the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus’ followers with the sound of a mighty wind and what looked like tongues of fire. They began to speak in other languages, and Peter preached to the astonished crowd. About three thousand believed and were baptized that day. Because of this, Pentecost is often called the birthday of the church. Churches mark it with red vestments for the Spirit’s fire, joyful worship, and prayer for God to fill his people afresh.

The coming of the Spirit

“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind... And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Acts 2:2-4

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.”

Joel 2:28

Pentecost is the promise that the Christian life is not lived by human effort alone. God gives his own Spirit to be with his people, to comfort, to guide, and to send them out with good news for the whole world.

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Pentecost celebrates a gift that God still gives. You do not need to know anyone, dress a certain way, or have it all figured out. Use the live church finder to search real, welcoming churches near you, then reach out to one and ask about their service times. Whether you have been every week for fifty years or have never been at all, you are wanted exactly as you are.

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Frequently asked questions

When is Pentecost?: Pentecost is celebrated fifty days after Easter Sunday. Because it is counted from Easter, Western and Orthodox churches keep it on different Sundays in the years their Easter dates differ.
Why is Pentecost called the birthday of the church?: Because on that day the Holy Spirit came upon the first believers and Peter preached to the crowd, and about three thousand were baptized (Acts 2). It marks the church being empowered and going public in the world.
What is the meaning of the tongues of fire?: Acts describes what looked like tongues of fire resting on the believers as the Holy Spirit came. Fire is a biblical sign of God's presence and purifying power, and the 'tongues' point to the many languages in which they began to proclaim Christ.

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Come and see

Behind every one of these days is a Person, not a performance. The living Christ is not an argument to be won but someone to be met, and he still draws near to everyone who comes to him with an open heart. You do not have to believe everything first. You are welcome to come with your questions, your grief, and your doubts, and simply see. The Gospel of John is a gentle place to begin, and it costs you nothing but a little quiet and an honest look.

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Jesus Christ is Lord.

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