After the death and burial of Jesus there was fear, doubt, pain, and confusion in most of the disciples. They had dispersed and many were hiding for fear that the Jewish religious leaders would seek them out to kill them; like they killed Jesus. Then Sunday morning came: Resurrection Sunday, 30AD!

Early on the morning Jesus was raised from the dead, He immediately began revealing Himself to people:

  • Three women: Mary His mom, Mary Magdalene, and Salome (Matt 28:1, 5-10; Mk 16:1-8; Lu 24:1-9; Jn 20:1).
  • Mary Magdalene on her own (Mk 16:9-11; Lu 24:10-11; Jn 20:11-18).
  • Peter (Lu 24:34; 1Cor 15:5).
  • Cleopas and the unnamed disciple on the road to Emmaus (Matt 28:9; Mk 16:12-13; Lu 24:13-35).
  • The gathered disciples who were afraid and hiding for their lives, except Thomas who was absent (Mk 16:14; Lu 24:36-43; Jn 20:19-25).

And this was just the first day! This first day created a lot of excitement, conversation, and faith. The disciple’s fear gave way to fifty days of hope, amazement, praise, and patient-waiting on the yet unknown Holy Spirit.

On the eighth day Jesus appeared to Thomas (Jn 20:26-29). Then sometime over the next forty days before His ascension:

  • Jesus gave the Great Commission (Matt 28:16-20; Mk 16-15-18; Act 1:3; 1Cor 15:6).
  • Jesus met His Disciples on the Galilean seashore and cooked them breakfast (Jn 21:1-23; act 1:3; 1Cor 15:7).
  • Jesus “appeared to more than five hundred brothers, at one time…” (1Cor 15:6).

During these many appearances, Jesus encouraged and commissioned the disciples, gave many convincing proofs that He was alive, and taught them about the Kingdom of God (Act 1:3). At the end of these forty days, the disciples watched as Jesus ascended to heaven (Mk 16:19-20; Lu 24:44-53; Act 1:4-12, 13:31). But before He ascended, He gave this command:

Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Act 1:4-5).

For the next ten days, the disciples gathered in Jerusalem and waited. The gap between Jesus’ resurrection and the outpouring of the mighty Holy Spirit was fifty days in total. Forty days with Jesus making many appearances, and ten days after His ascension, as they waited and prayed together with great expectation and wonder at what was about to happen. No one knew. Not in their wildest dreams could they have imagined what this Pentecost day was going to be like. Nor what it would mean for the rest of their lives.

All they could do was wait and pray in expectant hope for what God had promised.

(Pentecost means fifty. These fifty days are why many of our Bible translations subtitle Acts 2 The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost; or similar.)