S1 EP38 | Pentecost – Obscure Christian Holiday or Major Jewish Feast?

Pentecost? Is that the thing in Acts chapter 2 with the rushing wind, the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues?  

Well, they’re not going to debate the subject of speaking in tongues, but they are revealing some pretty cool things about how the day of Pentecost – when God gave the Holy Spirit – relates to the Jewish Feast of Shavuot.  

Whether you’re Jewish or Gentile, there are things in today’s episode of A Jew and A Gentile Discuss that you probably didn’t know. They cover: 

• What the word Pentecost means 
• Why Pentecost is undercelebrated 
• What Shavuot is and how it’s observed today 
• How Pentecost and the Jewish Feast of Shavuot are related 
• Thoughts about Christians celebrating Shavuot 

Along the way, you’ll learn other tidbits like: 

• Carly’s memories of Pentecost growing up 
• How Ezra and his wife observe Shavuot 
• The agricultural side of Shavuot 
• What Shavuot has to do with Mount Sinai 
• The difference the Temple – or lack thereof – has made on Shavuot observance 
• Fascinating parallels found between Shavuot and Christianity 
• Invitation vs. obligation 
• Another great Yiddish word from Ezra’s grandma 

Words you might learn in this episode 

Pentecost, Shavuot, Shavuah, Yerushalayim/Jerusalem, chag, sukkah, Shabbat, challah, shvitzy   

Scriptures referenced in this episode 

Acts chapter 2, Deuteronomy 12:5, Exodus 23:14–17, Deuteronomy 16:16, Leviticus 23:16, Matthew 28:18–20, Acts 1:3-11, Luke 24:49, Acts 2:1–4, Acts 2:5–12, Jeremiah 31:31–33, Ephesians 3:14–16, 1 Corinthians 15:1–8, Joshua 24:13, 2 Corinthians 1:22–22, Romans 11:16-24 NKJV 

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