St. Peter Preaching at Pentecost by Benjamin West (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
"Astounding!" "Dumbfounding!" "What is the meaning of this?" "What is happening?" These were the startled expressions coming from the mouths of a crowd of several thousand on the Day of Pentecost nearly two thousand years ago. Those who uttered these words of astonishment were mostly Jews and proselytes, with a sprinkling of Romans and other gentiles among them, who were gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Weeks, or the fiftieth day following the offering of the wave sheaf. All knew it was the "Feast of the Firstfruits," and that it was celebrated "on the morrow after the seventh Sabbath" following the wave sheaf ceremony. But none had the slightest inkling of what was to happen on this momentous day. They were shocked, startled, puzzled! Then, by the thousands, they tearfully crowded around Christ's apostles, asking to be baptized! They repented in droves at the inspired preaching of the apostles, who wore flickering, brilliant crowns of flame! Read, in your own Bible, of the miracles that took place on the first Pentecost after Christ's resurrection––of the miracle of Pentecost!
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A swarthy trader from Egypt, who was half Jewish, began speaking in a sardonic whisper to the Arabian standing next to him. "They have got to be drunk with new wine!" he said.