What is Pentecost, and why 50 days after Easter?
Pentecost is a Christian festival which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus and the birth of the Christian Church. It falls 50 days after Easter, or the Feast of Weeks, on the seventh Sunday after Easter.
The Bible tells us that after Jesus’ ascension into heaven, His followers were in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit came upon them and gave them tongues of language and the power to spread the good news of Jesus. It is understood to be the consummation of Jesus’ commandment to dispatch the Holy Spirit to teach and empower his disciples.
Pentecost is also important because it was when the apostles began to minister publicly and to spread Christianity. We celebrate it with church services, supplications, and even baptisms that stress the presence of the Holy Spirit within the lives of believers.