Pentecost, 50 days after the Passover, was the festival when the Jews thanked God for the harvest and for the Law. The apostles and the relatives of Jesus were “awaiting the promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4). Pilgrims had come from every corner of the Empire, and God chose this time to fulfil Joel’s prophecy of the last days (Jl. 2:28-32). The wind and fire recalled the giving of the Law at Sinai (Ex. 19:16). The many languages understood, cancelled out the confusion of Babel (Gn. 11:9). God’s creative Spirit that “moved over the waters” (Gn. 1:2), the Spirit promised as a source of renewal in the future (Ez. 36:26), was poured out over renewed Israel. The Spirit received is for the building up of the Body of Christ, for the strengthening of ministries and for the forgiveness of sin. We all have received the Holy Spirit, yet we need to fan into flame the gifts we have received from Him.