Acts 2:1-38. Today is Pentecost Sunday, and I believe it's important for us to examine some of the important features of that day. Originally, it was a harvest festival (Exodus 23:16; 34:22; Leviticus 23:17; Jeremiah 5:24) recognizing Yahweh as the source of rain and agricultural fertility. Greek-speaking Jews gave it the name of Pentecost referring to the seven-week period of the harvest. It was one of three days in the year that all Jewish men were to gather in Jerusalem. It was on this day, that God chose to pour out his Holy Spirit, while 120 of his disciples were gathered together in one accord in Jerusalem. Acts chapter 2 tells us that as they were gathered in an upper room, a sound came like a rushing mighty wind and tongues of fire appeared on each one's head, and they began to speak in other languages as the Holy Spirit enabled them. The people outside who are gathered in the city for the feast day heard them speaking in languages that they recognized from their home countries. They were declaring the wonders of God in their own native tongues. Some in the crowd were amazed and wondered what all this could mean, and they began asking; others in the crowd began making fun of them and accusing them of having consumed too much wine even though it was only nine o'clock in the morning. Peter used this as an opportunity to preach to the people and to tell them about Jesus, whom God raised from the dead and made him both Messiah and Lord. Peter's admonition to the crowd was for them to repent and be baptized. On that day about 3000 were added to the church.