The Commentary of the Feast of Pentecost :: Ϩⲟⲧⲉ ⲉ̀ⲧⲁⲩϫⲱⲕ ⲉ̀ⲃⲟⲗ :: طرح عيد العنصرة

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, the twelve Disciples, were all gathered together

In fear and trembling, and there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind,

Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues and prophesy. Today, what was spoken by the prophet Joel was fulfilled: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, [says God], That I will pour out of My Spirit on My menservants and on My maidservants so that Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Oh how great is this grace which these men have received. The Holy Spirit found a resting place in them that they spoke in different languages like gods and taught the nations each with his own language! They casted out demons in the name of the Lord because He called them His brothers and beloved. They healed the sick because they are true physicians, not with medicine but with words. They raised the dead in the name of our Master Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory, just as He did. They taught the nations the paths of truth with the many signs that they performed and they restored the sinners from their lost ways with the life-giving teachings that came out of their mouths.

The Holy Spirit came upon them and they were given the heavenly gift: The Spirit of wisdom that was multiplied upon them more than the scholars of the earth. The Spirit of understanding that guided them. The Spirit of consciousness, the Spirit of knowledge, the Spirit of intelligence, the Spirit of assurance and the Spirit of power; they were greatly glorified. These men were honored by becoming the new Israel. And these Apostles were greatly glorified by the signs and they were performing. They left the old Israel with his faults and they headed towards the nations. The Gentiles loved their words and believed and obeyed their teachings. Indeed they also gave them the grace of the Spirit and they too became like them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to whom be the glory. Thus, the kingdom of heaven was opened to them and they became children of the Baptism. Their voices went forth onto the face of the earth and their words have reached the ends of the world.

Through the prayers of our masters the Apostles, the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ, the ones guided by and blessed by the Holy Spirit, may the Lord grant us the forgiveness of our sins and may He save us from the burdens of this temporal world and have mercy on us according to His great mercy. Amen.