Monday within the Octave of the Feast of Pentecost
Posted on May 20, 2024 by under
Scripture: Acts 2:33-41 (NKJV)
2:33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.
34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself:
‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,
35 “Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
Devotion
That the Holy Ghost is poured out implies that it does not require worthiness on our part. The action of pouring out is not concerned with where that which is poured out falls. This is how abundant the Lord Jesus is with the out-pouring of the Holy Ghost. He is poured out through the pure preaching of the Word of God. He is poured out upon us through the washing of regeneration found in Holy Baptism. He is poured out upon those who confess their sins and receive absolution from the pastor as from the Lord God Himself. He is also poured out abundantly in the Lord’s Supper. This abundant out-pouring of the Holy Ghost was promised through the prophets so that all those who received Him might be gifted with faith.
St. Peter, in his sermon on Pentecost, connects this giving of the Holy Ghost with the atonement of our Lord Jesus. For before the atonement, this gifting of the Holy Ghost was only a promise. Now that it is fulfilled and our Lord Jesus sits on the right hand of the Father, the Holy Ghost is freely given to us by the Christ. By the Lord’s crucifixion He is affirmed as Lord and Christ, and He now sends out abundantly the gift of the Holy Ghost, so that all who receive Him through His means are given faith to cling to the peace found in the Lord Jesus.
Collect: O God, Who didst give Thy Holy Spirit to Thine Apostles: Grant unto Thy people the performance of their petitions, so that on us to whom Thou hast given faith, Thou mayest also bestow peace; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Feast of Pentecost
O God, Who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of Thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in His holy comfort; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
