Acts 2: The birth of the church

The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and other followers of Jesus at Pentecost is sometimes called the birth of the church. Under the influence of the Spirit, the people begin to speak in tongues, and Jews from all over the world miraculously hear the words in their own languages, prefiguring the eventual spread of the Gospel to every nation. But others, witnessing one of the major turning points in history, mock the spectacle: "They are filled with new wine" (2:13).

There have always been scoffers.

But Peter protests and preaches his first sermon, the upshot of which is, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (2:38).

Some have always been scandalized, or at least confused, by how strangely physical Christianity is. For it is not just "repent and believe" but "repent and be baptized" -- what could water have to do with the forgiveness of sins, with receiving the Holy Spirit, with being a Christian? And yet, "unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (Jn 3:5).

And after Peter's sermon about 3,000 people are baptized, and "they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers" (2:42). What was the apostles' teaching? According to tradition, it is encapsulated in the Apostles' Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.

(Image: El Greco, "Descent of the Holy Ghost," 1604-1614)