SPECIAL TOPIC: PENTECOST

The annual Jewish feast of Pentecost is also called “Feast of Weeks” (cf. Exod. 34:22; Deut. 16:10).
The term “Pentecost” means “fiftieth.” This feast was held fifty days (seven weeks) after Passover (i.e., numbering
from the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread). It had three purposes in Jesus’ Day.

commemoration of giving of the Law to Moses (cf. Jubilees 1:1)
thanksgiving to God for the harvest
an offering of the first fruits (i.e., a sign of YHWH’s ownership of the whole harvest) of the grain harvest; the OT
background is in Exod. 23:16-17; 34:22; Lev. 23:15-21; Num. 28:26-31; and Deut. 16:9-12)