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Pentecost Season · Day of Pentecost · Year C

Acts 2:1-21 or Genesis 11:1-9

The Spirit Poured Out at Pentecost

June 4, 2028

The Tower of Babel (Vienna), Pieter Bruegel the Elder
The Tower of Babel (Vienna), Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1563Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
A tower built like a Roman amphitheatre spiralling into cloud, with the lower storeys already crumbling while the top is still going up.Each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Pentecost is read against this, which is the day it went the other way.Pieter Bruegel the ElderThe great painter of Netherlandish peasant life (c. 1525-1569), who put proverbs, seasons and crowds on canvas with an eye that is affectionate and entirely unsentimental.Kunsthistorisches Museum, ViennaThe Habsburg collection, assembled over four centuries and housed in a purpose-built palace on the Ringstrasse since 1891.Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelJn. 14:8-17, (25-27)Jn 14:8-17, (25-27)
EpistleRom. 8:14-17Rom 8:14-17 orActs 2:1-21
Old TestamentActs 2:1-21 orGen. 11:1-9Gn 11:1-9
PsalterPs. 104:24-34, 35bPs 104:24-34, 35b

Overview & Insights

"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability." (Acts 2:4)

Luke narrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the gathered disciples at the Jewish festival of Weeks, with Peter explaining the event as the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy. The RCL sets this as the day's first lesson because it is the founding event the day celebrates.

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Take it further: Acts 2:1-21 or Genesis 11:1-9

Commentary

Commentary on Acts 2:1-21 Working Preacher

Explains the Pentecost narrative and Peter's use of Joel to interpret it.

Acts 2:1-21 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

A preaching-focused reading of tongues as a gift for crossing cultures.

Acts 2 Commentary: The Holy Spirit Is Poured Out Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse-by-verse evangelical commentary on the whole Pentecost chapter.

Acts 2 Commentary Precept Austin

Detailed word studies on the outpouring of the Spirit and Peter's sermon.

Acts 2:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentaries verse by verse on the Pentecost scene.

Background & Word Study

Acts 2:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek text and parsing for the opening verse of the Pentecost account.

Acts 1-12 Overview BibleProject

Video overview covering the Pentecost narrative in its literary context.

Genesis 11:1-9Gn 11:1-9 Sefaria

The Babel narrative offered as the alternate first lesson, read as Pentecost's reversal.

The Church Fathers

Catena on Acts 2 Catena

Patristic comments verse by verse on the outpouring of the Spirit.

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