When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:1-4 NIV
The last few chapters of Exodus detail the construction and setup of the Tabernacle. This tent served as a portable temple, representing the presence of God among the Israelites during their time in the wilderness and their early years in Canaan. Exodus 40:34-35 records that when the Tabernacle was dedicated at Mt. Sinai, the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle, and Moses could not enter it.
Many years later, Solomon commissioned the building of a permanent temple in Jerusalem. And, just like the Tabernacle, the glory of the Lord filled this temple at its dedication. And the priests could not enter the temple because of that glory (2 Chr. 7:1-3).
These structures were temporary and pointed ahead to an even greater temple. A temple built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, whose chief cornerstone is Jesus, and whose building blocks are the people of God (Eph 2:19-22).
And Acts 2:1-4 records the dedication of this third temple. On Pentecost, the disciples had gathered in one place. And suddenly, there was the sound of a mighty wind, what seemed like tongues of fire came to rest on each of the disciples, and the Holy Spirit filled them. Just as the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle and the Temple, so it filled this new temple of God’s people.
In the two earlier physical structures, God’s glory kept people out. But in this temple, God’s glory drew his people in and filled them. And his glory, the Holy Spirit, continues to fill his temple and those who make it up.
