Bible Question:
Did the Holy Spirit come 10 days after Christ’s ascension?
Bible Answer:
On several occasions Jesus had promised the apostles that He would send the Holy Spirit and the Spirit would be with them and in them (John 14:16-17; 15:26; 16:7). In addition, John 14:26 records that Jesus said the Father would also send the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and He would guide them in all things and help them remember Jesus’ words. So, when did the Holy Spirit come? How many days after Jesus ascended back to the Father elapsed before the Holy Spirit came and started to indwell the apostles?
Ascension of Jesus Christ
The answer to the question is determined by understanding the Jewish feasts. First, we must notice that Leviticus 23:5 specifies that the fourteenth day of the first month in the Hebrew religious calendar is the day of Passover. That is, the Feast of Passover occurs on Nisan 14 which corresponds to March/April. This symbolizes the sacrificial death of the Messiah.
Second, the Feast of Unleavened Bread begins on Nisan 15 and lasts for seven days (Leviticus 23:6-8). This feast symbolizes the sinless sacrifice of Christ. A third feast called the Feast of First Fruits begins on Nisan 16 (Leviticus 23:9-14). It overlaps with the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This feast symbolizes Jesus’ resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23)
A fourth feast is called Pentecost. The first day of that feast starts 50 days after the Sabbath of the Feast of First Fruits (Leviticus 23:15 – 22; Deuteronomy 16:9-12). This feast symbolizes the arrival of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, since Christ died on the Passover, Nisan 14, and on a Friday, Nisan 15 was a Saturday, and Nisan 16 was a Sunday. Since Christ was resurrected on Nisan 16, Pentecost started fifty days later.
Now we ask the question, “How many days later did Christ ascend to heaven?” The answer is given to us in Acts 1 in verses 3 and 9-11. First, verses 9-11 tell us that Jesus ascended to heaven.
And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “ Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11 (NASB)
Now verse 3 tells us that Jesus ascended back to heaven after He had spent forty days with them after His resurrection.
To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God Acts 1:3 (NASB)
If we combine all of this information together, we learn that Jesus was resurrected on Nisan 16, the day of the Feast of First Fruits. Then after Jesus spent forty days with the apostles, He ascended to heaven. Then since Pentecost occurred fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection, and that occurred in Acts 2:1-4, that means the Holy Spirit came 10 days after Christ’s ascension. Ten days following His ascension, the Holy Spirit came.
Conclusion
This means the Helper, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit did not leave the apostles alone very long. Only ten days after Jesus left the apostles, the Holy Spirit came and ministered to them. He gave them the power to perform their ministries. This is wonderful news because it shows us how great is the love, care, and mercy of our God!