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Peter, Paul, and Mary Were Pentecostals
The apostle Peter was hand-picked and personally trained by Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul learned the Gospel by a direct heavenly revelation from Jesus Himself (Galatians 1:11-12). And there were certainly very few, if any, who knew Jesus Christ as well as Mary, the mother of Jesus, did. I find it very revealing that the bible shows a common fact about each of these three heroes of the New Testament — they were all Pentecostals, baptized in the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, and full of the power of Pentecost. Peter, Paul, and Mary were Pentecostals, as were the other leaders and disciples through whom Jesus began His Church on earth. None of them showed any embarrassment about speaking in tongues, nor about any other facet of Pentecost and the associated gifts of the Holy Spirit. In fact, to the contrary, they were well aware that it is Jesus Himself who is the Baptizer with the Holy Spirit (John 1:33-34). And it was Jesus Himself who first promised that believers in Him would speak in new tongues (Mark 16:16-17). What is the point of these comments? Simply this, that the early Church was thoroughly Pentecostal, in the manner of Acts 2:1-4. Its leaders and other notable believers were all Pentecostals. And this was not just God’s temporary plan for the first century. No, but rather, Pentecostal churches are God’s standard, God’s norm for His Church, not an exception. Holy Spirit-filled church services are to be our regular experience, not just a historical footnote from the first century. And the weight of Scripture clearly demonstrates that the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today, not just for the beginnings of Christianity. Let’s take a brief look at each of these Pentecostal Christian heroes — Peter, Paul, and Mary — and thereby reinforce in our own hearts the importance of Pentecost in God’s plan for His Church for the ages. Acts 1:5, 8 “...in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.... [8] you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. [2] Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. [3] They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. [4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 1) PETER — The apostle Peter was among these 120 Spirit-filled believers (Acts 1:14-15). And in Acts 2:14ff Peter began to give the crowd an inspired explanation of those happenings on the Day of Pentecost.
2) PAUL — The apostle Paul, who was converted to Christianity at a later date than Peter, very quickly became a biblical, Acts 2 Pentecostal. Acts 9:17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul [later known as Paul], the Lord — Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here — has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
3) MARY — Jesus’ mother Mary, like the apostles Peter and Paul, was a Spirit-filled, tongues-speaking Christian. Acts 1:14-15 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. [15] In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty). Acts 2:1, 4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.... [4] All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
John 1:33-34 ...‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ [34] I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”
Mark 16:15-18 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. [16] Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. [17] And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues...”
--------------------------------------------------- All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of the Zondervan Corporation. All rights reserved. The “NIV” and “New International Version” trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. © 2008, James H. Feeney, All rights reserved. Website owners: If you find this sermon outline on the Pentecostals Peter, Paul, and Mary helpful for your website's purposes, you are welcome to post a link to it entitled "Peter, Paul, and Mary Were Pentecostals". The URL is http://www.jimfeeney.org/Peter-Paul-MaryPentecostal.html Additional Pentecostal online bible studies and free sermons on speaking in tongues, divine healing, gifts of the Holy Spirit, divine inspiration, traditional marriage, pro-life vs. pro-choice, apostles and prophets today, and more may be linked to or viewed at Pentecostal Bible Studies and Free Pentecostal Sermon Central (http://www.jimfeeney.org). |
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