Pentecost: A Celebration of the Holy Spirit
A stained-glass window glows with warm red, gold, and orange light. In its design, a dove spreads its wings above small flames. For many Christians, these symbols call to mind Pentecost, a celebration connected to Easter.
Easter celebrates Christians’ belief that Jesus rose from the dead. Pentecost comes on the fiftieth day of Easter, counting Easter Sunday as the first day. The word Pentecost comes from a Greek word meaning “fiftieth.” Because the date of Easter changes from year to year, the date of Pentecost changes too.
The Bible’s Acts of the Apostles tells what happened when Jesus’ followers gathered in Jerusalem for the Jewish festival of Pentecost. They heard a sound like a strong wind, and what looked like tongues of fire appeared and rested on them. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages.
A crowd gathered, including people from many places. According to the account, they were amazed because each heard the followers speaking in their own language about God’s mighty works. Christians understand this event as a gift of the Holy Spirit that helped the followers share their message across language differences.
- festival:
- A special celebration, often connected to a community or religion.
- gathered:
- Came together in one place.
- account:
- A description of events.
- represent:
- To stand for or show an idea.
- traditions:
- Customs or practices followed by a group over time.
- communities:
- Groups of people who share a place, interest, or beliefs.
- calculate:
- To figure something out using information or numbers.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is the main idea of the passage, and what are two details that support it?
- 2Why does the date of Pentecost change from year to year?
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About this explanatory article passage for 4th Grade
“Pentecost: A Celebration of the Holy Spirit” is a explanatory article reading passage about Pentecost, written for 4th Grade. It takes about 2 minutes to read (268 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.