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Pentecost The word Pentecost comes from the Greek word for 'fifty'. It is the word used by Luke (who wrote in Greek) to describe the event during which the Holy Spirit came. (see Acts 2:1-4) The festival Luke 'renames' is the Jewish festival of Shavuot - it occurs 50 days after Passover. (see Shavuot)Pharisee
The Pharisees (a word which means ‘separate ones’) were responsible for the local synagogues.
Pharisees believed that the Israelites were a kingdom of priests and that they should observe purity regulations at all times. They often washed frequently to cleanse themselves from direct or indirect contact with unclean people and things.
Pharisees were interpreters of the law and while most Pharisees took into consideration the circumstances of the situation, some stressed strict observance of the law and neglected the spirit behind it. Pharisees believed in angels and spirits and that after death each person would be judged and rewarded or punished accordingly.
In some gospels the Pharisees appear to be rigid and unfeeling, in others they seem to be open to the teaching of Jesus. This probably reflects the reality of the day as well as each author’s perception of the Pharisees.
We should not think they every Pharisee hated Jesus or was out to get him! Jesus probably learned a great deal from the Pharisees of his day.
Pig
The domestic pic (also swine or maybe hog) is a domesticated animal that can trace its ancestry to the wild boar. It is likely the wild boar was domesticated as long ago as 13,000 BC, in the Tigris river basin. Pigs are farmed for the meat, but some cultures (Judaism and Islam) have religious dietary laws that forbid the consumption of pork. Early civilisations were able to use the animal's bones, hide and bristles (fur) for items for human use such as tools, shields and brushes.
Priest
Priests were among a very select and esteemed group of people in Israelite community. Not everyone could become a priest. Only those from the family of Aaron, (the brother or Moses and Miriam) who was part of the tribe of Levi (one of the tribes who came out of Egypt in the Exodus) could become priests.
The priest’s duties were valued by the people. Their role was set apart from the everyday – it involved daily and festive worship of God. Priests did what ‘ordinary people’ could not do: they offered the daily sacrifices of animals in the Temple and blessed the people in a ceremony known as the raising of the hands.
During the time of Solomon’s and Herod’s Temples priests were clustered together into 24 groups of between 7-9 priests. Each Sabbath (Friday night to Saturday night) they changed duty. During festivals, all 24 would be present at the Temple.
As they were responsible for offering prayers and sacrifices to God in the Temple, priests were bound by strict purity laws. (Lev 21)
· They could not have any physical blemish (be blind or lame) or break other rules (such as eating unclean food). Also, they could not come into contact with any dead people, except for members of their immediate family.
· Observation of these purity regulations showed great devotion to God and to the work being undertaken – it kept the ‘holy men’ clean for their holy work.
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