The first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ, recorded for us in Acts 2, was one of the great days in human history.  It was the day that the Lord’s promise to build His church came to fruition (Matthew 16:18).  Isaiah prophesied about this day.

Isaiah 2:2–3 (ESV)
² It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,    ³ and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.      

The “house of the Lord” is the church (1 Timothy 3:15).  The “word of the Lord” is the gospel of Christ.  It went out from Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost under consideration, and many heard and obeyed it.

Acts 2:41 (ESV)
⁴¹ So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The result was the establishment of the church.

Acts 2:47 (ESV)
⁴⁷ Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The ones being saved were now members of the church of Christ.  The church is made up of the saved; so, when a person obeys the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16), he or she is immediately saved and added to the church.

From Acts 2 on, the church is always spoken of as being in existence.  It is composed of God’s new people.  God set the children of Israel aside from the rest of the world to be his special people.

Exodus 19:3–6 (ESV)
³ “Thus, you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: ⁴ ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. ⁵ Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; ⁶ and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

The Jews were set aside for one purpose only—to bring forth the Messiah.  While God accomplished that purpose with them (Romans 9:5), as a people, the Jews failed miserably.  They were constantly disobedient to God and, therefore, lost their position as God’s people.  Speaking to the Jews, Jesus said,

Matthew 21:42–43 (ESV)
⁴² Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? ⁴³ Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.

The Jews fulfilled Psalms 118:22 by rejecting Christ, the stone who became the cornerstone of the church.  Thus, the kingdom was given to other people.  The church is composed of those people.  Now the church is the holy nation that belongs to God.

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)
⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

This church is God’s new Israel (Romans 9:6; Galatians 6:16).  It began in Jerusalem, but, as we will see, it will spread throughout the world.  The universal church will fill every corner of the earth, and all nations will flow into it, continuing to fulfill the words of Isaiah.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.