1, 2. (a) What creation, of less than two thousand years ago, was more wonderful than that of man and woman? (b) According to Jesus’ words in Luke 24:46-48 and Acts 1:8 the anointing of the “new creation” was for what purpose?

THE CREATING of the first man and woman around six thousand years ago was wonderful. (Genesis 1:26-28) The birth of a “new creation” under two thousand years ago was still more wonderful, still more meaningful for all mankind. That birth took place on the day of Pentecost of 33 C.E. with the birth of the congregation of Christ’s disciples, all of them anointed with God’s holy spirit for the proclamation of his Messianic kingdom.

4. How did things begin to happen on that day of Pentecost just as Joel 2:28, 29 had foretold?

⁴ Things happened just as Joel 2:28, 29 foretold: the spirit-filled disciples began to prophesy, even in foreign languages, miraculously! Thousands of Jews who were in Jerusalem to celebrate the festival of Pentecost gathered to witness the spectacle. They heard the small congregation of Christ’s disciples “speaking,” as they said, “in our tongues about the magnificent things of God.”​—Acts 2:11.

5. How did Peter use the first of the two “keys of the kingdom of the heavens” on that day of Pentecost?

⁵ In order to explain the occasion, the apostle Peter used the first of the two “keys of the kingdom of the heavens” by taking the lead in addressing the inquiring crowd. (Matthew 16:19) He bore witness to Jesus as the Messiah, the one rejected and killed by the Jewish leaders but resurrected on the third day and now glorified at God’s right hand. The conscience-stricken Jews now asked: “Men, brothers, what shall we do?” Peter’s response was: “Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the free gift of the holy spirit. For the promise [of Joel 2:28, 29] is to you and to your children and to all those afar off, just as many as Jehovah our God may call to him.”​—Acts 2:14-39.