Waters of LifeBiblical Studies in Multiple Languages |
|
Home Bible Treasures Afrikaans |
Home -- English -- Do we Know the Holy Spirit? -- The Holy spirit and the Apostles
This page in: -- Arabic? -- ENGLISH -- German -- Indonesian -- Portuguese -- Russian
Do We Know The Holy Spirit?
Short explanations to 335 Bible texts that speak of the Holy Spirit
III. The Holy Spirit and the Apostles of Christ
1. The Holy Spirit in the Acts of the Apostles
(composed between 60-62 A.D.)
PETER and the power of the Holy SpiritThe descent of the Holy Spirit and the first sermon of Peter The Descent of the Holy Spirit and the first Sermon of PeterActs 2:1-4 In accordance with the Jewish calendar, Pentecost follows 50 days after the celebration of Passover. Whereas the Passover commemorates salvation from God´s wrath and judgment through the blood of a slaughtered lamb, Pentecost commemorates the offering of the first fruits as an act of thanksgiving at the very beginning of the summer harvest. Christian Pentecost means “the first fruits” of those “born-again” through the Holy Spirit, made possible through the slaughter of the Passah lamb, whose blood saves us from the wrath and judgment of God. Thus the cross is the indispensable requirement for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Whoever has experienced a hurricane or a tornado knows of the devastating power of these storms. The Holy Spirit broke into the power sphere of Satan like an invincible, raging whirlwind, yet without any destruction coming to man. Not a single leaf quivered on the trees, and in the rooms not one curtain moved. The Spirit broke in like a storm, although it wasn´t one. Suddenly small fires appeared in the air, but before anyone could rush and bring water to dampen the flames they alighted upon the heads of those praying like tongues of fire. But not a single hair was singed. The Holy Spirit manifested Himself like a thunderous storm, setting Himself down like flames of fire on the head of every expectant worshipper. Those affected, however, did not become upset or apprehensive, for the Spirit of the Father and of the Son filled them with a divine pleasure. His love and power, His joy and peace, His patience and faithfulness, His purity and humility flowed through every one of them. Since Orientals are more emotional than cool-headed northern Europeans, all those filled with the Spirit must have sprung up, embraced each other, danced with joy, and began singing worship songs and Psalms. The Holy Spirit granted them, in so doing, the gift to speak in different languages, so that the judgment of God exacted in the Babylonian language confusion might be overcome. The all-knowing Spirit gave to each of them just the right word! They resembled Spirit-gifted prophets, who did not say what they thought, but what the Lord wanted them to say. All of the expectant in prayer were equally filled with the Spirit of Grace. None was more pious or holier than the other. Outsiders who had rushed to the scene stood perplexed before the enthusiastic worshippers. The mockers among them thought those singing praise songs were drunk. The more contemplative, however, could hear in their own language the exuberant Spirit-filled worshippers testifying to the great works of God. Acts 2:14-36 Peter, speaking in the Galilean dialect, had suddenly become a fiery preacher and evangelist through the Spirit of God. He proclaimed none of his own words, but was reminded by the Holy Spirit of all that he should say from the words of the prophets and the life of Jesus. The LORD had revealed to Joel: “I will pour out My spirit on all flesh.” This revelation blew apart the thinking of many children of Jacob: The Spirit that dwelled in God should enter into sinful, mortal men, so that they could become partakers of the divine nature and possess eternal life! The privilege of sharing in the new-birth was not just reserved for penitent members of the chosen people, but for all men in all places on earth who opened themselves in godly fear to the humility of the merciful Spirit. All who call on the LORD in earnest receive the promise of salvation through the indwelling of His Spirit. Peter, speaking under the leading of this Spirit, formulated a New Testament heightening of this revelation to Joel: He recognized that following the resurrection and return of Jesus to His Father in heaven, this same Father had bequeathed to Jesus the promised Holy Spirit. Therefore Jesus, as LORD, could pour out this Spirit on whomever He chose. Peter testified in faith to his and the other apostle´s experience. They were the proof of this Spirit outpouring. God´s chosen nation had not understood the goal of His history. The shock of this accusation sank deep into the perplexed listeners. No one contradicted the accusation of the Holy Spirit through Peter. The silence of the masses is further proof to the fact of Jesus´ crucifixion, which Muslims deny until today. If they had possessed even one simple, founded argument to counter this accusation they would have indignantly renounced the charge. As it was, they were convicted in their conscience by the Spirit of Truth so that they could only keep silent. Acts 2:37-41 The first sermon of the Holy Spirit through Peter caused many of the listeners who had rushed to the scene to feel a spiritual sting in their hearts. The Sword of the Spirit cuts through joints and marrow and judges the thoughts and intents of man´s heart. Those who stood convicted wanted to immediately do something to save themselves from the judgment of God (Heb. 4:12). Peter answered them: It is not your doing that can save you from the wrath of the Holy One. You need to change your mind, repent, and confess your total bankruptcy before the eternal Judge. Accept water baptism as a sign that you need fundamental cleansing and that the old-man needs to be put to death by drowning. In so doing, you will share in grace and the accomplished work of Jesus. You need to be baptised into Him, be clothed in Him, belong to Him, and remain in Him. Whoever abandons himself totally to Jesus freely receives forgiveness for all his sins. This forgiveness is not just a legal promise of Christ through Peter. Much more, it is confirmed and made a certainty through the Holy Spirit. Whoever delivers himself up to Jesus in Spirit-led repentance receives the Holy Spirit as a gift of grace from the Son of God. That was and is the sensation and result of the first sermon on the first Pentecost of the new age. Three thousand people of Jewish faith heard the message, repented, believed on Jesus and His resurrection from the dead, were baptised, received the Holy Spirit, and became certain of their forgiveness. They did not, in the first instance, believe on the Holy Spirit, but on the exalted Messiah! Therefore His Spirit could indwell them. The Communion of the SaintsIn Acts 2:42-47 we read that the new believers remained steadfast in the teaching of the apostles, in fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayer. The fear of God came over many souls and numerous miracles and signs occurred through the apostles. All who came to faith remained together and had all things in common. They sold what they had and distributed the proceeds to those in accordance with their needs. They were together daily in the temple and broke bread with each other from house to house. They enjoyed meals with joy and pure hearts. They praised God and were held in esteem by all the people. The lord was adding daily to the church those that were being saved. In this unique description of the early church we read not a word about the Holy Spirit, even though it was He who called forth this New Testament “Communism of Love”. That shows again that the Spirit of God does not honour or exalt Himself, but magnifies the Christ who will one day return. The new believers believed that Jesus could return any moment. Therefore they sold their houses and fields, worshiped God, and hoped that the kingdom of the Messiah would break through in the very near future. The Healing of the Lame Man and its consequenceActs 3:12-16 This testimony of Peter in the temple court showed once again that it was not faith in the Holy Spirit that healed the lame man, but faith in the name of Jesus that brought about the miracle of healing. The name of Jesus contains the power of the Spirit to heal. Whoever believes in Jesus and trustfully binds himself to Him receives grace upon grace and power from His fullness. This healing of the lame man, however, had legal consequences. The leading heads of the high council were troubled to see such miracles happening totally apart from them, and aside of all spiritual authority. Therefore the twelve apostles were arrested and locked up overnight so that they could appear before the high court of their people the next day. Acts 4:5-12 Peter experienced the realization of the promise of Jesus that they should not be anxious about what they were to say when they come before the judgement, for the Spirit of their Father in heaven would give them the right words (Matt. 10:19-20). Thus the “speaker of the apostles” was filled with the Holy Spirit so that he might glorify Jesus. We would do well to meditate over this revolutionary trial statement of the Holy Spirit. In this discourse it again becomes clear that the Holy Spirit does not exalt Himself, but honours and testifies to Jesus. The name of Jesus, the Messiah from Nazareth, the crucified One risen from the dead, is full of power, Spirit and blessing. The Holy Spirit testified, through the mouth of Peter, to this exciting truth before the leaders of the people. At the same time, He accused them of being the ones who had crucified their promised Messiah. This accusation did not yet signify a judgement of damnation, but much more represented an urgent call to immediate repentance. Through Peter, the guilty deputies of the high council were being indirectly offered “salvation free of charge”, in that the name of Jesus contains not only salvation for the unholy world, but also for every member of the high religious council and every apostle. Whoever believes in Jesus receives the power of the Holy Spirit and eternal life. The Ensuing Prayer of the ChurchActs 4:23-33 The fellowship of prayer of the early church was the answer of the Holy Spirit to the renewed rejection of Jesus and His salvation by the members of the high council. The apostles and the church, however, worshipped together the almighty Creator of heaven and earth. They confessed that the continued rejection of salvation by grace through the high council amounted to nothing more than the continuation of man´s rebellion against God and His Christ, just as the Holy Spirit had testified through David in Psalm 2:1-9. The Spirit of Truth confirmed in the New Testament the Spirit-breathed prophecies of the Old Testament. The knowledge of the enmity of the rulers against the Anointed of God and His followers caused no fear in those praying. They only said: “Look on their threats!” That was enough, for the Lord watches over His church like the apple of His eye. Those praying didn´t ask for their own protection, but for courage and joy to continue proclaiming the word of the cross and the resurrection of Jesus, for in this testimony rests the full power of the Holy Spirit. Beyond that, they asked that through them healings, signs and wonders might happen in the name of Jesus. By so saying, they didn´t call Him the Son of God, but the Servant of the Lord, for the Holy Spirit also confirmed the humility of Jesus, as it is described in Isaiah 40-66. This prayer of mission and faith of the imperiled church caused the stony ground of Jerusalem to tremble. It filled those praying with the comfort and the power of the Holy Spirit. Their prayer was heard: They continued to boldly testify to Christ and His salvation. Their exalted Lord caused signs and wonders to happen through them for His glorification. Ananias and SapphiraActs 5:3-10 Jesus had inculcated into His disciples that that no man can serve God and mammon at the same time. He challenged them to totally rely on the Lord and put no trust in money reserve stashed away in insurance. Ananias would have been authorized to keep a part of the proceeds from his sold field for himself. But since most of the church members were laying the entire sum of money from their divested goods at the feet of the apostles, he did not want to appear less pious than they. He chose to play the hypocrite and maintained to have placed the entire proceeds of his sale into the church fund. Hypocritical piety, however, such as seen in the Pharisees, was one of the sins Jesus most sharply condemned, since it covered the truth with a pious lie. In Peter´s position of leadership, he recognized by the Holy Spirit the danger of pious hypocrisy penetrating into the early church. He openly described it as a lie of Satanic origin, which was, in the final consideration, directed against the Holy Spirit. Ananias died immediately, as if struck by lightning, when his pious hypocrisy was uncovered. The same thing happened to his wife, Sapphira. Peter had to say to her that she was not only in unanimous agreement with her husband about deceiving the early church, but was also playing a dishonest game with the Spirit of Truth. This Spirit can tolerate no lie or hypocrisy. The church members all pressed together when they recognized the judgment of God, carried out by Peter in the name of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Jesus Christ not only brings harmony and brilliant gifts of the Spirit, but also the fear of God, self-evaluation, and a humble confession and recognition of sin and failure in the lives of the saints. Pious masks and stinking hypocrisy have to fall away, so that forgiveness through Christ´s blood can remain the basis of holiness for all church members. “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Heb. 10:14). Many HealingsActs 5:14-16 Following the cleansing storm of the Holy Spirit the spiritual life of the early church was enhanced. The risen Lord and Saviour had a free hand to act by His Spirit in the hearts of believers. Not only did the number of born-again men and women increase, of those who were totally devoted to Jesus, but many sick were also healed. There went forth a great power from the apostles. The Spirit Himself, however, remained invisible and concealed. He emphasized that the risen Messiah is the acting and coming Saviour. A Further JudgmentActs 5:27-33 The power of grace at work in the early church did not remain hidden to outsiders. The incumbent high priest and the Sadducees, who did not believe in spirits or angels, envied the apostles. They had them arrested and put in prison. The Resurrected One, however, showed Himself to these liberals in an exceptional way. He sent one of His angels to free the captives, who then commanded them not to hide, but to return again to the temple courtyard and proclaim to the people all the words of this life (Acts 5:19-20). The members of the high council had appeared to pass judgment on the apostles when news of the guarded, yet empty, prison reached them. They then sent and had the apostles brought to appear before the full council, yet without violence. At the renewed threat and repeated command not to further teach in Jerusalem in the name of Jesus, the Holy Spirit led Peter to confess that faithful obedience to God overrode any other human duties or considerations. He testified before the enraged council members to the resurrection of the dead. The God of their fathers had raised up the murdered-on-the-cross Jesus, and lifted Him up to Him in heaven. This event signified a call to immediate repentance for Israel, so that her citizens could receive forgiveness for their sins. Without repentance and faith in Jesus there is no forgiveness even for Israel. Peter then assured the members: We are the witnesses to these salvation events, and the Holy Spirit is with us. He fulfills salvation in all who open themselves to these truths. Without obedience and faith no one will receive the Holy Spirit. Some of the enraged members of the council demanded the immediate death of the sectarians. The highly respected teacher of the Torah, Gamaliel, a Pharisee, recommended to them, however, that they wait and see how this movement developed, else they be found to be fighting against God themselves. So it happened that the apostles were “only” whipped, after they had been sternly warned to speak no further about Jesus. They left rejoicing, having been counted worthy to suffer for His name. Daily they were in the temple and in houses teaching that Jesus is the promised Messiah (Acts 5:34-42). Order in the Early ChurchActs 6:3-4 The church of Christ is attacked both from within as well as from without in order to devour and destroy it. In the distribution of food from the common purse, some of the widows of foreign Jews were being overlooked, since they could not communicate well in the native language. Perhaps they were also meek and humble and did not push to the front when the gifts were being distributed. There arose real problems in the church. Peter decided that not the apostles, but the church, should choose out of her midst seven Spirit-filled men, full of experience and wisdom, to watch over and supervise the social and charitable ministries of the assembly. The apostles wanted to devote their entire time to prayer and to the proclamation of the word of life. They did not want to be involved with the deceptive power of money. When a church grows it can no longer rely on the ministers and shepherds to oversee all the responsibilities. They need to delegate entire areas of work to capable co-workers. Seven evangelistic-minded deacons were chosen and confirmed for office by the laying on of the apostle´s hands. Although they worked independently, they were still placed under the charge of the apostles. The Holy Spirit is not a God of disorder, but of humility. He gave joy for service so that peace could remain in the church. Later in Jerusalem even liberal Sadducees from the tribe of priests became followers of Jesus. One of the seven deacons and evangelists was Stephen, originally a Jew of the dispersion, who was filled with insight and directed in his ministry by the Spirit of God (Rom. 8:14). Stephen´s Defence before the SanhedrinActs 6:8-12 The accusation against Stephen concerned itself with his teaching about the temple as the dwelling place of their Covenant God, and about his standpoint in relation to the 613 commands in the Law of Moses, which he had tried to bring into perspective in light of New Testament teaching (Acts 6:13-14). In a long, memorized apologia, Stephen gave witness to his faith, as a Jewish Christian, in the God of the fathers, in the Law of Moses, and on the sojourn of his people in the wilderness, proceeding on to the time of David. Regarding Solomon´s building of the temple he said: Acts 7:48-54 The Biblical witness to the temple, in which God made it clear that He did not dwell in a house made by man, cut the priests and temple officials through to the heart. Had the temple become empty, all of the ministry taking place there would have lost its meaning. It would have stopped all pilgrimages and made a farce of all the festivals of the people (Isaiah 66:1-2). In the Holy Spirit, Stephen sensed the growing resistance of the Sadducees. He called them stiff-necked, obstinate, deaf, and un-spiritual, just as their fathers had been (Exodus 32:9; Lev. 26:41; Is. 6:10-13; Rom. 2:28-29). The Spirit of Truth led the evangelistic deacon in his apologia to directly accuse the entire high council. The Sanhedrin members were responsible for having betrayed and killed the innocent and righteous Jesus. The accused Stephen called its judges betrayers of their own history and murderers of the Messiah. The Spirit led the obedient witness to also attack the hypocrisy of the Pharisees in the high council. He declared to them that they had received the law from angels, and not directly from God. Even then, in spite of their multifaceted legalism, they had not kept it. Whoever violates even one command, however, is guilty of transgressing against the whole law. Stephen ripped the facemasks off the pious of his day. He described them as transgressors of the law who had earned immediate death. His threefold criticism and accusation against temple worship, legal fanaticism, and the religiously motivated murder of Jesus caused such a rage in the accused that they started gnashing with their teeth. They would have immediately torn him to pieces and devoured him. Even today, when the building of a third temple is spoken of, or when Muslims fight for the Sharia to be implemented, we should learn from the Spirit-led witness of Stephen. The Spirit of Truth does not deny antichrist realities of history. The opposition to the Spirit, however, has not modified its hatred toward the Spirit-filled one iota. Acts 7:55 – 8:1 Stephen sensed the judgment of death upon him and looked up to heaven. He recognized the glory of God and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of His Father. When he cried out before the high council what his Spirit-led gaze into heaven allowed him to see, the scribes immediately understood Him to be speaking of the fulfilment of Psalm 110, where it says: The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies your footstool.” They understood that the young accused was designating them all as enemies of God that should be made into the footstool of Christ. To that end Stephen confessed that Jesus, the Son of Man, is Lord, who in union with His Father rules and judges the world. Such an interpretation of this Psalm was blasphemy for the members of the high council. Therefore, they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears so that none of these words would enter into them. They did not understand, however, that Jesus was standing in the vision of Stephen – to welcome the first martyr for His sake into heaven. Those who erupted in rage stormed over the accused, struck him, dragged him out of the city, and stoned him. Stephen fell to his knee and, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, prayed similar words to what Jesus spoke on the cross (Luke 23:34, 46). The Spirit from God loved His enemies just as Jesus did. A young student of the Torah, named Saul, was filled with enthusiasm by the stoning of Stephen. Church Planting in SamariaActs 8:1.14-17 The persecution of the early church in Jerusalem served also to spread the kingdom of God. Followers of Jesus who fled also testified to salvation in Christ. The faith of the new believers in Samaria was, following their baptism in the name of Jesus, at first limited to head- knowledge. Only when Peter and John came from Jerusalem to pray over and lay their hands upon the young in faith did they receive the power of the Holy Spirit. In this way faith entered their hearts. The Spirit of the Father and the Son desires to possess, sanctify, and fill all mankind. Acts 8:18-20.22 In church history, the incriminating word “simony” has come to signify the attempt of someone to obtain a church office with money or connections. But such an office remains powerless until the one who holds it repents and is born-again through the blood of Christ and His Spirit. Peter did not succumb to the temptation to acquire money for his refugees by selling power. Jesus had given him enough clear instructions about that. Where money rules there is no Spirit! Yet where the Holy Spirit is present there also flows the necessary money via sacrifice. If a church or a mission suffers under lack of finance, they should first investigate to see whether the lack of the Holy Spirit is not the problem. All who try to gain influence in their churches with their money should repent, that all the evil hopes and endeavours of their heart can be changed. The First Believer from AfricaActs 8:27-39 The kingdom of Candace appears to have encompassed Ethiopia and a part of the modern Sudan. The seat of government at that time has been excavated in Meroe, north of Khartoum. There also lived some Jews there, who again and again talked of their beloved Jerusalem. So it happened that the treasurer was commissioned by his ruler to travel there and examine what it was that made this city so special. His acquiring the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was a treasure. He tried to read this book in Hebrew but could not understand the text. The Holy Spirit commanded Philip, one of the seven evangelistic deacons, to enter this scene: Go near and overtake this chariot!” The ensuing discussion between the treasurer and the deacon lead to personal faith and the baptism of the God-seeker. As soon as the ministry of Philip was ended, the Spirit of the Lord caught him away to Caesarea. This unique event shows that the Holy Spirit undertakes strategic world mission (Rev. 5:6), and that missions-minded evangelists are led by Him to people who are searching (Rom. 8:14). The Holy Spirit at the Conversion of PaulActs 9:17-19 The glorious appearance of Jesus to the Thora scholar before the gates of Damascus caused an absolute change in his life and thinking. He abruptly understood: The Crucified One lives! He did not kill me, as persecutor of His church, but speaks with me. He has pardoned me and revealed His unity with His suffering body of believers. The fullness of light from the living Christ blinded Saul. He was led on foot into the oasis city in the wilderness, where he fasted and prayed! The living Lord commanded the rather unknown Ananias in Damascus to visit Saul and to bless him. At first Ananias did not want to go, for he knew what Saul had done and what he still wanted to do. Yet the Lord commanded him again to go, for He had heard the prayer of repentance of the persecutor of His church. Therefore, Ananias addressed the blind one, saying: My dear brother Saul!” Then, through the laying on of his hands and his prayer of faith, Saul´s eyesight was restored and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes and works on the basis of the Lord Jesus´ working through the prayer of a repentant sinner and the faithful obedience of one of His servants. Here is where the power of the Spirit can flow. Acts 9:19-22 Saul, with his eyesight returned and full of the Holy Spirit, did not at first testify to the gift of the Spirit of God in him, but proved that Jesus is the Son of God and the promised Messiah. This is the teaching of the Holy Spirit, who denies Himself while glorifying Jesus, the Lord and Saviour of the world! All the more Paul obeyed the leading of the Spirit of Truth, all the more power and wisdom he gained in Damascus to proclaim the gospel. The Jews in this oasis city had nothing to set against his authority. Therefore, they tried to kill him. The Spirit, however, led the church to put him into a basket by night and lower him over the city walls so that he could escape under the protection of darkness. Acts 9:31 Saul immediately returned to Jerusalem and tried to meet with the fearful apostles. Only Barnabas, however, was ready to meet him, who then mediated for him to enter into the circle of the apostles. Saul could not leave off, however, talking about the glorious Jesus who had met him before the gates of Damascus. Therefore, the foreign Jews who had come to Jerusalem on pilgrimage tried to kill him. The elders in the church were able to convince Saul that it would be better if he would leave for Caesarea, the garrison city of the Romans, so that no new wave of persecution would break over the decimated church. Thus, we see there lived not only followers of Christ in Samaria and Damascus, but that also in Galilee churches had come into being – growing in the power and strategy of the Holy Spirit. The Official Beginning of Mission to the HeathenActs 10:19-20 The report of the faith and baptism of the centurion Cornelius in Caesarea, through the ministry of the apostle Peter, occupies a central place in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 10:1-11, 18). Jesus prepared the speaker of the apostles through a repeated vision: Not only Jews were to be evangelized, but also “unclean non-Jews”were to be offered the whole gospel. Several verses enlighten the co-working of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit spoke to Peter while he was meditating over God´s word! That is the original rule of the Spirit for all Christians! The Spirit assured the apostle that the three soldiers of the Roman occupation force were not coming to take him prisoner. Rather, the Spirit had sent them to him, so that Peter could accompany them. He was not to doubt, but to trust and obey! Acts 10:34-48 Peter had learned his lesson and understood: Before God no man was unclean, no matter what people or social status he came from, for on the cross Jesus took away the sin of the entire world. Since that time everyone has, through repentance and faith, the privilege to receive the forgiveness of sins and eternal life! When Peter heard of the appearance of the angel to Cornelius, he dared to go against his Jewish Law. He entered into the house of a despised foreigner to tell him that the living God had anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit. This Anointed One was now working, full of power and love. When Peter emphasized that whoever believed on the name of Jesus would receive forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit fell on all the excited listeners. The Jews who had accompanied Peter were seized with dismay, for obviously Romans and Greeks could also receive the Holy Spirit. That blew apart their supposition regarding the chosen people, and opened wide the door for world missions. Peter commanded that all of the new believers, who were speaking in foreign tongues, should be baptised with water as a sign of their cleansing and repentance (See Acts 11:1-28). Acts 11:28-30 In Antioch on the Orontes, where a colony of retired Roman soldiers dwelt, a church of Christ had also come into being. When a New Testament prophet from the early church in Jerusalem came to them and proclaimed through the Holy Spirit that a great famine was about to begin, the church members in Antioch began to set money aside to help the early church, which had by then fallen into poverty. The deliberate Barnabas and the fiery Saul were commissioned to deliver this freewill offering to Jerusalem. |