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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.)

PAUL and the power of the Holy Spirit


The setting apart of Barnabus and Saul
Barnabus and Saul on Cyprus
Paul and Barnabus in Antioch and Pisidia
The first Apostolic Council in Jerusalem
Paul and the Spirit´s leading in Anatolia
Apollos in Ephesus
Paul in Ephesus
Paul´s departing message in Miletus
Paul in Tyre
Paul´s defence before King Agrippa
Paul´s encounter with the Jews in Rome


The Setting apart of Barnabas and Saul

Acts 13:2-4
2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit, said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.

At this intersection in the Acts of the Apostles we twice read about fasting in Antioch. Fasting is not a duty for Christians, but a privilege, for through fasting the intensity of prayer is increased. Those responsible for the church wanted to praise God, the Father and the Son, from their hearts. They wanted to know His will regarding further ministries of the church, in accordance with His promise: And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13-14).

When the elders continued in prayer, the Holy Spirit spoke to them. Sincere prayer is one of the most blessed ways to experience the will of God. The Holy Spirit spoke to them in the “I” form, as an independently planning and acting person. They immediately recognized His voice, for they were used to speaking with the living God - of hearing, obeying and understanding Him.

The Spirit of God demanded of the church a sacrifice! They were to set aside two of their best leaders, the experienced Barnabas and the Torah scholar, Saul, to carry out His eternally valid and planned strategy. This calling showed the complete unity of the Holy Spirit with the will of the Lord Jesus, who had already, before the gates of Damascus, purposed and called Saul to worldwide mission.

The church prayed, fasted, and laid their hands on the appointed, before letting them go. At first the two did not know where they should go, but trusted the Lord who had called them. They took out no life insurance or old-age pension, and neither did they have the promise of a set wage. They set out in faithful obedience, knowing they were personally being sent out by the Spirit of Jesus Christ. He had taken over responsibility for them. Today we thank the Holy Trinity that with the appointment and sending out of Barnabas and Saul the age of world mission had begun. !


Barnabas and Saul on Cyprus

Acts 13:6-12
6 Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

Barnabas, as a foreign Jew who came from Cyprus, wanted to evangelize the population of his island. Yet the two witnesses of Jesus went from the east of the large island to the west without finding any significant interest in the gospel. Only in Paphos did the Roman proconsul want to know of them what kind of a new teaching it was they were offering in his administrative district.

With the proconsul, however, was a Jewish sorcerer named Bar-Jesus, which meant so much as “the pious Jesus”. He resisted with power and cunning the evangelization efforts of the two messengers and negatively influenced the proconsul. Saul fell into holy rage and, filled with the Holy Spirit, uncovered the demonic origin of this sorcerer. He told him that the hand of the Lord would come upon him and that he would be blind for a time. Saul himself had experienced this same judgment of Jesus in his body, but had repented, which we do not read of happening with this Jewish opponent.

The proconsul, who´s first name was Paul, began to believe on Jesus Christ. From this event on, Saul was no longer called by his Hebrew name in the book of Acts. Much more, he accepted the Roman-Greek name he had assumed. Thus he became the first believer to take the name Paul, which meant “the little one”. He gladly accepted this name, for in following Jesus “the greatest” means “the smallest” (Matt. 18:4; 20:26; Mark 9:34; 10:43; Luke 9:48; 22:24-27).


Paul and Barnabas in Antioch and Pisidia

Acts 13:46-52
46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us: `I have set you to be a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.`” 48 Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region…52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

It is rather dramatic that in spite of all the climactic events of Paul and Barnabas´ first missionary journey only this verse speaks of the Holy Spirit. This surprise comes in spite of the fact that He, the Holy Spirit, on the instructions of Jesus and in complete agreement with Him, planned, led and blessed the journey. The two messengers went from the coast by Antalya (in modern Turkey) into the inner highland of Anatolia in Pisidia, and from there to Iconium (modern day Konya), as well as on to Lystra and Derbe, proclaiming Jesus as the One resurrected from the dead. Whoever believed on Him was justified. Later they travelled back the same way to strengthen the churches that had come into being.

In view of all the preaching, healings, persecutions and preservations on this journey, still nothing is spoken of the Spirit of God. It is only mentioned that the new believers, as “students of Jesus”, were filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit. Not missionaries, their travels, proclamations or sufferings are the goal of the Spirit of Jesus, but the conversion of individuals and the establishment of new churches. Important is their remaining firm in the gospel. So it happens that the Spirit of God mostly holds Himself back, so that Jesus alone is glorified in His churches.


The First Apostolic Council in Jerusalem

Acts 15:6-29
6 So the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did to us. 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now brethren, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they”….23 They wrote this letter by them: “The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, to the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. 28 For so it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these you will do well. Farewell.”

When Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch from their first missionary journey, those who had been praying in the church rejoiced, for Jesus had also freely given salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit to the heathen. Jewish Christians from among the Pharisees, however, came from Jerusalem and demanded the circumcision of all converts from non-Jewish nations, as well as the strict observance of the Law of Moses, with its 248 commands and 365 prohibitions. Otherwise the Gentiles could not be saved. There arose a heated argument, with Paul and Barnabas on the one side, and the zealots of the law on the other. The church knew of no better way to solve this fundamental problem than to bring it before the apostles in Jerusalem for a decision (Acts 15:1-8). Thus the first church apostolic council came about in Jerusalem in approximately the year 51 A.D.

Peter made reference to the conversion and new-birth of the Roman centurion Cornelius in Caesarea. There the Lord Himself had intervened and given to this group of God-seekers the Holy Spirit, after they had been cleansed by faith and without any foreknowledge of the Law of Moses. Furthermore, none of the Jewish Christians at that time had kept the entire Law of Moses. Much more, they all hoped to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ alone! James, too, the brother of Jesus, joined himself to this sovereign working of God, making reference to the promise in Amos 9:11-12.

In the end it came to a written declaration with the breathtaking formulation: “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, the apostles, to lay no further laws upon the new converts from the nations aside of their personal faith in Christ.” For the sake of fellowship at the dinner table with Jewish Christians, however, they were to desist from meat offered to idols, from meat prepared in blood, and from sexual immorality. In this unusual wording the apostles stand evenly matched with the Holy Spirit, something which, humanly speaking, is unthinkable. This formulation shows that the Spirit of God is no dictator, but gives the church full authority and responsibility for correct teaching and spiritual council. If Paul and Barnabas had not successfully withstood this spiritual battle in faith, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, we would all today be Jewish Christians under the Law of Moses!


Paul and the Spirit´s Leading in Anatolia

Acts 16:6-9
6 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with them, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

Paul´s original intention for his second missionary journey was to strengthen the newly established churches in Anatolia. He had previously separated himself from Barnabas, however, because of the argument over John Mark, and chosen Silas, a New Testament prophet, to accompany him and be his proof-reader. After strengthening the churches, Paul was hoping to travel to Ephesus, the capital of the Roman province Asia, to continue evangelising. The Holy Spirit, however, forbid him to carry out this plan, and led him into the rough Galatia (modern Ankara). From there they wanted to press toward the Black Sea coast, but the Spirit of God once again forbid them, so that all that was left for them was to take the middle route toward Troas in the west. There Paul received a vision and the call to travel on to Macedonia, which amounted to an expansion of his mission field to Europe! Yet the apostle still had to learn what it meant to let God direct. In this rejection of Paul´s plan, we see that the mission strategy still lay squarely in the hands of the Holy Spirit. Blessed is the one who has an ear for and obeys the leading of the Spirit of Jesus, even when it is contrary to his own personal plans.


Apollos in Ephesus

Acts 18:24-26
24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue.

During Paul´s third missionary journey, when he was again travelling through Anatolia and the hostile terrain of Galatia, the eloquent Apollos came to Ephesus from Alexandria. His origin shows that there had arisen in Egypt churches without Paul´s having been there. Some of the members had received and obeyed a call to world missions. Although Apollos was named after a Greek god, he was presumably a Jewish Christian, for he vigorously refuted the Jews in the synagogue, proving openly from the Old Testament that Jesus is the promised Messiah (Acts 18:28). Apollos appears, however, not to have previously received the Holy Spirit, teaching only the baptism of repentance of John.


Paul in Ephesus

Acts 19:1-21
1 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples 2 he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John´s baptism.” 4 Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 Now the men were about twelve in all. 8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyranus. 10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them…18 And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19 Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totalled fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. 21 When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”

After Paul had passed through the high plateau (of modern Turkey), he “finally” arrived in Ephesus. He worked and taught there for two years and three months. At first he served those who had been in contact with Apollos who, in the meantime, had travelled on to Corinth. The twelve men who had believed on Jesus did not know the Holy Spirit. They received the power of God through water baptism in the name of Jesus and the laying on of the hands of Paul. After that they praised God in foreign languages.

In the report of Luke over the two years that Paul daily taught in the school of Tyranus, as well as in writing about the miracles, the open confessions of sin, and the radical burning of the occultic books, the name of the Holy Spirit is not mentioned. This omission comes in spite of the fact that He, the Holy Spirit, was the driving force of the Lord in the revival that happened in Ephesus and in the province of Asia. Even in the riot surrounding the silversmith, the Holy Spirit is not mentioned. Only when the travel plans of the apostle again came under consideration did the voice of the Holy Spirit become clear, when Paul, purposing in the Spirit said: “I must also travel to Rome to proclaim the kingdom of God in the “great city”.


Paul´s Departing Message in Miletus

Acts 20:18-28
18 “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20 and how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. …25 And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

Following the riot surrounding the silversmith in Ephesus, Paul travelled to Macedonia and to Greece to strengthen the churches he had established during his second missionary journey. From there he travelled by foot back through Macedonia, for the Jews may well have pursued him had he gone by ship. Beginning at Troas, he began a return journey to Jerusalem. He remained a short while in Miletus, south of Ephesus, and asked the church leaders, bishops, and elders from Ephesus and the province of Asia to come to him there.

Luke was present at Paul´s emotionally-charged departing speech and described it in detail. His reports of this journey are (from Acts 20:5 onward) written in the “we” form.

Paul spoke three times about the Holy Spirit in this message. From the beginning he stated that he was not travelling back to Jerusalem on the basis of his own will, but as one “bound in the Spirit”. He then testified that the Holy Spirit had made it clear to him in increasing measure that tribulations, chains and bitter times awaited him in Jerusalem.

At last he admonished all those in responsibility to be true shepherds, on guard for themselves and for all the flock, so as not to fall into temptation. The Holy Spirit (and not Paul) had appointed them to be bishops, to shepherd the church of God purchased with His own blood. In so saying, he called the blood of Jesus Christ the blood of God!

The comment that it was the Holy Spirit who had appointed the responsible church leaders goes right to the heart of the matter, and speaks to the subject of church leadership. No university degrees, democratic elections or other exceptional gifting can be the justification for calling a bishop, pastor or church elder. It is alone the will and decision of the Spirit of Christ. Paul showed just how such wisdom can be realized when he bowed his knee together with all the church leaders, committing them to the grace and power of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:17-38).


Paul in Tyre

Acts 21:2-5
2 And finding a ship sailing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. 3 When we had sighted Cyprus, we passed it on the left, sailed to Syria, and landed at Tyre; for there the ship was to unload her cargo. 4 And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem. 5 When we had come to the end of those days, we departed and went on our way, and they all accompanied us, with wives and children, till we were out of the city. And we knelt down on the shore and prayed.
(See also Acts 20:36)

Following an exact description of the travel route, Paul arrived in Tyre with the church delegates from Greece, Macedonia, and the province of Asia. There they stayed a week and were guests of the local church members. Those prophetically gifted again told Paul that persecution and suffering were awaiting him in Jerusalem, and advised him not to go up there. Nevertheless, he held firm to this clear resolution to the end. At his departure, the entire church, along with the guests, kneeled down on the shore and prayed. We, too, need to learn that once again in regard to train stations, ports and airports!


Paul´s Defence before King Agrippa

Acts 26:12-18
12 “While thus occupied, as I journeyed to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, 13 at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. 14 And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, `Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.` 15 So I said, `Who are You, Lord?` And He said, Ì am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.`”

Strangely enough, from Tyre on Luke does not mention the Holy Spirit in his account until Paul´s arrival in Rome years later, when his missionary service was concluded, the harvest having been brought in. He remained, to be sure, firm in the service of his Lord. One time in a discourse before King Agrippa, he precisely referred to the work and grace of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus, the resurrected Lord, sent Paul among the nations, after He had assured him that He would protect him from fanatic Jews and safeguard him in dangerous travels. Paul´s task was to open the eyes of people so that they might recognize the reality of the Triune-God and acknowledge their own lost condition! This knowledge was to awaken in them a firm desire to turn from the darkness of Satan to the light of God. By so doing, they would receive the forgiveness of their sins through faith in Christ, along with the inheritance of the saints. The description of his task as being that of an “eye-opener”, and the reception of the Holy Spirit as being an inheritance among those who are sanctified is a veiled description of the wise method Paul used in speaking to non-Christians. In this way they could better understand the mystery of the Holy Spirit.


Paul´s Encounter with the Jews in Rome

Acts 28:23-31
23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26 saying, `Go to this people and say: Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive; 27 For the heart of this people has grown dull.` 28 Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” ... 30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, 31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

Whoever carefully reads Acts from chapter 21:15 to 28:17 and compares it with other prison epistles of Paul can well imagine how much this energy-charged man suffered within himself. One can also grasp how the Spirit of Christ helped him to bear these shackles, so that he described himself as a prisoner of the Lord Jesus (Eph. 3:1; 4:1; Phil. 1:7, 17; Col. 4:18; 2 Tim. 1:8 etc.) His faithfulness in prayer for the newly established churches can be gleaned from his letters.

In Rome, as one who was being charged for mixing in religious matters, he was given the privilege to rent his own house, even while under continual surveillance. There he could also receive guests. He explained to visitors invited from the Jewish synagogues the mystery of Jesus Christ from the books of Moses and the prophets, from morning till evening. But when his listeners became divided over the Scripture proofs Paul was giving, he repeated the grave message of obstinacy the Holy Spirit had given Isaiah the prophet 700 years earlier. We would do well to recognize that not only does the Holy Spirit save and sanctify, but also hardens hearts when men long close themselves to the truth and power of the gospel and do not obey the word of the Lord (John 20:22, 23). No multi-cultural tolerance can help, but only repentance, faith and continual prayer. At the same time, heathen and sinners can and do hear the word of God and open themselves to His Holy Spirit. In so doing they come to trust Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.

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