And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. The great fact of this age is the indwelling of the holy. Liberty university the holy spirit in the book of acts a research paper submitted to professor p. Interestingly, the second highest concentration of references to the holy spirit in the bible is found in lukes gospel. The book containing this chapter is anonymous but early christian tradition affirmed that luke composed this book as well as the gospel of luke. You and i are living in the age of the holy spirit. The books of acts is often called the book of the holy spirit or the book of the apostles. The acts of the apostles, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. John the baptist preached baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. God never intended healing to stop, but provided it through the church. The acts of the apostles, abbreviation acts, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. The book of acts centers around 2 great men of god, name who and. Healing scriptures in the book of acts and the epistles. Two terms are especially associated with this activity.
Sermon on the holy spirit what the bible says about the. Pearson, who is one of my favorite writers of several generations ago now. The book of acts begins with the outpouring of gods promised holy spirit on the day of pentecost. The first part of acts portrays the meaning of christianity, how it was shared, and how it was lived out in a. The holy spirit in the book of acts essay 2476 words. He portrays the spirit as the activity and presence of god luke 4. The holy spirit in the gospel of john biblical theology. Harold clicked a couple of buttons and solved the problem.
The holy spirit as an active character in the book. Luke described to theophilus in his first letter about jesus life up to the resurrection. Since my earliest days in christ i have been fascinated by the holy spirit. Luke, who allegedly wrote a gospel and the acts of the apostles, has more to say about the spirit than any other biblical writer does. Using the opportunity, peter began by showing that the apostles were not drunk as some thought, because it was too early. Sep 03, 2015 the holy spirit in acts, not only breaks down ethnic barriers, he also breaks down social barriers. Reference to the holy spirit acts flashcards quizlet. Deacon philip goes down to samaria, preached christ and preforms miracles acts 8. John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy spirit. Brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled which the holy spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of david concerning judas, who served as guide for those who arrested jesus.
This promise is mentioned in the gospel of john four times john 1. A biblical theology of the holy spirit biblical foundations. Acts continues from there on starting with christs resurrection. Now let us take a look at the book of acts to see if this interpretation is not born out by the subsequent events of believers and the filling, or the baptism, or the gift of the holy spirit. The holy spirit speaks, leads, and guides in the book of acts. The same promise is given in the book of acts acts 1. The holy spirit functions as the revealer of gods truth and will.
Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90, though some think a slightly earlier date is also. Acts is the second book from luke, who also wrote the gospel that shares his name. The acts should be seen as a description of the ongoing work of jesus christ by the power of the holy spirit through his apostles and followers. Here is a list of all the passages in the book of acts that mention baptism. Baptism and the holy spirit in samaria, acts 8 the second incident of the baptism of the holy spirit is in acts chapter eight. Jul 16, 20 acts is the second book from luke, who also wrote the gospel that shares his name. The holy spirit is mentioned by all three authors of the synoptic gospels. He is mentioned fiftysix times in the gospels, fiftyseven times in the book of acts, 112 times in the. The life and teachings of jesus christ are established in the four gospel narratives, and the book of acts provides a coordinated account of the beginning and spread of the church as the result of the work of the risen lord and the holy spirit through the apostles. And, in fact, because of this great stress on the holy spirit, many have even thought that the acts ought to be entitled not the acts of the apostles but the acts of the holy spirit. The holy spirit in the book of acts preaching source.
In the first case, all the disciples were powerful on the day of pentecost, and they had the release, boldness. Holy spirit is the cornerstone of the acts of the apostles, attributed to the apostle luke. Acts is the history of the development of the first churches and the spread of christianity. The holy spirit in the book of acts sermon by john gaston.
As he was walking away, i called after him, so, what was. How many times is holy spirit mentioned in the bible answers. The book of acts demonstrates that the holy spirit leads and empowers the church for growth and service. Acts 2 new international version niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost.
We can learn a lot about the importance of baptism since it is prevalent throughout the book of acts when the early church was being established. Note, first of all, the distinction between water baptism in the name of jesus and the reception of the. Jesus, full of the holy spirit, returned from the jordan and was led by the spirit in the desert luke 4. Healing in the book of acts and the epistles exceedingfaith. When the day of pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. The ministry of the holy spirit as seen in the book of acts is what. May 02, 2020 the book of acts sheds light on the gift of the holy spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as our counselor. He attributed jesuss success in ministryparticularly in training the apostles and performing healingsto the work of the spirit 1. He jesus was taken up into heaven, after giving instructions through the holy spirit to the apostles he had chosen. Six times the holy spirit is said to be the one who speaks the truth of god. Using the opportunity, peter began by showing that the apostles were not drunk as some thought, because it was too.
This chapter records the events on the day of pentecost, about 10 days after the ascension of jesus christ. This article shows that these references are integral elements in the narrative of acts, presenting the holy spirit as an active character or participant in the events it reports. In preparation for this sundays sermon, meditate on these verses. Two references showing where the bok of acts starts and where the gospels end. In fact, the occurrences of speaking in tongues in acts are the only places in the bible where speaking in tongues is an evidence of receiving the holy spirit. Finally, the references to the holy spirit at the very beginning and end of acts 1. For by one spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether jews or greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one spirit. In the american standard version of acts there are fiftysix references to the holy spirit. The tradition from the earliest days of the church has been that luke, a companion of the apostle paul, wrote the books of luke and acts colossians 4.
Lynchburg, virginia august 17, 2012 table of contents introduction 2 the coming filling. The baptism of the holy spirit part 2 by chuck smith. Lynchburg, virginia august 17, 2012 table of contents introduction 2 the coming filling of the holy spirit 2 the holy spirit speaks through believers 4 the holy spirit speaks to. The holy spirit then came upon them when paul laid his hands upon them and they spoke in tongues. The holy spirit is not merely a power but a person, just like the father and the son. By comparison to other portions of the new testament the special significance of the holy spirit in the book of acts can be demonstrated. As a result, the preaching of the gospel and the witness of the newly formed church sparks a flame that spreads across the roman empire. When they came to the border of mysia, they tried to enter bithynia, but the spirit of jesus would not allow them to. The work and person of the holy spirit in the gospel of john. And the book of the prophet isaiah was handed to him. As the gospel began to spread to the world, the early church was confronted with spiritual and cultural barriersstrongholdsit had to overcome. Acts 2 niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost bible. The holy spirit in the book of acts essay 2476 words bartleby.
The holy spirit in the book of acts about spirit of. The holy spirit in the book of acts essay 1715 words. The holy spirit in the book of acts spirit of grace ministries. Reference to the holy spirit acts terms in this set 55 acts 1. Theme verse of acts but you will receive power when the holy spirit has come upon you.
The book of acts provides a detailed, orderly, eyewitness account of the birth and growth of the early church and the spread of the gospel immediately after the resurrection of jesus christ. In turn, for luke, jesus was a man primarily of the spirit. There are less than a hundred references to the spirit in the whole old testament, about 58 references to the spirit by whatever precise name. And everyone present was filled with the holy spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the holy spirit gave them this ability acts 4. Peter wagners complete commentary on the book of acts. Acts 2 38 repent, peter said to them, and be baptized, each of you, in the name of jesus christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the holy spirit. When speaking in tongues is mentioned in the book of acts, the holy spirit is always present.
Pearson, who is one of my favorite writers of several generations ago now, has a little book out on the ministry of the holy spirit and. According to lee, the book of acts refers to the formative history of the early church, while establishing luke as a charismatic theologian who demonstrates that baptism in the holy spirit is an experience of empowering to facilitate the mission of the church. When jesus was nearing his trial and crucifixion, he promised his apostles that he would ask god to send them his holy spirit. In the first case, all the disciples were powerful on the day of pentecost, and they had the release, boldness, and encouragement. The combined sixtyeight chapters of the synoptic gospels contain only thirtyfour references to the holy spirit. Verses about receiving the holy spirit hill community. Indeed there are many references to the holy spirit in johns gospel.
Its narrative supplies a bridge connecting the life and ministry of jesus to the life of the church and the witness of the earliest believers. Luke, who allegedly wrote a gospel and the acts of the apostles, has more to say about the spirit than any other biblical writer. When we look at these four instances of the unique reception of the holy spirit in the book of acts, no pattern emerges. He had not only the power to preach but also the gift to present the gospel in a good. Acts 2 38 repent, peter said to them, and be baptized, each of you, in the. Acts 2 niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost bible gateway. Does the book of acts provide any pattern for believers to. The holy spirit is the presentday advocate of jesus christ in our hearts. Acts has more references to the holy spirit than any other book. Book of acts audio bible reading new testament youtube. Many were believed and were baptized with water, acts 8. Some of the references are to the authorship of the passages cited in acts from the old testament, the statements being the holy spirit. We can learn a lot about the importance of baptism since it is prevalent throughout the book of. The book begins with jesus promise of the holy spirit, which is later fulfilled in reference to the jews ch.
Reading the book of acts, we are enlightened and encouraged by the power of the gospel as it spread throughout the world and transformed lives. After the martyrdom of stephen the disciples scatter from jerusalem. Jesus wanted the holy spirit also to be sent to anyone else who believes in him, in jesus. Mar 22, 20 the books of acts shows that healing continued after jesus through the apostles.
The churchs success is vitally tied to its relationship with the spirit. The basis is found in the book of acts, specifically the event of pentecost. Oct 23, 2016 the holy spirit in the book of acts acts 2. Most of the references are by the author of the gospel of luke. The holy spirit in the age of the acts of the apostles. Mathews 1 the gospel of john was described by tertullian as a spiritual gospel. The book of acts centers around 2 great men of god, name who and where there ministries were, and what chapters they cover. Brief overview of the book of acts luke wrote the acts of the apostles as a followup to his gospel account of the life of christ. The book of acts, also called acts of the apostles, does not specifically identify its author. There are eleven chapters in acts that contain no reference to the spirit. The book of acts describes how the first disciples of christ learned to overcome spiritual and cultural resistance. Mar 05, 20 the person of the holy spirit refers to the attributes of emotions, will, volition, intelligence, sensibility, and personality, which relate to humanity. If such a view is correct, it would seem that a reasonable approach to the passage suggests that all who were baptized that day cf. The holy spirit plays a key role in the acts of the apostles, leading to the use of the titles book of the holy spirit or the acts of the holy spirit for that book of the new testament.
The books of acts shows that healing continued after jesus through the apostles. The holy spirit in acts, not only breaks down ethnic barriers, he also breaks down social barriers. Acts 2 is the second chapter of the acts of the apostles in the new testament of the christian bible. After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the holy spirit. Strangely enough, a new breed of preachers has risen among us claiming greater and greater dependence upon the holy spirit and yet decry our emphasis no the book of acts. R reference to the holy spirit comes in a variety of ways. He portrays the spirit as the activity and presence of god but also as an impersonal force or power luke 5. The holy spirit in the book of acts essay 2475 words.
The first part of acts portrays the meaning of christianity, how it was shared, and how it was lived out in a closed community of jews whose common culture was based on the old testament. We may now come back to the five cases of receiving the spirit outwardly in the book of acts. Twelftree luke, who allegedly wrote a gospel and the acts of the apostles, has more to say about the spirit than any other biblical writer does. The holy spirit in the age of the acts of the apostles slj. Richard bauckham has shown that three of the gospels employ a literary device of mentioning toward the beginning and the end of each book the primary witness whose testimony stands prominently behind that gospels narrative. Jesus promise is realized following his ascension at pentecost, when believers are filled with the holy spirit acts 2. And everyone present was filled with the holy spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the holy spirit gave them this ability. Wenk argues that the point of the story about philip and the ethiopian eunuch is to demonstrate how the cultically unclean cf.
There are 60 references to the holy spirit in the book of acts. The main theological emphasis of the book of acts is the holy spirit. Some contend that the gift of the holy spirit in acts 2. Luke wants us to understand that jesus didnt just heal and do miracles through the holy spirit even in the issuing of instructions to the disciples our lord was operating under the guidance and power of the spirit. The scriptures in acts 9 only tell us that the holy spirit came upon saul. The holy spirit as the source of our lords joy at that time jesus, full of joy through the holy spirit, said, i praise you, father, lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and. The purpose of this article is to evaluate johns representation of the holy. In acts 2, after peter had preached to the multitudes, who had gathered because of the supernatural phenomena that took place with the outpouring of the. In the many bibles that i have read and worn out, i have marked with a red pen countless references to the holy spirit in both the old and new testaments. For about the first decade after the death of jesus, christianity existed almost exclusively among the jews. References to the holy spirit appear throughout acts 1. The holy spirit as an active character in the book of acts. Acts was written in greek, presumably by the evangelist luke, whose gospel concludes where acts begins, namely, with christs ascension into heaven.
In the new testament alone there are some 261 passages which refer to the holy spirit. The writer of acts portrayed the holy spirit as the source of spiritual power 1. The holy spirit as the source of our lords joy at that time jesus, full of joy through the holy spirit, said, i praise you, father, lord of heaven and earth, because you. Brewster in partial fulfillment of the requirements for bibl364 liberty university online by robert ortiz jr. Nov 15, 2018 statistically, the book of acts contains three times as many references to the holy spirit as the gospel of luke.