He portrays the spirit as the activity and presence of god but also as an impersonal force or power luke 5. May 09, 2020 so in every case of the holy spirit s coming or being received in the book of acts there are definite effects that one can point to as evidence that the spirit has been received. The basis is found in the book of acts, specifically the event of pentecost. The gift of the baptism in the holy spirit is available to every christian believer. The book of the acts of the apostles forms the fifth, and last, of the historical books of the new testament. The evidence was given for the benefit of observers that is, it was given so that other people would know that the blessed one had been spirit baptized, and presumably would now treat him or her accordingly as in acts 10. The filling of the holy spirit in the book of acts by. Evidence of the baptism in the holy spirit in acts.
Short time for action baptism baptism, practice of the outpouring of the holy spirit, promises of the holy spirit. Role of prayer and the holy spirit in acts kingdom living. Jan 18, 2017 the book of acts has five 5 occasions of the baptism of the holy spirit. In the book of acts christ himself continues his work through the lives of his disciples. The holy spirit had been given to them after jesus crucifixion john 20.
Jan 20, 2011 baptism and the holy spirit in samaria, acts 8 the second incident of the baptism of the holy spirit is in acts chapter eight. When a person is baptized by the holy ghost they must speak in tongues as the spirit gives utterances the same way it has been given in the bible read the book of acts the holy spirit have move upon people many time but it doesnt mean they are filled with the spirit all spirit filled christians speak in tongues please be sure u have this. Verse 4 gives the result of the spirit s coming on those gathered in the upper room. Baptism and the holy spirit in samaria, acts 8 the second incident of the baptism of the holy spirit is in acts chapter eight. What was fulfilled was the prophecy given by both jesus and john the baptist concerning the coming of the holy spirit. In turn, for luke, jesus was a man primarily of the spirit. Luke was one of the followers of the apostles and was closed to paul. In genesis a wind from god swept over the face of the waters, as if taking part in the creation 1. Before jesus was taken into heaven where he was enthroned to share gods rule over the world, he instructed his followers to be a witness for him. The holy spirit as an active character in the book. Lets begin with the explicit evidence that indicates a common author for both books. Jesus sends the holy spirit to empower his disciples as they carry the good news of his kingdom to the nations of the world.
The holy spirit in the book of acts essay 2475 words. Baptism and the holy spirit in the book of acts world wide. This summary of the book of acts provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of acts. Too often, however, these efforts suffer from neglect or mishandling of the evidence of spiritfilling within the book of acts. Well, thats evidence of the holy spirit being with you, and on you, because its the holy spirit s job to make them uncomfortable to convict them of sin, hopefully unto salvation. As the book of acts and pauls letters attest, from that. In the first case, all the disciples were powerful on the day of pentecost, and they had the release, boldness, and encouragement. Is speaking in unknown tongues in evidence in every instance. In this case, the baptism in the holy spirit came before the baptism in water acts 10. Chapter 8 the bible evidence of the baptism of the holy spirit.
A fourth answer is that the evidence of the holy spirit is the blessings received through the churchs ministry according to the word of promise. There are three occasions in the book of acts where speaking in tongues accompanied the receiving of the holy spiritacts 2. What is also interesting is that when you see these two things working together you find gods people filled with boldness to do what god has asked them to do. The book of acts tells how the multiethnic, international. The result of this misuse is serious, for acts is vital to a proper understanding of the holy spirit s ministry in filling believers. Acts 10 46 for they heard them speaking in other languages and declaring the greatness of god acts 19 6 and when paul had.
The holy spirit speaks, leads, and guides in the book of acts. The holy spirit functions as the revealer of gods truth and will. The book of acts begins with the outpouring of gods promised holy spirit on the day of pentecost. Those with a pentecostal background insist that the cases in the above three passages acts 2, 10, and 19prove that all believers who receive the baptism of the holy spirit must speak in tongues. Evidence of the baptism in the holy spirit in acts awaiting. In the book of acts, the filling of the spirit is interpreted in problematic ways. Jun 26, 2008 a third answer is that you know you have the holy spirit by the evidence of the fruit of the spirit, which are the qualities and deeds of christlikeness. The holy spirit in the book of acts 2 in the book of acts, the holy spirit plays an essential role in the spread of gods plan for salvation to the gentiles. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. 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. Saul the other account in acts that infers that speaking in tongues was the evidence of receiving the holy spirit is found in acts 9. The ones mentioned are speaking in tongues, prophesying, freely praising the great things of god, boldness and power in witness, and obedience to god. In acts 2, the jews injerusalem received the holy spirit in power, and immediately began speaking in tongues.
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. On the day of pentecost, the holy spirit fell upon this group of around 120 believers and according to the scriptures. The writer of acts portrayed the holy spirit as the source of spiritual power 1. 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. Verse one demonstrates clearly that the unnamed author of acts is the same person as the unnamed author of the third gospel cf.
The holy spirit in the book of acts about spirit of. Holy spirit many scholars insist that the doctrine of. However, luke emphasizes that the spirit appeared to all the disciples acts 2. It is further argued that even though the samaritans had been baptized acts 8. Pauls epistles, as many circumstances in them are referred to by the narrative contained. Just after this, the missionary group tries to enter bithynia, but the spirit of jesus would not allow them to emphasis added. The book of acts establishes the pattern that the holy spirit is imparted to genuine believers at the time of their conversion. There are various discussions on the relationship between the initial indwelling of the holy spirit and the baptism of the holy spirit explain. The holy spirit in the book of acts spirit of grace. Author although the author does not name himself, evidence outside the scriptures and inferences from the book itself lead to the conclusion that the. In the case of saul who was later named paul, the account in acts.
There are three occasions in the book of acts where speaking in tongues accompanied the receiving of the holy spirit acts 2. The spirit is mentioned often throughout the bible. The identity of the gift of the holy spirit, as that expression is used in acts 2. The holy spirit in the book of acts essay 1715 words. The holy spirit in the book of acts essay 2476 words bartleby. Some of the references are to the authorship of the passages cited in acts from the old testament, the statements being the holy spirit. Lynchburg, virginia august 17, 2012 table of contents introduction 2 the coming filling of the holy spirit 2 the holy spirit speaks. Two terms are especially associated with this activity. It is written by luke as a sequel to the gospel of luke, picking up exactly where luke left off.
It continues to be a major festival day in the life of the church nearly 2,000 years later. 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. Brewster in partial fulfillment of the requirements for bibl364 liberty university online by robert ortiz jr. This verse says, and they were all filled with the holy spirit and began to speak in different tongues, even as the spirit gave to them to speak forth. This is the first of several explicit references in acts to the holy spirit speaking. We may now come back to the five cases of receiving the spirit outwardly in the book of acts. Apr 24, 2014 the baptism in the holy spirit the initial evidence 6 replies my family and i are currently reading about the baptism of the holy spirit from william w. In fact, the word bold or boldness is used more time in the book of acts than any other book of the bible. The baptism of believers in the holy ghost is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the spirit of god gives them utterance acts 2. The holy spirit in the book of actsii the holy spirit in.
If the book of acts lacks a consistent doctrine of the holy spirit, it must follow that the book of acts is not given by divine inspiration and is not the word of god. He portrays the spirit as the activity and presence of god luke 4. The holy spirit in acts, not only breaks down ethnic barriers, he also breaks down social barriers. Let us begin in the book of the acts of the apostles written by luke, a physician cf. That is, one cannot be filled with the holy spirit which implies complete control by the holy spirit. The book of acts demonstrates that the holy spirit leads and empowers the church for growth and service. The churchs success is vitally tied to its relationship with the spirit. In my former book, theophilus, i wrote about all that jesus began to do and to teach acts 1. But we know with certainty the book of acts, written by luke, who also wrote the gospel of luke, is inspired of god just as are the epistles written by paul. As the gospel began to spread to the world, the early church was confronted with spiritual and cultural barriersstrongholdsit had to overcome. Andreas praefcke, wikimedia commons read the introduction one of the most well known events detailed in the book of acts is the pentecost episode and the gift of the holy spirit to the church.
Here is a summary and overview of the book of acts. There has arisen much confusion regarding the place of tongues and other charismatic gifts in the church. 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. They were all filled with the holy spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance acts 2. By implication, it was not given to convince either god or the person receiving the baptism of the reality of what.
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. But there are other results and evidences of the spirit filled life in addition to the everytime evidence of speaking in tongues. And dont begin to be drunk with wine, which involves profligacy, but be continually being filled with the spirit. In acts 8, the apostles in jerusalem heard that the people in samaria had already come to know christ. In this book we see the first mention of the dispensation of the holy spirit and jesus command to take his gospel to all the world. In the book of acts, i learned that the holy spirit came and filled the believers of the early church in several different ways. But there are other results and evidences of the spiritfilled life in addition to the everytime evidence of speaking in tongues.
The book begins with the ascension of jesus and goes on through pauls jail time in rome, which opens his ministry to the church at rome. This lesson will summarize the teaching of acts on the holy spirit, emphasizing the spirit s baptism, the spirit s filling, and the spirits power. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the lord our god calls to him acts 2. 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. And what is the true evidence of receiving the holy spirit baptism. The holy spirit is the presence of the living lord jesus in spiritual power in the lives of men. The seventh tenet of faith gives the scriptural definition of the baptism in the holy spirit, and the eighth defines the scriptural evidence of this experience. Jan 26, 2009 and be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess. Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of jesus christ unto the remission of your sins.
The filling of the holy spirit in the book of acts. How do you know if youre filled with the holy spirit. So in every case of the holy spirit s coming or being received in the book of acts there are definite effects that one can point to as evidence that the spirit has been received. They had experienced the holy spirit at pentecost acts 2, and now they are filled with the holy spirit acts 4. In writing the book of acts, luke mentions the holy spirit more than fifty times, indicating his preeminence and power in the progress of the gospel and the development of the church. Baptism and the holy spirit in the book of acts world. A short time church distinct from israel baptism, features of water for baptism. This assertion, however, overlooks a very important phrase in verse 16. Through the years, very few bible doctrines have been subject to more misconception than that of the study of the holy spirit. 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. The holy spirit in the book of acts preaching source. To better understand this doctrine we need to rightly divide the word of truth.
The gospel of luke and the book of acts combine to make a single, twovolume. The book of acts is called acts of the apostles but more aptly it is the work of the holy spirit working through the apostles. The identical evidence of tongues occurred also in acts 10. As we go through it, fitting each piece together, and building on the evidence revealed in each passage, we will not only answer all these questions, but we will gain a much better understanding of the holy spirit and his work in the churchboth then and now. Is speaking in tongues evidence for having the holy spirit. 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. 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.
Holy spirit many scholars insist that the doctrine of the. John the baptist preached baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Contemporary pentecostals see the coming of the spirit as a donum superadditum an additional gift. While peter was still speaking, the holy spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. The prominence of the holy spirit in the acts 3 truth. Liberty university the holy spirit in the book of acts a research paper submitted to professor p. Six times the holy spirit is said to be the one who speaks the truth of god. And on this account it has been generally placed at the end of the four gospels. Religious status evidence supporters jew after the story of the ethiopian eunuch, irenaeus wrote, conversion is more difficult with gentiles than with jews, indicating that the eunuch was a jew. 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. Evidence of having received the baptism of the holy spirit. Deacon philip goes down to samaria, preached christ and preforms miracles acts 8. Where do we find the evidence of the spirit at work.
Evidence of the spirits filling the institute for creation. Wenk argues that the point of the story about philip and the ethiopian eunuch is to demonstrate how the cultically unclean cf. Logion press, 1993 in our afterbreakfast family bible reading. Some say that this verse means that they all began to speak in tongues. The holy spirit in the book of acts paperback february 26, 2015. The baptism in the holy spirit the initial evidence bobs. They were filled with the holy spirit, and this led them to speak in other tongues. On three 3 of these occasions, the baptism is clearly accompanied by speaking with tongues as a sign of the baptism pentecost. After the martyrdom of stephen the disciples scatter from jerusalem. Since my earliest days in christ i have been fascinated by the holy spirit.
Other books of the nt also refer to the holy spirit speaking 1 tim. However, these three occasions are the only places in the bible where speaking in tongues is an evidence of receiving the holy spirit. Holy spirit is the cornerstone of the acts of the apostles, attributed to the apostle luke. But we know with certainty the book of acts, written by luke, who also wrote the gospel of luke, is inspired.