A common thought among today’s Christians and church leaders is to apply Ephesians 4:11 as applicable, today. One author explains, “By these gifts the Church is founded, the ministry taught, and the Scriptures expounded in all ages.” He also writes, “Prophecy is not to be confined to the apostolic age: for St. Peter also testifies that the promise is to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call”. Here is one of the proof texts used in support of the view that the Holy Spirit’s outpouring has continued to our time. One has to determine whether Peter had in mind those who were afar off in time or whether he was referring to distant or far in relationship to God. The Sciptures support the later view. Consider Paul’s similar description in Ephesians 2 as a commentary on Acts 2:39. He clearly speaks of the Gentiles in Ephesians 2:11-13. It reads,
“Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands; that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ.” (ASV)
Verse thirteen reads, “But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ (ASV). Verse 17 reads, “and he came and preached peace to you that were far off (Gentiles), and peace to them that were nigh (Jews)” (ASV). The context is not talking about land far away or time in the distant future. Just like Acts 2:39, the writers are talking about people being afar off from God, using the second person pronoun, “you.” The “you” to whom he refers is people who were then living in that first century. Verses eleven and twelve specifically identifies the “you.” It reads,
Remember, that once you, Gentiles in the flesh, who were called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands; that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” (ASV)
Paul identifies the you (plural) that once were far off as being the Gentiles in the flesh. Acts 2:39 is very similar to Joel’s prophecy. The gift of the Spirit was promised to you (Jews) and your children (Joel’s “sons and daughters”), as well as to the Gentiles (included in Joel’s “all flesh).
Again, the conclusion that teaches the same presence of the Holy Spirit today assumes what has not been proven. We have shown that these days in which the Holy Spirit would come is a first century phenomena. Thus far, what Joel describes is unprecedented (cf. Joel 2:28). It had never happened before, nor is there any indication it would happen again.