In Acts 9:17, Ananais goes to Saul so that he might receive his sight and be “filled with the Holy Ghost” (Acts 13:8). Ananias was not capable of imparting any such gift (cf. Acts 8:18). Neither did Saul receive any such thing from the other apostles (cf. Gal. 1:16-17). This must be a reference to Saul’s being baptized…
The example of Acts 4 gives another example of the Holy Spirit being given without a reference to the laying on the Apostle’s hands. However, like Acts 2, all the apostles were in Jerusalem at this time. Therefore, the context supports a Jewish setting among the apostles of Christ. The text has Peter and John…
There is one exception to the need of having the apostles lay their hands on new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. Cornelius and his household were the first among the Gentiles to receive the gospel message and be saved. For this to be accepted, there had to be a great proof of divine approval…
Another example that gives further evidence in support of the conclusion that the gift of the Holy Spirit was the miraculous gift promised by Joel is in Acts 19:1-7. Here, Paul meets twelve disciples and asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed. Just as in the example of the Samaritans,…
The final example is the Ethiopian recorded in Acts 8. This Ethiopian was on his return trip back home from Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit tells Philip to join this man (Acts 8:29). When Philip ran to meet this man on the road, he taught him about Jesus Christ and baptized him. The situation, in this…
Fulfillment of the Outpouring and the Samaritans
Acts 2:38-39 as an example of the fulfillment of the Outpouring
The next mention of the Holy Spirit is in verse 33. It reads, “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. As we have already seen in John’s prediction of Him, He would baptize…
The work of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles would be a great demonstration of miraculous power as a sign for the unbeliever and a confirmation for the saints. Later, we find descriptions of believers who had spiritual gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:4-ff). But, in all of these, the promise of the Holy…
This is a difficult thought to wrap our minds around, but Jesus limited His divine prerogatives when he became a man because he sought to identify himself with the human race. He was born into this world as a human being, advanced or grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man…