IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
Acts 1:3-8.
3 ...to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Here in the Book of Acts, God’s own defining church history book, is the beginning of the outcome of Jesus’ promises and commands. One would think that whatever is found in this book is to be the norm for the church of Jesus until He returns.
His final words to the young church involve the Promise. When Acts 1 and 2 talk of the Promise, it is the Holy Spirit that is being referenced. Wait for the promise of the Father that you heard from Me, he says. When did they hear this? At his final discourse before His death, found in John 14-16. We noted this above.
He once more compares John’s water baptism to the new baptism they will receive. They don’t seem to take this as seriously as the other issue on their mind, the restoration of Israel’s Kingdom, with Jesus as king. Jesus does not deny that such a time will come, but suggests that there is other business at hand first, and to take care of said business they will need power. So back to the subject He was talking about. The Holy Spirit is going to so empower you that you will be able to go to the ends of the earth with My message. In mentioning this extended vision, He brings modern disciples into the program. And we need that power just as much as did they.
Acts 2:1-13.
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" 13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine."
Finally the “promise” is fulfilled. In this most familiar of all Holy Spirit passages, the disciples, all unsuspecting, are having a prayer meeting when suddenly they are treated to a multi-sensory demonstration. Their ears, eyes, and mouths are full of heaven’s glory in the first of many such occurrences that God’s people have witnessed through the years.
I do not want to belabor the point here, but notice that the manifestation from the disciples was none other than speaking in tongues. Languages. Unlearned languages that were identifiable by nationals from many countries present that morning. Though Paul later downplays tongue-speaking in comparison to the other gifts, this seems to be the ground-floor entrance-way into the things of the Spirit, as story after story is recounted in the following chapters.
So many questions out there about tongues today. Are there tongues of “angels” as Paul suggests? Are tongues always identifiable as languages? What of those who speak in syllables, or even repeat the same syllable over and over? Is that tongues too? I think it is important for now to establish a pattern of saying only what Scripture says and allowing God to do what He wants in individual lives.
Without doubt, men empowered by the Holy Spirit can speak languages they have not studied to send messages to those who need them. We’ll investigate that more with Paul later. And without doubt God sovereignly poured out this gift on those waiting for it. I do not feel comfortable going beyond that for now. The question is, should we expect any of this today? So far, whether in Old Testament, Gospels, or the Day of Pentecost, there is no evidence to conclude otherwise. And there is much more reason to assume that nothing has changed but our expectancy, since the first outpouring.
One other comment about the power of the Spirit of God. Those who receive it often do not look very professional. One might even conclude from verse 13-15 that drunk would be a better adjective. Smashed, wrecked, they are saying these days. Totally undignified. Reminds one of King David and how “proper people” looked down on him. Yes, it gets a little embarrassing to your friends, or so I am told.
Acts 2:16-21.
16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. 18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. 21 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.'
Joel is brought in to explain what is happening to these good Jewish men who knew their Bibles well. See above for my comments on this prophecy.
Acts 2: 22.
22 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know..."
Peter here gives us one of the reasons for miracles, signs, and wonders: this was and is God’s way of pointing out Who Jesus is. He’s the one who stands out. He’s the one who can do mighty works. That’s why you should believe Him, God reasons. Not everybody can do that!
It is true that many have come to Christ without seeing a miracle. They heard the Word, and the Spirit of God worked a miracle in their heart. But it is also true that God is pointing people to Jesus in our day through signs and wonders. When God begins doing these things in a community, Jesus gets a lot of attention. It’s better than a bake sale, or a door-to-door campaign, or most any idea man has come up with. God’s ways get results on a hugely larger scale. Those who do not believe God for miracles in their church are going to have to come up with a program of their own. And they usually do. And sometimes that’s the problem…
Acts 2:38-39.
38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
I was literally raised on Acts 2:38. It was one of the proof-texts of the need for water baptism. Oh that my church would have taught me the rest of the verse, and the next one too, and what they mean! After explaining to the crowd that they must repent, and be baptized, Peter lets them know that they too will receive this gift… for the promise – there it is again – the promise is for you (Jews in attendance that day) your children (the next generation), and to all who are afar off (from the covenant of Israel. That is, everyone else in the world! ) Anyone whom God calls over the life span of the church is promised what the disciples witnessed that day.
It’s so important to try to read Scripture as though we’ve never heard a sermon, never formed an opinion. Very difficult, but so worth the effort. If you had never been taught this event before, would you not conclude that the crowd that saw this incredible demonstration, then heard Peter say that this very thing was for them, would be expecting, and receiving, the same thing? And that we should be too?
The promise, the gift, of the Holy Ghost is for all men of all time. That’s how I read it because that is what it says. And that’s what I want to claim from Heaven.
Acts 4:29-31.
29 "Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Peter and John have just been released from prison and are reporting back to the church. From that assembly comes an amazing statement of boldness and courage and a request for more. Their conclusion, in the prayer, is that it is God’s sending of signs and wonders that will give them the boldness to speak the Word of God. In response, God does not deny their idea, but instead gives them a sign: the house they are in is shaken! The Holy Ghost falls on them, and more boldness issues from their mouths.
Jesus needs to be preached in our generation with the same boldness, would you not say? Surely the need for signs and wonders has not diminished? No clue here that it would.
Acts 5:15-16.
15 ...so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
So many have said that the nine listed gifts of the Spirit, especially tongues, don’t exist today. What about the gift mentioned here? Walking down the street and letting your shadow fall on people, and those people being healed. That’s what Peter did. And his shadow healed them! Such power released in God’s men then. Is there any reason why that power cannot be in God’s men today?
Acts 5:32.
32 "And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."
God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him, says Peter here. It is in the context of persecution that this word is given. Peter had been strictly commanded not to preach Jesus, but he decided to preach anyway. As he obeyed, the Spirit continued to work wonders through him. Peter had told a larger crowd that those who would obey in repentance and baptism would receive this gift. No, we do not earn anything from God. Who could deserve the Holy Spirit? But one who is seeking God in God’s way will receive more and more of this Spirit.
Acts 8:14-19.
14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15 who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."
Here seems to be another method the Spirit uses to come in to people’s lives. Samaria has heard the preached word from a man whose ministry does not include serving the Holy Spirit to people. He does have a miraculous ministry, does Philip, an anointing of power, but God uses those in authority in the church to come and seal his converts. They come, pray for the people, and it happens: the Spirit falls on these Samaritans also.
So the variety of administrations of the Spirit grows. One can ask. God can pour out sovereignly. Hands can be laid on while others ask.
The other important thing to see here is that the magician Simon saw something. Peter prayed, and something visible occurred. When the Spirit of God comes on a man, there is something that happens. And oh how we desire for it to happen in our day. There still seems to be no reason why not.
Acts 9:17.
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
In spite of the Peter and John incident above, no, it was not just the original apostles who could lay hands on people and see the Holy Spirit fall. Enter “common” disciple Ananias, after Paul comes to Christ, and Christ to Paul, on the Damascus road. Ananias is commissioned by Jesus to visit Paul, pray for his sight to be restored, and lay hands on him that he might receive the Holy Spirit. So Peter and Paul receive the same Spirit, but two different ways. Not a problem. No rules in this thing. We should receive this Spirit any way we can!
Acts 10:44-48.
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, 47 "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
The second best known story in Acts may well be the conversion of Cornelius and the subsequent entry of the Gospel to the Gentile world. In this story is yet another twist to the way the Spirit moves. Before the official message of Peter is even finished, the Spirit falls. The similarities to other like events are clear too: Something happened. It was tongues and the magnifying of God. Others saw it and were astonished at it. This receiving of the Spirit gets attention!
Even Peter seemed to be a bit dumbfounded and called for water baptism as yet another visible sign to onlookers that the people being touched were officially in the Kingdom, the very Jewish kingdom of God.
Some want to pigeon-hole these events. They talk of the “baptism” vs. the “receiving of” the Holy Spirit. But in all cases we have seen so far, the outcome is the same. People are speaking in other languages and even in their own language, the wonderful works of God.
Lord do it again, and again, and again. Here. Now.
Acts 11:16-18.
16 "Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17 If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?" 18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life."
The associations that Peter makes in this passage are very telling. He is reviewing for his Jewish brethren the astounding story of the entry of the Gentiles into the Kingdom. He clearly believes that what Cornelius received was the baptism of which Jesus prophesied, the same promise being fulfilled for the Gentiles as for the Jews. He then remarks in passing that God gave this gift out as people believed on Jesus. This does not mean automatically. In other words, believing in Jesus is not the same as being baptized in the Spirit. Nor does water baptism immediately demand an outpouring. But in some way that only God defines, there is a connection in all of those parts. People believe, repent, are baptized, and somewhere in there, sometimes in an order we cannot understand, is the giving of the Spirit. It is a subsequent or separate act, but it is included in the package of salvation. It can come through prayer, laying on of hands, or a sovereign act of grace, but come, it will, for His people. And when it comes, it will be obvious to all those in the vicinity.
Acts 19:1-7.
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?" So 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.
Here were some believers in Jesus who had obviously been taught by Apollos before he heard the whole story of Jesus. Apollos talked about the way of the Lord up to the baptism of John, a baptism unto repentance. He talked about a coming Messiah, but seemed to have no knowledge of the Gospel. He was privately corrected by a couple in the church, heard the Gospel, and with the same fire began to declare it, but not before he had accidentally misled some Ephesian believers. When Paul ran across them, they had never heard about the Holy Spirit at all. Paul baptized them again, and laid his hands upon them so God could baptize them for the first time. This group of a dozen believers reacted in the familiar manner. They spoke with tongues. They prophesied.
Seems like the Book of Acts is not going to let up on its insistence that the miraculous impartation of God’s promised Spirit is for all who call upon the name of the Lord. I read of no time limitations, no boundaries on the calendar. Until the Lord comes, the Spirit will be manifesting His presence on people. I want to be included in that number.
Now let’s see what Paul, Peter, Jude, and John have to say about all this.
