The personhood of the holy spirit in john and acts. The book of acts course a, lesson 2 free bible study. The scriptures in acts 9 only tell us that the holy spirit came upon saul. He portrays the spirit as the activity and presence of god but also as an impersonal force or power luke 5. Peter clearly says that the promise of the holy spirit had been fulfilled, just as had been predicted in acts 1.
The book of acts properly falls between the four gospels and the epistles. The holy spirit in lukes gospel in the old testament there is much to learn of the activities of the holy spirit, even from as early as the second verse of genesis, where the spirit of god moved upon the face of the waters, as gods work was about to commence to prepare the earth for mans habitation. 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. The gospel of the holy spirit part 47 ichthus007 february 16, 2020 at 3. Acts of the apostles there is no evidence that this book was titled by any divine authority, but was simply the title given to the book by early christians.
Why had the believers in samaria not received the holy. The acts of the apostles or the gospel of the holy spirit. The book of acts begins with the ascension of jesus and the coming of the holy spirit, and goes on to show how the apostles preached christ to the. In addition, margins contain two learning toolslesson objectives with their respective numbers and interactive questions that focus on key principles. The consciousness of a new faculty of thought and speech would be to them a proof that the promise of the kingdom had not failed. For the next few months, we will be exploring the book of acts in a series titled acts. The book of acts sheds light on the gift of the holy spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as our counselor. The acts of the apostles or the gospel of the holy spirit literature. Mediation and commentary on the acts of the apostles is a scholarly, yet immensley accessible, study of the acts of the apostles. When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour. Again, this is just what the gospel of john reports that jesus promised his disciples the night before he died john 15.
When we come to the acts in our holy bible reading, we meet with a history unlike any other in the world. 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 book of acts preaching source. Never, however, is baptism presented as a requirement for salvation. The gospel must first be preached to all the nations. He is convinced, and persuasively argues, that there are two main truths that luke seeks to communicate about the outpouring of the spirit. 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. On the day when the lord jesus ascended from the mount of olives he said to his disciples, but you shall receive power when the holy spirit has come upon you. All of them were filled with the holy spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the spirit enabled them.
After receiving his bachelor of arts degree from evangel university in. The earliest title for the book seems to have been simply the acts. Luke, who allegedly wrote a gospel and the acts of the apostles, has more to. Acts tells us how the holy spirit came upon the church, and how the gospel spreads from jerusalem to rome. After the holy spirit had prevented them from speaking the word in the province of asia, they traveled through the region of phrygia and galatia. For better interpretation of the acts of apostles, it is important to note that the acts of apostles is the manifestation of the fulfilment of jesus promise to his disciples that he wouldnt leave them as orphans, but that he would send them the holy spirit who would act as their guide in their mandate to preach the. Acts 2 new international version niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost.
Peter wagners complete commentary on the book of acts. The book of acts begins with the outpouring of gods promised holy spirit on the day of pentecost. The holy spirit in the books of acts research paper. How many times is holy spirit mentioned in the bible answers. In the first case, all the disciples were powerful on the day of pentecost, and they had the release, boldness. Kindle ebooks can be read on any device with the free kindle app. In the new testament alone there are some 261 passages which refer to the holy spirit. Peter and pauls preaching of the gospel to jews and gentiles. The book picks up where the gospels four accounts of jesus life and ministry leave off. 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. Among other books, he has written people of the spirit.
The holy spirits ministry explains the remarkable community of the early church. The use of the same english noun for two different greek words is misleading, but if authority be used in 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. We hope you enjoy and can benefit greatly from this study. The marvelous fact that the precise and trustworthy author of the third gospel took up his pen to record the foundation and early spread of christianity has resulted in incalculable blessing to all succeeding ages of believers. The spirit enables us to understand gods truth and empowers us for service john 16. The book of acts then gives a historical narrative of the holy spirit doing just what jesus promised he wouldspeaking to the apostles, giving them boldness to bear testimony to jesus as the crucified and risen lord, confirming the blessing of the gospel to jews, samaritans, and gentiles, and guiding and directing the church in its mission. Acts 1 new international version niv jesus taken up into heaven.
The writer of acts portrayed the holy spirit as the source of spiritual power 1. As he was walking away, i called after him, so, what was. The holy spirit in the book of acts essay 1715 words. Note that in the narrative of the book of acts the holy spirits coming sometimes preceded baptism cf. Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90, though some think a slightly earlier date is also. Harold clicked a couple of buttons and solved the problem. He is mentioned fiftysix times in the gospels, fiftyseven times in the book of acts, 112 times in the. 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. His basic outline of the spirits role is virtually identical to lukes description in acts. Alfred mcbride guides the reader through this great book of the new testament. Of the about seventy occurrences of the word pneuma in acts, fifty five refer to the holy spirit.
It opens with a greeting to theophilus, who was also the intended recipient of lukes gospel. Some have suggested, however, that not the acts of the apostles who have no major importance in the book but the acts of the. In turn, for luke, jesus was a man primarily of the spirit. Even that title, of course, was not original because acts was the second part of the gospel of luke. The holy spirit in the book of acts spirit of grace. Acts 2 niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost bible.
From the cloven tongues of fire and speaking in everyones language at pentecost, to speaking directly to many, through visions to others and healing power to many, the holy. The book of acts begins with the ascension of jesus and the coming of the holy spirit, and goes on to show how the apostles preached christ to. We may now come back to the five cases of receiving the spirit outwardly in the book of acts. The holy spirit at work in believers what to look for in the margins left margins contain numbers for units, chapters, and lessons.
The book of acts demonstrates that the holy spirit leads and empowers the church for growth and service. The baptism of the holy spirit the book of acts establishes the pattern that the holy spirit is imparted to genuine believers at the time of their conversion. The holy spirit in the book of acts thesis statement the mighty acts of the holy spirit advancing the gospel moving upon and through the church is amazing in its detail throughout this book. Holy spirit is the cornerstone of the acts of the apostles, attributed to the apostle luke. Download file to see previous pages pauls missionary journey in rome. Since my earliest days in christ i have been fascinated by the holy spirit. In acts 9, the lord appears to ananias in a vision and tells him where to find paul acts 9.
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. What acts teaches us about the advancement of the gospel. Berean literal bible and having passed through phrygia and the galatian region, having been forbidden by the holy spirit to. The power of the holy spirit to perform signs and wonders to confirm the preaching of the word c.
But you will receive power when the holy spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in jerusalem and in all judea and samaria, and to the end of the earth. 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. Even that title, of course, was not original because acts was the second part of the gospel of. Why had the believers in samaria not received the holy spirit acts 8. 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. The holy spirit at work in believers global university. The power to witness the holy spirit what do i need to know about the passage. 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 gateway. Theme verse of acts but you will receive power when the holy spirit has come upon you. The preaching of the gospel of jesus and his kingdom b. Later, the apostle paul said that he spoke in tongues more than others 1 cor. 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. Rapid evangelism resulting in the establishment of local churches. There is a conjunction between three elements as the gospel goes forth. The churchs success is vitally tied to its relationship with the spirit. The acts of the apostles, abbreviation acts, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church.
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