The acts of the apostles, abbreviation acts, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. 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. The holy spirit is the presentday advocate of jesus christ in our hearts. In the latter portion of acts, luke recorded three rejections of the jews to pauls overtures of salvation. In acts, jesus sends the holy spirit to empower his disciples as they carry. The holy spirit in the book of acts preaching source. 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. The role of the holy spirit is clearly defined in the bible, and he has a large role to play in your life. Actus apostolorum, often referred to simply as acts, or formally the book of acts, is the fifth book of the new testament. 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.
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. In turn, for luke, jesus was a man primarily of the spirit. The apostle was led by the spirit in resolving to go to jerusalem. The same thing happened with the gentiles in acts 10 and with the followers of johns baptism in ephesus acts 19. One is to edify the individual believer who exercises the gift. Brewster in partial fulfillment of the requirements for bibl364 liberty university online by robert ortiz jr. He had not only the power to preach but also the gift to present the gospel in a.
But remember the kingdom would come when the spirit came. The book picks up where the gospels four accounts of jesus life and ministry leave off. So in every case of the holy spirits 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 book of acts sheds light on the gift of the holy spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as our counselor. The spirit enables us to understand gods truth and empowers us for service john 16. The holy spirit in the book of acts about spirit of. Purposes of the book of acts reformed bible studies. The holy spirit in the book of acts essay 2476 words bartleby. Jul 16, 20 acts tells us how the holy spirit came upon the church, and how the gospel spreads from jerusalem to rome.
These transitional outpourings of the holy spirit follow the pattern of acts 1. 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. Watch our overview video on the book of acts, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Acts 2 new international version niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost. It was written by luke the same person who wrote the gospel of luke and its purpose was to document the. The holy spirit in the book of acts spirit of grace. We may now come back to the five cases of receiving the spirit outwardly in the book of acts. Before he returned to heaven, jesus said, you shall be baptized with the holy spirit but you shall receive power when the holy spirit has come upon you.
The writer of acts portrayed the holy spirit as the source of spiritual power 1. In the first case, all the disciples were powerful on the day of pentecost, and they had the release, boldness, and encouragement. Background the book of acts or the acts of the apostles is also referred to as the book of the holy spirit or just the acts of the holy spirit because of the numerous cases it portrays the work of the holy spirits. The acts of the apostles, fifth book of the new testament, a valuable history of the early christian church. The holy spirit functions as the revealer of gods truth and will. The book of acts establishes the pattern that the holy spirit is imparted to genuine believers at the time of their conversion. Instead, it repeatedly calls us to reflect upon the work of god, fulfilled in jesus christ, establishing the church by the power of the holy spirit.
My view is that the holy spirit inspired the spirit of paul. Please watch this film to find out how the holy spirit worked amazing and incredible signs and wonders through the apostles in the name of the lord jesus christ. The acts of the apostles was written by a physician named lucian in english luke. May 02, 2020 the book of acts sheds light on the gift of the holy spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as our counselor. Since my earliest days in christ i have been fascinated by the holy spirit. The book of acts describes how the first disciples of christ learned to overcome spiritual and cultural resistance.
The holy spirit speaks, leads, and guides in the book of acts. Some of the references are to the authorship of the passages cited in acts from the old testament, the statements being the holy spirit. The book of acts begins with the outpouring of gods promised holy spirit on the day of pentecost. Once the transition was completed, all that believe in christ receive the holy spirit at the moment of salvation gal. 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 gift of the holy spirit is a miraculous endowment that was given to the early church to mature it ephesians 4. 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. The acts of the apostles is the second book written by st. 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. The holy spirit was given with mighty power to inspire and motivate the 120 disciples assembled in jerusalemand later that day thousands more.
The holy spirit is able to perform this function as witness because he is a. Lynchburg, virginia august 17, 2012 table of contents introduction 2 the coming filling of the holy spirit 2 the holy spirit speaks through believers 4 the holy spirit speaks to. The book of acts course a, lesson 2 free bible study. Acts tells us how the holy spirit came upon the church, and how the gospel spreads from jerusalem to rome. You will receive power when the holy spirit comes on you. Peter wagners complete commentary on the book of acts. There are two primary purposes for speaking in tongues. Luke, who allegedly wrote a gospel and the acts of the apostles, has more to say about the spirit than any other biblical writer. 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. Luke recorded three rejections by the jews to peter and the apostles associated with him to the message of repentance and proclamation of the kingdom. Baptism and the holy spirit the book of acts in the bible is a most interesting book. 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. Holy spirit is the cornerstone of the acts of the apostles, attributed to the apostle luke.
Paul to the romans in the new testament of the bible. 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 of acts. Jul 10, 2014 the book of acts does not primarily provide us with human patterns to emulate or avoid. As the gospel began to spread to the world, the early church was confronted with spiritual and cultural barriersstrongholdsit had to overcome. However, the holy spirit in composing acts 8 does not mention speaking in. To be filled with the spirit recognizes a yieldedness on the part of the disciples to the purposes of their lord. The book of acts demonstrates that the holy spirit leads and empowers the church for growth and service. He portrays the spirit as the activity and presence of god but also as an impersonal force or power luke 5. This term especially acknowledges the availability of. 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. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Six times the holy spirit is said to be the one who speaks the truth of god.
They had experienced the holy spirit at pentecost acts 2, and now they are filled with the holy spirit acts 4. The holy spirits ministry explains the remarkable community of the early church. The holy spirit had come to continue the ministry of jesus christ. The purpose of the book of acts is governed by the jews response to peter and paul. There are various discussions on the relationship between the initial indwelling of the holy spirit and the baptism of the holy spirit explain. Luke was the only gentile writer of the new testament colossians 4. Acts was written in greek, presumably by the evangelist luke, whose gospel concludes where acts begins, namely, with christs ascension into heaven. The book of acts tells how the multiethnic, international. The life and teachings of jesus christ are established in the four gospel narratives, and the book of acts provides a coordinated account of the beginning and spread of the church as the result of the work of the risen lord and the holy spirit through the apostles. Lets make the connection of this promise to that in the old testament scriptures. The holy spirit had been given to them after jesus crucifixion john 20. The churchs success is vitally tied to its relationship with the spirit. Two terms are especially associated with this activity.
Peter clearly says that the promise of the holy spirit had been fulfilled, just as had been predicted in acts 1. Acts 5 niv ananias and sapphira now a man named bible. How great it is to so live that the holy spirit and your spirit are united and are hard to distinguish. Neither the third gospel nor the acts provide an explicit statement of authorship, but the testimony of the early church is clear, and there is internal evidence that demonstrates lucan authorship. Power, human the holy spirit, and scripture old testament claims inspiration tongue being filled. Some have suggested, however, that it does not mean the acts of the apostles, but the acts of the holy spirit instead. When jesus was nearing his trial and crucifixion, he promised his apostles that he would ask god to send them his holy spirit. Acts 2 records the miraculous giving of the holy spirit on the day of pentecost after christs death and resurrection. Note that in the narrative of the book of acts the holy spirits coming sometimes preceded baptism cf. The ones mentioned are speaking in tongues, prophesying, freely praising the great things of god, boldness and power in witness, and obedience to god. Never, however, is baptism presented as a requirement for salvation.
An interesting look at the purpose of the ruach hakodesh holy spirit as promised in acts chapter 1. The holy spirit in the book of acts essay 1715 words. Acts present the work of the holy spirit as the life line of the church. Through the conviction and power of the holy spirit, believers will not indulge the sinful acts of the flesh galatians 5.
Holy spirit many scholars insist that the doctrine of. The book of acts represents a transitional time during which the old testament age was ending and the new testament church age was beginning. Acts 2 niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost bible gateway. Why did the holy spirit work differently with four particular groups. He portrays the spirit as the activity and presence of god luke 4. Of the about seventy occurrences of the word pneuma in acts, fifty five refer to 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.
The holy spirit in acts, not only breaks down ethnic barriers, he also breaks down social barriers. Wenk argues that the point of the story about philip and the ethiopian eunuch is to demonstrate how the cultically unclean cf. That comforter is the holy spirit who had now come to glorify jesus, to speak in behalf of jesus, and to live in the believers. Cottam united church it all begins with the holy spirit. 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. Liberty university the holy spirit in the book of acts a research paper submitted to professor p. Jesus wanted the holy spirit also to be sent to anyone else who believes in him, in jesus. What was the purpose of each instance of holy spirit baptism. However, when luke says the spirit, rather than my spirit, he may have had the holy spirit in mind. Listen carefully to the words of jesus, the baptizer, the chief shepherd. Courage and strength god, power of the spirit of god sin made known injustice, examples of the holy spirit, and preaching acting for oneself.
Sep 03, 2015 the holy spirit in acts, not only breaks down ethnic barriers, he also breaks down social barriers. Acts 5 new international version niv ananias and sapphira. Acts 2 niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost bible. Acts was apparently written in rome, perhaps between ad 70 and 90, though some think a slightly earlier. He was a companion of paul and reflected paul, who saw the risen christ. The holy spirit in the book of acts essay 2476 words. The work of the holy spirit in a christians life is an ongoing process of becoming holy through sanctification. May 10, 2014 please watch this film to find out how the holy spirit worked amazing and incredible signs and wonders through the apostles in the name of the lord jesus christ.
May 28, 2019 the work of the holy spirit in a christians life is an ongoing process of becoming holy through sanctification. 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. The signs or miracles that were evident at the advent of the holy spirit were three. Reading the book of acts, we are enlightened and encouraged by the power of the gospel as it spread throughout the world and transformed lives.
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