The working of the Holy Spirit in the world enters a whole new dimension with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, as the Book of Acts describes:<\/p>\n
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
\n(Acts 2:1-4)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe consideration of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament can therefore be split into two separate periods:<\/p>\n
\n
- the period of the Gospels\u00a0 (the time before Pentecost)<\/li>\n
- the period of the Book of Acts\u00a0 (the time after Pentecost)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
1. The Holy Spirit in the Gospels.<\/span><\/strong>
\nIn the study \u2018The beginning and the end of the O.T. and the N.T.\u2019<\/span><\/a> we explained that the New Testament is named after the \u2018New covenant\u2019 in the blood of Jesus. In principle the New Testament begins therefore with the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ.
\nIt can thus be stated that Jesus Himself was still living in the Old Testament.<\/p>\nThe work of the Holy Spirit in the Gospels is thus still under the \u2018Old covenant\u2019, or Old Testament, in the same way as is described in the study \u2018The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament\u2019<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n
2. The Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts.<\/span><\/strong>
\nJesus promised the new work of the Holy Spirit for the time following His ascension.
\nHe said:<\/p>\nIt is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate<\/strong> will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
\n(John 16:7)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThis new work of the Holy Spirit in the world begins with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost therefore.
\nThe Holy Spirit has been active in the world in a new way from that moment on.
\nThis new work is described in the Book of Acts, from chapter 2 onwards.<\/p>\nThe Holy Spirit in the Gospels.<\/span><\/h3>\n
General:<\/strong><\/span>
\nAt the time of the Gospels the Holy Spirit was still active as in the Old Testament:<\/p>\nFor the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.\u00a0\u00a0 (2 Chronicles 16:9)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
And, just as in the Old Testament, the Gospels describe how the Holy Spirit was active in certain people.<\/p>\n
In the life of John the Baptist.<\/strong><\/span>
\nWhen announcing the birth of John the Baptist the angel Gabriel told Zachariah:<\/p>\nHe (John) will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit<\/strong> even before he is born.\u00a0\u00a0 (Luke 1:15)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
At John the Baptist\u2019s circumcision.<\/strong><\/span>
\nWhen John was circumcised eight days after his birth, and his father, Zachariah, confirmed on a writing tablet that he was to be named John:<\/p>\n\u2026 his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.\u00a0\u00a0 (Luke 1:64)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit<\/strong> and prophesied \u2026\u00a0\u00a0 (Luke 1:67)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
In the life of Mary.<\/strong><\/span>
\nLuke reports an exceptional operation of the Holy Spirit in the life of Mary.
\nWhen the angel Gabriel announced to her that she was to become pregnant of a son, she asked:<\/p>\nHow will this be, since I am a virgin?\u00a0\u00a0 (Luke 1:34)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
To which Gabriel answered:<\/p>\n
The Holy Spirit will come on you<\/strong>, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.\u00a0\u00a0 (Luke 1:35)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
When Mary met Elisabeth, John\u2019s mother.<\/strong><\/span>
\nWhen announcing the birth of Jesus the angel Gabriel had told Mary:<\/p>\nEven Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.\u00a0\u00a0 (Luke 1:36-37)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Because Elisabeth was the only person who could confirm to Mary what she was told:<\/p>\n
Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea.\u00a0\u00a0 (Luke 1:39)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
… where she entered Zechariah\u2019s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary\u2019s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit<\/strong>. In a loud voice she exclaimed: \u201cBlessed are you …\u00a0\u00a0 (Luke 1:40-43)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Following the birth of Jesus.<\/strong><\/span>
\nJoseph and Mary brought Jesus to the temple 33 (+7) days after His birth, according to the law on purification from Leviticus 12:2-8.
\nSimeon came and stood by them in the temple.<\/p>\nNow there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit<\/strong> that he would not die before he had seen the Lord\u2019s Messiah.\u00a0\u00a0 (Luke 2:25-26)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Jesus receives the Holy Spirit.<\/strong><\/span>
\nJohn the Baptist was to recognise the promised Messiah by His receiving the Holy Spirit, as he said:<\/p>\nI myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, \u2018The man on whom you see the Spirit<\/strong> come down and remain is the one<\/strong> Before \u2026\u00a0\u00a0 (John 1:33)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Jesus came to John to be baptised before He began His public ministry.<\/p>\n
As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God<\/strong> descending like a dove and alighting on him (Jesus).\u00a0\u00a0 (Matthew 3:16)
\n(see also: Mark 1:10\u00a0– Luke 3:21-22\u00a0– John 1:32)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nWhy was Jesus baptised?<\/strong><\/span>
\nOn the Great Day of Atonement<\/span><\/a> the high priest had to lay aside his high priest\u2019s garments and bathe in water, to offer the first sacrifices of that day like an ordinary priest.<\/p>\nLikewise Jesus, as the future new high priest, laid aside His glory in heaven and had Himself\u00a0 baptised by John, thereby fulfilling the first act of the law on the Great Day of Atonement.<\/p>\n
Paul writes that Jesus:<\/p>\n
\u2026\u00a0 did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage (interpretation: did not want to hold on to it); rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 (Philippians 2:6-7)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Jesus, His disciples and the Holy Spirit.<\/span><\/h3>\n
When one reads the Gospels it appears as if the disciples never really understood who Jesus was, even though they believed Him to be the Messiah.
\nThrough divine revelation Peter even said:<\/p>\nYou are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.\u00a0\u00a0 (Matthew 16:16)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
However, when He was taken prisoner, all the disciples left Jesus in the lurch and Peter denied Him as many as three times afterwards.<\/p>\n
Jesus sought out His disciples the day He rose from the dead, as John describes:<\/p>\n
On the evening of that first day of the week \u2026 Jesus came and stood among them and said, \u201cPeace be with you!\u201d \u2026 Again Jesus said, \u201cPeace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.\u201d And with that he breathed on them and said, \u201cReceive the Holy Spirit<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 (John 20:19-22)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Luke also describes what happened that evening.
\nOn the day of the resurrection two men from Emmaus had met Jesus on their way home. When they finally recognised Him they hurried back to Jerusalem to tell this to the disciples.<\/p>\nWhile they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them \u2026\u00a0\u00a0 (Luke 24:36)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
He said to them, \u201cThis is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.\u201d Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 (Luke 24:44-45)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
John and Luke both describe what happened that evening.<\/p>\n
The day Jesus rose from the dead He met the disciples and breathed on them<\/strong>, so that they would receive the Holy Spirit. He thereby opened their minds<\/strong>, so that they would understand the Scriptures.
\nJesus had said of the Holy Spirit:<\/p>\nWhen he (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will prove the world<\/strong> to be in the wrong \u2026 because people do not believe in me.\u00a0\u00a0 (John 16:8-9)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The disciples also needed this operation of the Holy Spirit therefore, in order to be convinced of whom Jesus really was.<\/p>\n
Jesus promised them still more at that time, however, i.e. the deeper experience of the Holy Spirit, who was to come upon<\/strong> and give them power<\/strong>.
\nThe same evening He told them:<\/p>\nI am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed<\/span> with power<\/span> from on high<\/strong>.
\n(Luke 24:49)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts.<\/span><\/h3>\n
This promise of Jesus was fulfilled 10 days after His resurrection, on the Day of Pentecost.<\/p>\n
This is the beginning of the new work of the Holy Spirit in the world, as a consequence of the \u2018New Covenant\u2019 in the blood of Jesus, as this is described in the Book of Acts<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n
See also the study: The baptism in the Holy Spirit<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n
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