Joel's Remarkable Prophecy of the Outpouring of the Spirit

Applying the Message about the Outpouring of the Spirit Today

1. Acknowledge the manifest miraculous nature of the outpouring of the Spirit

2. Understand that this outpouring ceased

3. Acknowledge that what the Spirit accomplished through NT revelation and confirmation can still have an affect in the present

4. Acknowledge that reading about the miraculous work of the Spirit in the NT is not a disadvantage to experiencing it personally nor is it an affirmation that the Spirit no longer works

What is the “gift of the Holy Spirit” in Ac. 2:38-39?

And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself.” (Acts 2:38-39)

The Background: The promise of Jesus

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. “He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. “And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it shall not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)

“And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)

The Context: The events of Acts 2

but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: (Acts 2:16) “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. (Acts 2:33)

Two reasons for promising the outpouring of the Spirit to everyone ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams; Even upon My bondslaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit and they shall prophesy. (Acts 2:17-18) These signs shall follow them who believe…

The language of Peter: Appropriation of the words of Joel’s prophecy

Parallel Concepts Joel said: “You sons and daughters will prophecy” Peter says, “The promise is to you and your children”

Parallel Concepts Joel said that the promise of the Spirit would be for the survivors “whom the Lord calls”. Peter says, “even as many as the Lord our God shall call”.

Parallel Concepts Coordinate with signs and wonders “before the great and notable day of the Lord” that would fall upon Israel Peter says, “save yourselves from this perverse generation.”

The Larger Context: Luke’s consistent language in describing the experience of the outpouring

The Language of Luke And all the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” (Acts 10:45-47)

Four Parallel Terms Speaking in tongues Received the Holy Spirit The gift of the Holy Spirit Poured out

The Language of Luke Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-17)

The Language of Luke and he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” (Ac. 19:2) And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. (Acts 19:6)