The Holy Spirit in Matthew through Acts Introduction In our Old Testament study, we saw the Holy Spirit revealing God’s will, equipping men for service, facilitating God’s work, providing signs, and pouring out blessings. We will see that He continued to do the same work in the New Testament. As we will study the Holy Spirit in the gospels and Acts, we will see His involvement with John the Baptist, with Jesus, with the Apostles, with those whom the Apostles laid hands on, and with all Christians of all times. Along the way, we will discuss some topics that always are of particular interest regarding the Holy Spirit, the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and being filled with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist - empowered for work Lk 1: his testimony about the Christ Lk 3:15-17; Jn 1:29-34 Jesus - conceived of the Holy Spirit Lk 1: Holy Spirit came on Him at His baptism just prior to His ministry Lk 3: led around by the Holy Spirit to be tempted Lk 4:1-2; Mk 1:12 (impelled); cp. other facilitating Acts 8:29,39; 16: began His ministry empowered by the Holy Spirit Lk 4:14-15; Jn 3:34-35; Acts 10:38; Mk 3:22-30 To attribute the Holy Spirit’s work to an unclean spirit = blasphemy. This is unforgivable because the speaker has considered the evidence for Jesus and its source (the Holy Spirit) and has attributed the Spirit’s power to Satan. This person will remain in their sins. But a person may ignorantly speak against Jesus and then change their mind about Him when presented with the evidence, obey Him, and be forgiven (Saul 1 Tim 1:12-13). Apostles - Jesus tells them how the Holy Spirit will help them after He goes to heaven: Jn 14:26- teach all things (16:12-15), bring to remembrance all that Jesus said; testify about Him 15:26 - Jesus promises to baptize them with the Holy Spirit to empower them as His witnesses- Lk 24:49; Acts 1:5,8 - Jesus baptized them with the Holy Spirit as evidenced by what was seen and heard in Acts 2:1-4; 1) empowering them for the work of witnessing, 2) signifying the time of the outpouring of blessings (cp. Isa 44:3) on all mankind had arrived Acts 2:16-21 (Joel 2:28-32; Rom 10:12-13) and 3) signifying that Jesus was on the throne- Acts 2:33.

One other case of Holy Spirit directly falling on men by Jesus’ baptism: Cornelius (Acts 10-11) - only point of reference for what happened that day- “just as He did upon us at the beginning” (Acts 11:15-16)- shows that Jesus was not baptizing all Christians with the Holy Spirit. - sign that God would save the Gentiles 10:44-48; 11:17-18; 15:8-9 (cleansed by faith; shown by repentance and baptism) Men received Holy Spirit indirectly, by laying on of apostles’ hands (miraculously empowered them) - converts in Samaria Acts 8:6-8; “Simon saw the Spirit was bestowed” is further explained in Acts converts in Ephesus Acts 19:1-7 shows this was common practice and that miracles resulted. - in the N.T. letters this ties in with the receiving of spiritual gifts Rom 1:11; 2 Tim 1:6 (cp. his commissioning by the elders 1 Tim 4:14 with Moses commissioning Joshua- Num 27:18-19); 1 Cor 12:4-11 (gifts enumerated) Gift of the Holy Spirit; Receiving the Holy Spirit -by laying on of apostles, Spirit “fell”, men “received the Spirit” and the “gift of God”; - Acts 8:14-20; 2 Tim 1:6 -by Holy Spirit baptism, Spirit “fell”, the “gift of the Holy Spirit” was poured out on men who “received the Holy Spirit” Acts 10:45, 47; 11:16-17; 15:8 -He is the gift received by all Christians of all times Lk 11:13; Jn 7:37-39; Acts 2:38-39; 5:32 -solution for the varied answers? Holy Spirit, who is the Giver is pictured also as the gift (by metonymy); Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit and receiving the Holy Spirit are one and the same. Receiving the Holy Spirit is a strong figure of speech indicating that this Divine person (with all His power and ability to bless) is given to the believer. The specific blessings the Holy Spirit gives vary according to the purpose of God (as is reflected in each context) Filled with the Holy Spirit - in context of being filled miraculously Acts 2:4; 4:8 (fulfilling Mk 13:11); 7:55; 9:17 (cp. Gal 1:16-18); 13: in context of being filled with the Spirit’s influence (notice effects mentioned in each case)Acts 6:3,5; 11:24; 13:52; cp. Eph 5:18 & Col 3:16 to see how He influences the Christian. Invitation: You must be born again (from above) of the water and the Spirit Jn 3:5-8; 1 Pet 1:22-25; Eph 5:26; Tit 3:5; See Mk 4:26-29 for the Holy Spirit’s invisible work in a person’s heart from conversion to maturity.