Joel's Remarkable Prophecy of the Outpouring of the Spirit

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

The Context: The events of Acts 2

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

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

Considering Objections

“The gift of the Spirit” is not the same things as “gifts of the Spirit”.

“Gift of the Spirit” 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. (Acts 10:45) “If God therefore gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11:17)

“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 10:47) “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He did upon us at the beginning. “And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ “If God therefore gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” (Acts 11:15-17)

“The gift of the Holy Spirit” is promised to all who are baptized for all time.

For all believers for all time? The outpouring of the Spirit would be coordinate with “signs and wonders” “before the great and notable day of the Lord”. Joel says that those who survive “the day” are those “whom the Lord calls” (Joel 2:32) Thus, “as many as the Lord calls” does not mean all believers for all time, but the believing remnant who lived “before the day of the Lord”.

For all believers for all time? Ac. 2:39 is parallel to Mk. 16:17—”these signs will follow those who believe”. Though appearing to speak about all believers, the context speaks only of those baptized by the apostles and makes no statement about spiritual gifts lasting to the end of time. Later NT revelation would clarify the scope of God’s promise of the Spirit in both Mk. 16:17 and Ac. 2:39 and show that the promise had limitations based on God’s sovereign purposes for the church.

“There is no mention of disciples in Jerusalem exercising spiritual gifts.”

The Witness of the Spirit in all who obey “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” (Acts 5:32) Peter’s argument is that there are two distinct witnesses to the resurrection of Christ: –The human testimony of the apostles –The divine testimony of the Spirit in those who obey the gospel How did the Spirit testify of Jesus’ resurrection?

Specifically Named Disciples are “Full of the Spirit” “But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. (Acts 6:3) And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. (Acts 6:8) How and where did Stephen get this outpouring?

And the multitudes with one accord were giving attention to what was said by Philip, as they heard and saw the signs which he was performing. (Acts 8:6) Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. (Acts 21:9) “for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. (Acts 11:24)

Apostolic eagerness to impart the Spirit to other converts Why would the apostles make the journey to Samaria to lay hands upon the new converts there in order for them to receive the Spirit, but not do that in Jerusalem? For I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; (Romans 1:11)

Ac. 2:38 and Ac. 5:32 are in full harmony with the other texts in Acts that speak about “receiving [the gift of] the Spirit”. It is best to consider these texts as a limited promise to those who heard the truth at Pentecost and a statement about them, not a prophecy of a “non- miraculous reception of the Spirit” by all believers for all time.