Joel 2:28, Promise of the Father, Baptism of the Holy Spirit, Gift of the Holy Spirit

The Indwelling “Gift of the Holy Spirit”: Acts 2:38-39

"Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “For the [miraculous] promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself [when we apostles lay our hands on you in the future].”" (Acts 2:38-39)

The Gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38-39

Introduction:

A. Defining the GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: Acts 2:38-39

1. The Gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38 is the miraculous endowment of supernatural power in nine different categories listed in 1 Cor 12: Knowledge, Wisdom, Faith, Prophecy, Miracles, Healing, Distinguishing of Spirits, Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues. These 9 gifts have existed in both the Old and New Testament. All the patriarchs including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob directly communicated with God and functioned as prophets. Joseph saw dreams and was a prophet, Moses performed miracles, David had the gift of prophecy, Solomon had the gift of wisdom, Bezalel had two gifts: knowledge and wisdom. Elijah and Elijah each had two gifts: The gifts of miracles and healings. Balaam’s donkey spoke miraculously in the supernatural gift of tongues! Elisha may have had the gift of interpretation of tongues by interpreting the Aramaic language ambush plans spoken by the king of Damascus in his bedroom for the Hebrew speaking king of Israel (2 Kings 6:12). The same gifts we find in the New Testament, we see in the Old Testament.

2. Joel 2:28 was written in 588 BC, one year before Solomon’s temple was destroyed by the Babylonians and burned by the Edomites. It was a primary messianic prophecy of when the “common folk” would be supernaturally endowed by the Holy Spirit. What was unique about the New Testament era in contrast to the Old Testament, was not WHAT supernatural powers were given but WHO the supernatural powers were given to. The first recorded miracle performed by a man was Moses when his staff turned into a snake (Ex 4:1). Subsequent “spirit filled” men who had the miraculous indwelling of the Holy Spirit tended to leaders who performed specialized jobs like Bezalel (Exodus 31:2-3), judges, kings or prophets. Starting at Pentecost AD 33, a completely new and unique group of God’s people would be given supernatural power: “Young, old, male and female slaves”. In this new way, “the Spirit was not yet given” (Jn 7:39), even though the 70 disciples had been empowered for a time when they preached the gospel 2x2 (Luke 10:17-20). Jesus promised that after He ascended and was glorified (Jn 7:39) that He would send the supernatural Holy Spirit, which he called the “Comforter/Helper/Advocate” (Jn 14,15,16). Acts 2:33 confirms Jesus sent the Comforter when the Apostles were baptized in the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost as evidenced in the miraculous speaking of tongues. Peter connects the miracle of tongues with Joel’s prophecy (Acts 2:17) for his audience, then surprised them by saying that the miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit you see in us, is also for you too (Acts 2:38)! To suggest that Peter’s listeners would have understood the promise that they would received the “Gift of the Holy Spirit” as anything other than miraculous is absurd. They directly connected the Gift of the Holy Spirit with the miracles they witnessed in the Apostles that day.

3. Every Bible character in Old and New Testament who possessed supernatural power had been “baptized in the Holy Spirit”, had the “indwelling of the Holy Spirit” and were recipients of the “promise of the comforter” made by Jesus. When you realize that full water immersion (baptism) was widely practiced every Sabbath before entering synagogues as early as 280 BC, it becomes natural for Jesus to employ baptism as a new metaphor for the same supernatural endowment which is seen in Moses, Samuel, Daniel, David and Elijah. An old power was given a new name, or in this case, a new metaphor!

4. To limit the miraculous “Comforter” to the apostles becomes impossible when every detail is seen fulfilled in non-apostles. To neuter the miraculous out of the Comforter promise and morph it into some non-miraculous indwelling is an egregious contradiction of the context. What we see in John 14,15,16 is the miraculous, what we do not see is the non-miraculous personal indwelling. The fact that Jesus says that the Holy Spirit “will be in you [miraculously]” (John 14:17) merely echoes numerous Old Testament examples of the supernatural indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

5. The Apostles, Philip and his four daughters, Cornelius and the tongue speakers in Corinth all had:

a. The personal miraculous indwelling of the Holy Spirit

b. The baptism of the Holy Spirit miraculously (Acts 1:5; 11:15-16)

c. The comforter/Helper miraculously

d. The Gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 10:44-45) which simply cannot be anything BUT miraculous.

6. Stop overcomplicated a simple thing. The first century church was a miraculously “Spirit filled church”. Every single Christian from AD 33 to 100 either personally possessed or had personally witnessed the miraculous many times. It should not surprise us then, that the New Testament is filled with references to the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.

7. In AD 1834 Alexander Campbell had the exact correct view of the Gift of the Holy Spirit as a miraculous indwelling of the Holy Spirit as promised by Joel. While some historians today wrongly say Campbell changed his view later in life, it must be noted that Campbell himself never wrote ANYTHING to the contrary to the day he died in AD 1866. These revisionist historians falsely claim that Campbell later changed his view to the Gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38 being the personal indwelling. Their proof comes from quotations of others who say in effect, “Campbell certainly believed in the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit”. What they leave out is the fact that Campbell’s personal indwelling was miraculous! These historians conflate their non-miraculous indwelling with Campbell’s miraculous indwelling then claim he changed his view. However, as you can see below, Campbell indeed correctly understood that the miraculous Gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38 was the Holy Spirit Himself! These historians should be ashamed as such a vulgar and sloppy re-writing of history.

a. Here are Campbell’s own words:

b. “We have this phrase, the gift of the Holy Spirit, as has been said, but twice, in all the apostolic writings–Acts ii. 38 and x. 45, both of which denote all that is comprehended in the promise of Joel, the Holy Spirit in all his miraculous powers. It is, indeed (Acts viii. 20), called ‘the gift [dorea] of God;’ and that gift, mentioned Acts x. 45, compared with that mentioned Acts ii. 28, is called by Peter (Acts xi. 17) ‘ten isen dorean’, the same gift. Although, as has been said, this is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel, it is also represented as the Holy Spirit himself. See Acts viii. 15, 17, 19, from which it is very evident that, in the judgment of Peter, John and Simon, this gift was regarded as the Holy Spirit himself; and is also called ‘the gift of God.’ From all which the following conclusion is inevitable, that the phrase, ‘the gift of the Holy Spirit,’ means the Holy Spirit himself given, as foretold by Joel, and vouchsafed to Jews and Gentiles at the erection of the kingdom of the Messiah, and on their admission into it. But a question may here arise concerning what influences, or divine powers, the Holy Spirit displayed on the bodies, souls and spirits of those who received this gift, or in whom he made his abode.” (Millennial Harbinger, Gift of the Holy Spirit, Alexander Campbell, Vol 4, 170-172, 1834 AD)

8. For those today who claim to attend a miraculously “Spirit filled church” we offer this advice:

a. “Show me”: Apostle Paul told fakes and frauds who claim supernatural power to “show me the power not the words”. Today’s Charismatics and Pentecostals are fakes and frauds who need to stop merely claiming power but proving just like Paul said. Until then SHUT UP, for you are under direct condemnation of God for claiming to be “Spirit filled” or a prophet when you are not.

b. Stop deluding yourself. You have never seen a single miracle performed in your “Spirit filled church”. Constant claims of supernatural power by your preacher or members in the audience are mere words. Smacking someone on the head who falls backwards into the waiting hands of a “catcher” is not a miracle because anyone can do it. Speaking in tongues as gibberish (conveniently never a human language but always called a heavenly language so it is always “unconfirmable”) is not a miracle because many occult non-Christian world religions also “speak in tongues [gibberish]” in exactly the same way.

c. Read 1 Cor 13:8-13.

B. There are three interpretations of the indwelling “Gift of the Holy Spirit” in Acts 2:38:

1. TRUTH: The GIFT of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38 is the Holy Spirit Himself who indwells by metonymy as supernatural gifts.

a. This personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit ceased in the first century and does not exist today: 1 Co3 13:8-13.

b. The Holy Spirit gives one of the nine spiritual gifts of 1 Cor 12 to the Christian through the laying on of the Apostles hands: Knowledge, Wisdom, Faith, Prophecy, Miracles, Healing, Distinguishing of Spirits, Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues.

c. Although the Holy Spirit is literally giving a gift of supernatural power to the Christian, it is described by metonymy as receiving the Holy Spirit Himself.

d. The Holy Spirit indwells the Christian miraculously the same way he indwelt Old Testament saints.

e. The gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38 is not an automatic consequence of repentance of Baptism for the remission of sins.

f. The Greek word for and (kai) has “has three chief meanings, “and,” “also,” “even.”” (Vine) and is used in the Bible in two different ways: Conjunctive and narrative.

i. Conjunctive: Binding two things to bring a result: Repent and Be baptized for the remission of sins.

ii. Narrative: The Bible uses the word AND at the begging of many new paragraphs and new thoughts which disconnects it with the previous thought. Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. |NEW THOUGHT/PARAGRAPH| And you will relieve the gift of the Holy Spirit. (at a future time when we lay our hands on you and impart spiritual gifts).

iii. Narrative examples of KAI (and) are very numerous but here are a few in Acts at the beginning of the verses noted: Chapter 1 verses 9,10,19,23,24,26. Chapter 2 verses 2,3,4,8,17 (4 times),19,21,45. Chapter 3 verses 2,7,9,16,17,20.

iv. Both the KJV and NASB retain the narrative “and” structure at the beginning of many verses in the book of Acts.

v. Many translations put a period after “sins” in Acts 2:38, which means even the translators understood that the gift of the Holy Spirit was not a direct and immediate conjunctive result of repenting and begin baptized.

g. Spiritual gifts ceased around AD 100 when the canon of the Bible was completed and the last apostle died as per 1 Cor 13:8-13.

h. The Gift of the Holy Spirit is not a promise for Christians today.

2. FALSE #1: The GIFT of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38 is the Holy Spirit Himself who indwells the Christian literally.

a. The Holy Spirit personally, literally and physically locates Himself inside (indwells) the Christian.

b. Personal indwelling advocates are found in both liberal and conservative churches:

i. The majority view within most “conservative” local churches rejects the doctrine of the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

ii. The majority view within most “liberal” local churches is the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

c. Two opposite categories.

i. Those who worship in “conservative” churches and advocate a personal indwelling believe the indwelling Holy Spirit does nothing at all but is simply residing inside the Christians.

ii. Those who worship in “liberal” churches and advocate a personal indwelling believe the personal literal indwelling of the Holy Spirit assists them to be holy and interpret the Bible correctly.

d. Here is a graphical breakdown of the Personal Indwelling teaching within churches:

Conservatives generally reject the personal indwelling and Liberals tend to advocate it
Position	Conservative Churches	Liberal Churches
Percentage who advocate the personal indwelling view within a local church.	10%	99%
Percentage who advocate the personal indwelling view AND believe the HS helps them interpret the Bible and keep from sinning within a local church.	1% of the 10%	90% of the 99%
Conclusions: 1. Within any local conservative congregation the majority generally reject the personal indwelling doctrine. 2. Within most liberal congregations the personal indwelling is almost the unanimous view. 3. Conservatives almost unanimously reject the personal indwelling helps interpret scripture or in living godly lives. 4. Liberals almost unanimously teach the Holy Spirit assists them in both “keeping oneself unstained from the world” and in correctly interpreting scripture.

3. FALSE #2: The GIFT of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38 is salvation and or the promise of Abraham, given by the Holy Spirit who symbolically “indwells only through the word of God”.

a. First, we have seen that in both the Old and New Testaments, that men who are supernaturally empowered as said to have the “holy Spirit indwelling them”. So even if the Gift in Acts 2:38 is and indwelling through the word, other verses show that that Holy Spirit also indwells miraculously.

b. Second, we are all familiar with the chart where the Holy Spirit and the word are demonstrated to have the same functionality in order to conclude that the Holy Spirit dwells only through the word of God. This chart tells us HOW the Holy Spirit works through the word instrumentally, not how he INDWELLS through the word metaphorically.

c. This view is founded upon the parallel between Ephesians 5:18 and Colossians 3:16 where the indwelling of the word and the Spirit are synoptic. The problem is that being “filled with the Spirit” in Eph 5:18 could easily be miraculous as seen in 2 Timothy 1:6 where Timothy is told, “to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands”. This brings us right back to Acts 2:38 being miraculous.

C. Chart: “Measures of the Holy Spirit” (This is a false chart. Stop using it!)

1. First taught over 150 years ago, known as the “Measures of the Holy Spirit” theology and based upon a mistranslation of the KJV in Jn 3:34, this chart was popularized into countless “bed sheet sermons”, handouts and overhead charts to create a nice neat sermon for Sunday morning:

a. Jesus had the Holy Spirit without measure based upon John 3:34 of the KJV

b. the Apostles had the Baptismal measure

c. the Corinthians had the spiritual gifts miraculous measure

d. and finally, the non-miraculous indwelling ordinary measure (personal indwelling or symbolically through the word).

2. A popular false doctrine called the “Four Measures of the Holy Spirit” is to be totally rejected because it was based upon a mistranslation of the KJV in Jn 3:34 by the insertion of the italicized words “unto Him”, which is lacking in the Greek. The actual reading teaches that God gives the Holy Spirit to EVERYONE “generously”, or without measure which is exactly opposite to the “Measures” doctrine. Invented in the early 19^th century (AD 1825), the “Measures of the Holy Spirit” teaches that Jesus was given an “unlimited measure” of the Holy Spirit, followed by the lesser “apostolic measure”, then the lesser yet “miraculous measure” given to ordinary Christians, and finally the “non-miraculous indwelling measure” that every Christian gets. Its all bogus!

3. We know for certain that the apostles performed “greater miracles” than Jesus from Jn 14:12. Every type or class of miracle that Jesus performed was also performed by the Apostles. Interpreting the “greater things” the apostles would do as “soul saving” is absurd because both Jesus and the apostles “saved souls” before the cross (Luke 10:1) and it violates the immediate context of the coming “Comforter” (Jn 14,15,16). This fact alone refutes the interpretation of Jn 3:34 that Jesus had the Holy Spirit “without measure”, meaning that Jesus was “greater” supernaturally endowed than the apostles.

a. And for those who begin chortling because in their mind, the idea that the Apostles had greater supernatural powers than Jesus, somehow detracts from His eternal uncreated deity, they need reminding that John 3:34 clearly says that the Holy spirit was GIVEN to Jesus (cf. Phil 2:6-10). What this all means is that some ordinary non-apostle Christians like Philip, may have had a “greater” supernatural endowment than Jesus and/or some of the apostles.

b. When you throw out the false “Measures of the Holy Spirit” chart, you realize the truth that the Holy Spirit imparted supernatural on an individual basis (1 Cor 12:7).

4. The false doctrine of the “measures of the Holy Spirit” is the foundation which supports the false doctrine of the “personal non-miraculous indwelling of the Holy Spirit”. Like dominoes, they both stand or fall together!

a. The entire structure is based upon a false reading of italicised words in the KJV of John 3:34 to wrongly imply that the Holy Spirit was given TO JESUS without measure. “God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him” (KJV). The key words UNTO HIM are lacking in the Greek.

b. The verse actually says that God gives the spirit without measure TO EVERYONE. “for He gives the Spirit without measure.” (NASB)

c. Brethren continue to use this chart today, not even understanding the entire theological framework rests upon a single bible verse (John 3:34) that says EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE to what the chart suggests.

d. The chart says that the Holy Spirit was given in an unlimited measure, implying the Holy Spirit is given to men in lesser measures.

e. John 3:34 actually says that God gives EVERYONE the Holy Spirit without measure.

f. “Without measure” is a figure of speech like saying “He gives the Holy Spirit like the sand of seashore or the stars in the sky”.

g. Jn 3:34 is simply as saying “God does not give the Holy Spirit sparingly”.

5. “Measures of the Holy Spirit” theology also falsely teaches that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is restricted to the Apostles only.

a. It creates a false dichotomy which differentiates the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a special class of miraculous endowment limited to the apostles, when it really applies to any Christian who has any of the 9 supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit which was imparted through the laying on of the apostle’s hands.

b. This doctrine of limiting the “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” to the apostles ONLY was a false theology developed last century to refute modern day Pentecostals and Charismatics who claim to have miraculous power of the Holy Spirit like the first century church.

c. It was never successful in countering charismatics, but it distorted the theology of the brethren in its wake and mislead hundreds of thousands into error.

I. Outpouring of the Spirit: Joel 2:28

A. The outpouring of the Spirit upon OT Jews

1. The metaphor of “outpouring” is like standing under a waterfall of supernatural power.

2. The Holy Spirit had been poured out upon Old Testament saints:

a. Prov 1:23 Turn to my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.

b. Ezek 39:29 I will not hide My face any longer, for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel

3. “Poured out” is part of a collection of metaphors that indicate miraculous empowerment:

Old Testament Metaphors of Miraculous Gifts: Num 11:29 “Would that all the LORD'S people were prophets, that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them”
Metaphor of Miraculous	Text
Indwelling: filled with spirit	Exod 31:3; + 36:1-2; 35:31; Deut 34:9; Micah 3:8
Indwelling: Spirit entered me	Ezek 2:2; 3:24
Indwelling: Spirit within, in	Dan 4:9,18; 5:14; 1 Pe 1:11 speaking of OT prophets
Spirit rested upon him	Num 11:17,25-26,29; (Jesus: Isa 11:2)
Fall upon; came upon	Num 24:2; Judg 6:34; 3:10 11:29; 14:6,19; 15:14; 1 Sam 10:6,10;11:6; 16:13; 19:20,23; 1 Chr 12:18; 2 Chr 15:1; 20:14; 24:20; Isa 59:21; Ezek 11:5; (Jesus: 42:1;61:1)
Gift/Given Spirit to instruct	Neh 9:20
don’t take Holy Spirit from me	Ps 51:11 (David the prophet, Spirit had been taken from Saul); Ezek 2:2; 3:24; Dan 4:9,18; 5:14; 1 Pe 1:11
Spirit fell upon me	Ezek 11:5
Anointing	1 Sam 16:13, Acts 10:38 (Jesus)

B. The prophetic outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus the Messiah

1. Just as Old Testament Jews had the miraculous “outpouring” of the Holy Spirit, the same was promised to Jesus the Messiah:

OT Prophecy	Quoted/fulfilled in NT
Isa 11:2 the Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel, strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD	Jn 1:32-33 I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.
Isa 42:1 My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him	Mt 12:18 Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen; My Beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased; I will put My Spirit upon Him
Isa 61:1-2 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners. To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn	Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden

2. Four metaphors are used to describe the miraculous power given to Jesus:

a. “rest upon”

b. “put upon”

c. “is upon”

d. “anointed”

3. While the metaphor used by Joel 2:28 “Poured upon” is not used of Jesus, this is semantical and irrelevant.

a. Moses had the miraculous Holy Spirit “upon him” in Numbers 11:17

b. The holy Spirit miraculously “rested upon” Eldad and Medad and they prophesied in Numbers 11:25-26.

c. David was anointed by Samuel and the Holy Spirit “came upon” him miraculously, “mightily” in 1 Samuel 16:13

C. The supernatural outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Christians:

1. Joel 2:28 prophesied the miraculous experience of the first century church known as the “apostolic age” AD 33 – 100.

2. Joel 2:28 prophesied the supernatural empowerment of Christians that began on Pentecost:

a. Joel 2:28 was the “promise of the Father”. (Acts 1:4) “Wait in Jerusalem for what the Father promised”.

b. Joel 2:28 prophesied the miraculous baptism of the Holy Spirit spoken by John (Mt 3:11), Jesus (Acts 1:5) and Peter (Acts 11:16).

c. Joel 2:28 prophesied the miraculous Comforter/Helper promised by Jesus in John 14,15,16. When Jesus promised the “Comforter” who would “guide you into all truth” this directly echoed Joel 2:28 and they are one and the same prophecy which “began” to be fulfilled miraculously on the day of Pentecost AD 33 and continued throughout the apostolic age.

d. Joel 2:28 prophesied the miraculous Gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38 and 10:45.

OT Prophecy	Quoted & fulfilled in NT
Joel 2:28 "And it will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.	Acts 2:17 `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
Isa 44:3 “For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants”	Jn 7:38-39 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, `From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.'" But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified. (Fulfilled in Acts 2:33 )
Zech 12:10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him	Jn 19:37 And again another Scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they pierced."
Other OT Prophecies	General NT Fulfillment
Isa 59:21 And as for Me, this is My covenant with them," says the LORD: "My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring's offspring," says the LORD, "from now and forever." Isa 32:1,15 Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fertile field and the fertile field is considered as a forest.	Acts 2:33 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 10:45 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. Titus 3:5-6 He saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior

D. The miraculous outpouring of the Spirit was bestowed through laying on of hands:

Supernatural Gift of the Holy Spirit transmitted through laying on of hands
	In the O.T.	In the N.T.
Directly	Moses, Elijah Judges, John	Apostles, Paul, Cornelius (Acts 10:24,27)
Through hands	Joshua via Moses: Deut 34:9	Samaritans, Ephesians, Timothy via Apostles Acts 8 & 19; 2 Tim 1:6.

1. The Holy Spirit fell directly upon men in the Old and New Testaments:

a. Moses, Elijah, Judges, prophets

b. David relieved miraculous gifts when Samuel anointed him.

c. 12 Apostles and Paul

d. Cornelius was exceptional because he was the first gentile and the direct falling of the Gift of the Holy Spirit without the laying on of hands, was a sign they could be baptized and saved without circumcision (Acts 10:24,27).

2. The Holy Spirit was imparted through hands in the Old and New Testaments:

a. Moses laid his hands upon Joshua: "Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses." (Deuteronomy 34:9)

b. Peter and John laid their hands on the Samaritans who were saved but had not yet received the Holy Spirit: "Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”" (Acts 8:17–19)

c. Paul laid his hands on the Ephesians: "When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying." (Acts 19:5–6)

d. Paul laid his hands on Timothy: "For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands." (2 Timothy 1:6)

II. Joel 2:38 = Promise of Father = H.S. Baptism = Gift of the Holy Spirit

A. Defining the Promise of the Father:

Lk 24:49 "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."

Acts 1:4 He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," {He said,} "you heard of from Me;

Acts 2:33 "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 2:39 "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."

1. "“For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”" (Acts 2:39)

a. The “promise” of Acts 2:39 is miraculous

2. Three views of what the “promise” is in Acts 2:39:

What is the promise of Acts 2:39?

Outpouring of Spirit?

(Miraculous power)

Seed promise?

(Salvation through Christ)

Throne promise?

(Exhalation of Christ)

Joel 2:28 I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy

Gen 22:18 in your seed all nations blessed

Joel 2:32 whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be saved

2 Sa 7:12 I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom

Lk 24:49 I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; stay in city until clothed with power from on high.

Acts 1:4 He commanded them to wait for what the Father had promised... baptism of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:33 having received from the Father the promise of the H.S., He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.

Acts 3:25 the covenant to Abraham, `And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'

Gal 3:14 in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Gal 3:29 you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

Acts 2:30 David was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants upon his throne

Acts 2:33 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.

The gift of the Holy Spirit = Promise of the Father

This view fits both the content of Joel’s prophecy and all the requirements of the immediate context. There is nothing that disqualifies this view from consideration and is correct. The Promise of the Father is Miraculous.

This view makes the both the gift of the HS and the promise of the father the same thing: Salvation. While salvation in Christ through repentance and baptism fulfills the promise of Abraham, it lacks support in the immediate context. To say the gift of the Holy Spirit is salvation creates an awkward redundancy: “baptism for remission of sins and you will be saved”

This view disqualifies itself when it says that the throne promise of Acts 2:33 is different from the promise of “salvation” of Acts 2:39. The throne promise is not the promise of Acts 2:39

The Promise is Miraculous

B. Acts 2:38-39 is an exact paraphrase of Mk 16:16-17 and Joel 2:28-32

1. Acts 2:38-39 is an exact “though for thought” paraphrase of Joel 2:28-32:

Acts 2:38-39 is Peter’s paraphrase of Joel 2:28-29
Acts 2:28-29	Joel 2:28-32
the gift of the Holy Spirit	I will pour forth of my spirit
the promise is for you	Jews (slave/free, young/old, male/female)
and your children	sons & daughters
and for those far off (Gentiles)	All mankind (Gentiles)
as many as the Lord calls	every one who calls on the name of Lord
Gift of the Holy Spirit = Promise of the father

2. Acts 2:38-39; 3;19-20 and Mk 16:16-17 all use the narrative “AND”

Parallel passages identical in their structure that use both conjunctive & narrative “AND”
Acts 2:38	Repent	AND¹	be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins	AND²	you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
Mk 16:16-17	He who has believed	AND¹	has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.	AND²	these signs will accompany those who have believed
Acts 3:19-20	Repent therefore	AND¹	return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord	AND²	that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you
1: Conjunctive “and” [Greek: Kai] 2: Narrative “and” [Greek: Kai in Acts 2:39 and 3:20. Greek: De in Mk 16:17]

a. Mk 16:16-17: The signs followed all baptized believers but were conditional upon laying on of apostles Hands to get the gift of the Holy Spirit.

b. Acts 2:38-39: The gift of the Holy Spirit required laying on of apostle’s hands and were not automatic upon repentance and baptism.

c. Acts 3:19-20: The second coming did not occur when each person “repented and returned” but was a later blessing.

III. The Law of Consistency Demands it be Miraculous

A. Twin identical Greek phrases:

Law of consistency same book: Luke, same preacher: Peter, 8 chapters apart
Expression	Passage #1	Passage #2
“for forgiveness of sins”	Acts 2:38, Repent, and be baptized *for forgiveness of your sins*	Mt 26:28, My blood *for forgiveness of sins*
“Gift of Holy Spirit”	Acts 2:38, And you shall receive the *gift of the Holy Spirit*.	Acts 10:45, the *gift of the Holy Spirit* had been poured out for they were speaking with tongues

1. Two identical Greek expressions only used in two places have the identical meaning in both:

a. “for forgiveness of your sins” is used in both Mt 26:28 and Acts 2:38.

b. “Gift of Holy Spirit” is used in both Acts 2:39 and Acts 10:45.

2. “Gift of the Holy Spirit”:

a. Used only twice in the same book written by the same author: Luke

b. Both were spoken by the same person: Peter.

3. Since we are certain the gift is miraculous in Acts 10, this means it is also miraculous in Acts 2:39!

B. Every mention of the Spirit prior to Acts 2:38 is miraculous:

1. “Since the people had heard and seen the miraculous manifestations of the Spirit Acts 2:33, just suppose that Peter baptized one for the remission of sins, and following his baptism, the person inquired of Peter, ‘What about the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit you made?’ Peter replies, ‘You received the Spirit when you were baptized, but it is non-miraculous.’ Can you visualize the reaction? Since the apostles had the Spirit miraculously, would not the ones that were promised the Spirit expect to receive a miraculous manifestation? What would have happened in the Period of the miraculous for one to have claimed to have the Spirit but no manifestation?” (Franklin Camp, Work of Holy Spirit, p153)

Law of consistency Every mention of the Spirit prior to Acts 2:38 is miraculous
Acts	Text	miraculous	non-miraculous
1:2	He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles		X
1:5	you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit		X
1:8	receive power when the Holy Spirit has come		X
1:16	the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David		X
2:4	they were all filled with the Holy Spirit		X
2:4	the Spirit was giving them utterance		X
2:17	I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind		X
2:18	I will pour forth of My Spirit And they shall prophesy		X
2:33	He has poured forth this which you both see and hear		X
2:38	and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit		X

IV. “Gift” in Acts 2:38-39

A. “Gift” is one of a collection of metaphors for supernatural power:

1. The Gift of the Holy Spirit = Baptism of the Holy Spirit = Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

2. All supernatural metaphors are synonymous and interchangeable:

“Gift” is one of many metaphors that describe miraculous gifts
Attribute/metaphor	Bible Text
give, (s,en)	Luke 11:13; John 3:34; 7:39; Acts 5:32; 15:8; 8:18; 1 Cor 12:7; I Jn 3:24; 4:13
send, sent	John 14:26; 15:26; 1 Pet 1:12
receive, (ed,ing)	John 7:39; 14:17; 20:22; Acts 2:38; 8:15,17,19; 10:47; 19:2; 1 Cor 2:12; Gal 3:2
Gift, (s)	Acts 2:38; 10:45; 11:17; Rom 12:6; 1 Cor 1:7;12:4,9,28,30,31; Eph 3:7; 4:7,8; 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6; Heb 2:4; 6:4; 1 Pet 4:10
baptize, (d)	Mark 1:8; Acts 1:5; Acts 11:16
come/fallen upon	Matt 12:18; Luke 1:35; 2:25; 4:18; John 16:13; Acts 1:8; 8:16; 10:44; 11:15; 19:6
filled, full	Luke 1:15,41,67; 4:1; Acts 2:4; 4:8; 4:31; 7:55; 9:17; 13:9
dwells	2 Tim 1:14
In you, within	Matt 10:20; Jn 14:17; Acts 19:16; 1 Pet 1:11; I Jn 2:27; 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6
anointed, anointing	Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38; 1 Jn 2:20,27
Pour forth/out	Acts 2:17-18,33; 10:45
Have the spirit	Rom 8:9; 1 Cor 7:40
Provides	Gal 3:5
clothed with powers	Luke 24:49
partakers of	Heb 6:4
moved by	2 Pet 1:21
In the spirit	Mark 12:36; Luke 2:27; Eph 3:5; Rev 1:10; 4:2; 17:3
By the spirit	Acts 1:2; 11:28
led by	Matt 4:1
Overshadow	Luke 1:35
Descending	Matt 3:16
establishes	2 Cor 1:21; Heb 2:3
anointed	2 Cor 1:21
Sealed	2 Cor 1:21; Eph 1:13
Pledge	2 Cor 1:22; Eph 1:13–14; 2 Cor 5:5

B. “Gift” used in Acts 2:39 is not the gospel call to salvation, but a call to a special task.

1. The Greek word used in Acts 2:39 for “call” [proskaleomai, #4341] is not the common word used for the Gospel call [kaleo #2564] of God throughout the New Testament.

a. This definition applied to Acts 2:39 agrees well with our position that the promise and the Gift of the passage was NOT universally extended to all Christians for all time.

b. In fact with the exception of James 5:14, proskaleomai is NEVER used in the epistles after the book of Acts.

2. “call” [proskaleomai, #4341]

a. "Jesus summoned [proskaleomai, #4341] His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness." (Matthew 10:1)

b. "And He called [proskaleomai, #4341] a child to Himself and set him before them," (Matthew 18:2)

c. "Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call [proskaleomai, #4341] for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;" (James 5:14)

3. kaleo #2564

a. “I have not come to call [kaleo #2564] the righteous but sinners to repentance.”" (Luke 5:32)

b. "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called [kaleo #2564] in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

c. "who has saved us and called [kaleo #2564] us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity," (2 Timothy 1:9)

V. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit = Gift of the Holy Spirit

A. Discussion:

1. Contrary to popular theological folklore, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is simply one of many metaphors for miraculous power enjoyed by all the Christians of the first century.

a. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is not limited to the apostles but was enjoyed by Philip, his four prophesying daughters, and all those in the church at Corinth who spoke in tongue or had any of the nine spiritual gifts listed in 1 Cor 12:7-15

b. If you spoke in tongues in the first century, you were baptized in the Holy Spirit and had the gift of the Holy Spirit etc.

2. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit served the same function as the Gift of the Holy Spirit

Identical functions prove they are the same thing
	Baptism of Holy Spirit	Gift of the Holy Spirit
Promised to all
Guided into all truth
Brought to remembrance
Fell directly

B. Apostles were not the only ones who were baptized in the Holy Spirit:

1. If baptism of Holy Spirit is a separate “measure” of the H.S. promised only to the apostles to uniquely equip them to do their special work, then why did God also baptize Cornelius with the Holy Spirit?

2. We see non-apostles performing extraordinary miracles and even writing Bible books.

3. The DIRECT falling of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and Cornelius is not sufficient reason to restrict the baptism of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles as is commonly done in error.

C. The baptism of the Holy Spirit upon Cornelius triggered Peter’s memory to understand Jesus’ words in a new way:

1. Peter’s memory was not triggered because the outpouring was directly from God, without the laying on of hands, it was because he suddenly understood that salvation for the Gentiles also.

a. While Cornelius was the first direct outpouring of the Holy Spirit since Pentecost, many Jews had previously been baptized in the Holy Spirit when the apostles laid their hands on them.

b. Cornelius therefore, was not the first case of HS baptism since Pentecost, he was the first Gentle to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, which peter understood to be the same as Holy Spirit Baptism promised by Jesus.

2. Remember that Peter was more surprised that the Holy Spirit had fallen at all rather than falling directly.

a. Peter remembered the word of the Lord because he understood it in a way not previously comprehended that the Gentiles could be baptized in water for the remission of their sins.

3. There are many verses where the disciples experienced remembrance of the Lord’s words when they understood the meaning in a new way.

a. Lk 22:61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.

b. Lk 24:6-8 "He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered His words

c. Jn 2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

d. Jn 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

e. Jn 12:16 These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

f. Acts 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

VI. STABLISHES; ANOINTED; SEALED; PLEDGE: 4 metaphors for supernatural power

A. The five texts:

1. "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge." (2 Corinthians 1:21–22)

2. "Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge." (2 Corinthians 5:5)

3. "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory." (Ephesians 1:13–14)

4. "how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard," (Hebrews 2:3)

5. "For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come," (Hebrews 6:4–5)

B. Discussion:

1. A pledge is a tangible down payment of more of the same to come in the future as illustrated in Heb 6:4-5.

2. A seal is directly related to ancient document security.

a. A seal ring is an inscribed stone pressed into clay.

b. A document was tied up with string then the knots had clay pressed onto them and a seal was inscribed so that nobody could untie the knots.

3. The miraculous Holy Spirit was that seal that guaranteed our salvation in the first century and us today through the fruits of the supernatural: the bible.

a. Even in the first century, those who were not endowed with supernatural power were part of clearly supernatural community known as the church.

b. The Jews who watched Moses on Mt. Sinai were not supernaturally empowered, but they knew Moses was a spokesman for God. In the same way all Christians are sealed even today through the history of the supernatural apostolic age which produced the word of God.

C. The Bible is the tangible “pledge” of our salvation today that God gave us.

4 keywords that reference supernatural power of the Holy Spirit
	establishes	Anointed	sealed	pledge
2 Cor 1:21-22
Eph 1:13–14
2 Cor 5:5
Heb 2:3

VII. Objections Answered and Refuted:

A. False Objection #1: “The Gift of the Holy Spirit is given at baptism”

1. Answer: Summary of simple facts most bible students have missed:

a. In AD 1551 Robert Stephens was the first person to divide the text of the bible into chapters and verses. He made a mistake in how he divided up Acts 2:38-39. Had he simple put the words “And you shall receive the Holy Spirit” at the beginning of V39, the truth that the Gift does not follow baptism would have been immediately apparent.

b. The punctuation of the KJV used a comma instead of a period after “sins”. This contributed to the false idea that the Gift was given at baptism.

c. The Holy Spirit used the “narrative and” to start many new disconnected thoughts in the Bible: “And [narrative not conjunctive] you shall receive the Holy Spirit”. The same Greek word “KAI” is used not only to bind two things equally (conjunctive) but also as a narrating literary style to begin a new thought (narrative).

d. Gift of Holy Spirit does not automatically follow baptism, but requires laying on of the Apostles hands.

2. Corrected reading of Acts 2:38-39 using the NIV text and rearranging the two verses:

a. Acts 2:38: “Repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”

b. Acts 2:39: “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.”

3. The mistake in how Acts 2:38-39 was divided up into verses:

Robert Stephens, 1551 AD, incorrectly chose where and how to divide up the verse
Acts 2	Stephens’ division of verses 1551AD	Steven’s [Rudd] division of verses 2018 AD
v38	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.	Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
v39	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." (KJV)	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. (NIV)
Isn’t one Stephen as good as another Steven? If the KJV had divided up the verses differently, none would have gotten it wrong!

4. Punctuation mistake in Acts 2:38-39

21 Translators indicated through punctuation it is a new/unconnected thought 6 use a period 8 use a semicolon 6 use a comma
Version	Statement #1	Punctuation	Statement # 2	New thought?
NIV	forgiveness of your sins	.	And you will receive	Absolutely!
ISV	forgiveness of your sins	.	Then you will receive	Absolutely!
CEV	sins will be forgiven	.	Then you will be given	Absolutely!
NLT	forgiveness of your sins	.	Then you will receive	Absolutely!
NCV	Forgiveness of your sins	.	And you will receive	Absolutely!
NLV	sins will be forgiven	.	You will receive	Absolutely!
Message	sins are forgiven	.	Receive the gift	Absolutely!
NKJV	remission of sins	;	and you shall receive	Yes
ASV	remission of your sins	;	and ye shall receive	Yes
NAS	forgiveness of your sins	;	and you shall receive	Yes
RSV	forgiveness of your sins	;	and you shall receive	Yes
NRSV	sins may be forgiven	;	and you will receive	Yes
GNB	sins will be forgiven	;	and you will receive	Yes
BBE	forgiveness of your sins	;	and you will have	Yes
WYC	remission of your sins	;	and ye shall take	Yes
KJV	remission of sins	,	and ye shall receive	No or maybe
YLT	remission of sins	,	and ye shall receive	No or maybe
WEB	forgiveness of sins	,	and you will receive	No or maybe
WNT	remission of your sins	,	and you shall receive	No or maybe
Darby	for remission of sins	,	and ye will receive	No or maybe
ESV	forgiveness of your sins	,	and you will receive	No or maybe

5. Use of the Narrative “and” in Acts 2:38-39

a. The Greek word for AND used twice in Acts 2:38-39 is “KAI”

b. Narrative examples of KAI (and) are very numerous but here are a few in Acts at the beginning of the verses noted:

i. Chapter 1 verses 9,10,19,23,24,26.

ii. Chapter 2 verses 2,3,4,8,17 (4 times),19,21,45.

iii. Chapter 3 verses 2,7,9,16,17,20

c. Notice the direct parallel between Acts 2:38-39 and Acts 3:19-20 where the same Greek work KAI is used in both verses in both the narrative and conjunctive way.

i. “Repent and [KAI] each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And [KAI] you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “For the promise is for you and [KAI] your children and [KAI] for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”" (Acts 2:38–39)

ii. "“Therefore repent and [KAI] return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. And [KAI] that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you," (Acts 3:19–20)

The word “and” is narrative not conjunctive, indicating a new/unconnected thought
Acts	Text	conjunctive “and”	Narrative “and”
1:9	*And* [KAI] after He had said these things
1:10	*And* [KAI] as they were gazing intently
1:13	*And* when they had entered
1:15	*And* at this time Peter stood up
1:19	*And* [KAI] it became known to all
1:23	*And* [KAI] they put forward two men
1:24	*And* [KAI] they prayed, and said
1:26	*And* [KAI] they drew lots for them
2:1	*And* when the day of Pentecost had come
2:2	*And* [KAI] suddenly there came a noise
2:3	*And* [KAI] there appeared to them tongues
2:4	*And* [KAI] gathering them together
2:7	*And* [KAI] they were amazed
2:8	*And* [KAI] you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem
2:17	*And* [KAI] it shall be in the last days
2:19	*And* [KAI] I will grant wonders in the sky
2:21	*And* [KAI] it shall be, that everyone who calls
2:36	Lord *and* [KAI] Christ
2:38	*and* Peter said to them
2:38	repent *and* [KAI] be baptized
2:38	*And* [KAI] you shall receive the gift of H.S.
2:39	the promise is for you *and* [KAI] your children
2:40	*And* with many other words
2:42	*And* they were continually devoting themselves
2:43	*And* everyone kept feeling a sense of awe
2:44	*And* all those who had believed were together
2:45	*and* [KAI] they {began} selling their property
3:2	*And* [KAI] a lame man from his mother’s womb
3:7	*And* [KAI] seizing him by the right hand
3:9	*And* [KAI] all the people saw him walking
3:16	*And* [KAI] on the basis of faith in His name
3:17	*And* [KAI] now, brethren, I know that you acted
3:19-20	Therefore repent and [KAI] return, so that your sins may be wiped away. And [KAI] that He may send Jesus
4:3	And [KAI] they laid hands on them and [KAI] put them in jail

B. False Objection #2: The Gift of the Holy Spirit cannot be miraculous in Acts 2:38-39 because it was promised to all believers for all time. Acts 2:39 says, “whoever the Lord shall call”

1. Answer: The language of Acts 2:39 is one of a collection of Bible statements that appeared to promise miraculous power to all believers for all time.

a. Pentecostals and Charismatics use this same collection of Bible verses to erroneously prove that Christians living today must also have supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit like speaking in tongues.

b. We know spiritual gifts have ceased: 1 Cor 13:8-18. And for those who say otherwise show us one miracle and prove it. [crickets]

c. Other Bible verses clearly appear to also promise supernatural power to all believers of all time including Joel 2:28-32, Mk 16:16-17.

d. Some Bible verses appear to grant supernatural power upon the condition of:

i. Asking: Lk 11:13

ii. Faith only: Mk 16:17; Jn 7:39; Gal 3:2

iii. Obedience: Acts 3:52

e. We understand therefore that while the Holy Spirit was promised miraculously to all believers, there are specific conditions, like having the hands of an apostle laid on you.”

2. Men receive the the Holy Spirit as a PERSONAL POSSESSION miraculously at different times when they are baptized/saved:

a. We know from Acts 8 and Acts 16 that two groups of men were baptized and saved but “did not have the Holy Spirit” until the apostles laid their hands on them. This utterly refutes the false idea of a personal indwelling AND PERSONAL POSSESSION of the Holy Spirit given at baptism because they did not have the Holy Spirit yet.

b. We know that Cornelius in Acts 10,11 had the HOLY SPIRIT PERSONALLY since they spoke in tongues but this was before he even believed and was baptized in water. (Acts 11:4 tells us that Acts 11 was “explained in orderly sequence”. Cornelius was told that Peter would speak words that would save him. Ie the gospel. Yet the Holy Spirit fell at the beginning of Peter’s sermon, before the details of the gospel about the death and resurrection of Jesus had been said. Then afterwards, they were water baptized in v 44. "And Cornelius reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here; and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning." (Acts 11:13-15)

3. This chart shows the collection of verses that APPEAR to promise the supernatural to everyone when they are baptized/saved:

a. Personal Indwelling of the Holy Spirit advocates who quote Jn 7:39 or Acts 5:32 as proof texts that the Holy Spirit is always given at Baptism/salvation, are inconsistent in their logic because they then go on to criticize a Baptist preacher who quotes John 3:16 as proof that water baptism is not essential to salvation.

b. What we learn is that individual scriptures often do not give complete information of all the conditions required for both salvation and receiving the miraculous Gift of the Holy Spirit.

c. Lk 11:3 appears to grant supernatural gifts upon the condition of faith without the laying on of the apostles’ hands, just as Jn 3:16 appears to grant salvation without water baptism.

d. Just as Luke 11:3 actually includes the laying on of the Apostles’ hands, so too Jn 3:16 includes repentance, confession and water baptism for salvation. (see Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pe 3:21)

Supernatural Gifts APPEAR to be unconditionally promised to all men for all time
Salvation sometime *sounds* unconditional	Condition	Promised to	Duration
Titus 2:11 grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men	unconditional	all creation	Forever
Rom 5:18 through one act there resulted justification to all men	unconditional	all creation	Forever
One scripture can modify another: Mt 4:7	Faith: Heb 11:6	all creation	Forever
Promise of miraculous *sounds* unconditional	Condition	Promised to	Duration
Joel 2:28 I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind	unconditional	all creation	Forever
Isa 44:3 I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring	unconditional	all descendants	Forever
Isa 59:21 My Spirit which is upon you shall not depart from your mouth, nor your offspring, nor your offspring's offspring	unconditional	all Jews	Forever
Promise of miraculous with conditions:	Condition	Promised to	Duration
Lk 11:13 Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him	ask	all askers	Forever
Jn 7:39 the Spirit, whom those who believed were to receive	believe	all believers	Forever
Mk 16:17 And these signs will accompany those who have believed	believe	all believers	Forever
Gal 3:2 did you receive the Spirit by hearing with faith?	faith	all believers	Forever
Act 19:2 Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?	believe	all believers	Forever
Act 5:32 God has given the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him	obey	all obedient	Forever
Acts 2:39 upon repentance and baptism the promise is “for as many as the Lord shall call”	called	all believers	Forever
One scripture can modify another: Mt 4:7	Apostles’ hands: Acts 8	-	ceased: 1Cor 13:8-13

C. False Objection #3: The Gift of the Holy Spirit cannot be miraculous in Acts 2:38-39 because the Greek word “dorea” (gift) can’t refer to the miraculous. If it actually referred to the miraculous, the Greek word used would have been “Charisma”.

1. Answer: False argument: dorea & charisma are used interchangeably of both miraculous & non-miraculous. Therefore the fact the word is dorea, does not rule out the miraculous.

2. Definitions of Greek words for gift: “Dorea” and “Charisma”

a. dorea: denotes "a free gift," stressing its gratuitous character; it is always used in the NT of a spiritual or supernatural gift

b. charisma: "a gift of grace, a gift involving grace" is used (a) of His free bestowments upon sinners (b) of His endowments upon believers by the operation of the Holy Spirit

3. Most important is the fact that both Acts 2:38 and Acts 10:45 both use “Dorea” and we are certain that it is miraculous in Acts 10:45.

Proving the interchangeability of Dorea & Charisma
Gift, gifts	miraculous	Dorea	Charisma
Rom 5:15 But the free *gift* is not like the transgression	X
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life	X
Acts 2:38 and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:20 perish...you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money
Acts 10:45 the *gift* of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles also.
Acts 11:17 If God therefore gave to them the same *gift* as to us
Eph 3:7 I made minister, according to the *gift* of God's grace
Eph 4:7 to each one of us grace was given according to *gift*.
Heb 6:4 tasted the heavenly *gift* and made partakers of the Holy Spirit
Eph 4:8 Therefore it says, He gave *gifts* to men.
Rom 1:11 I long to see you in order that I may impart some spiritual gift to you
Rom 12:6 we have *gifts* that differ according to the grace given to us
1 Cor 1:7 so that you are not lacking in any *gift*
1 Cor 12:4 Now there are varieties of *gifts*, but the same Spirit.
1 Cor 12:9 and to another *gifts* of healing by the one Spirit,
1 Cor 12:28 And God has appointed in the church...gifts of healings
1 Cor 12:30 All do not have *gifts* of healings, do they?
1 Cor 12:31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts.
1 Tim 4:14 Do not neglect the spiritual *gift* within you,
2 Tim 1:6 kindle the *gift* of God which is in you through my hands.
1 Pet 4:10 As each one has received a *gift*, employ it in serving one another
Heb 2:4 God also bearing witness with them by *gifts* of the Holy Spirit		Gr: merismos

Conclusion:

1. The Gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38-39 is miraculous and the same as:

a. The baptism of the Holy Spirit

b. The miraculous power prophesied by Joel 2:28-32

c. The Comforter/Helper Jesus promised in John 14,15,16

d. The nine gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in 1 Cor 12:7-14

2. Preachers and theologians have greatly complicated the simple nature of the miraculous function of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament:

a. They have created entire collection of four false distinctions that do not exist in a theology called the “Measures of the Holy Spirit” though a misreading of the KJV in John 3:34 and a wild imagination.

b. They have wrongly restricted the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles when many non-apostles also got supernatural power.

c. They have wrongly restricted the Comforter of John 14,15,16 when non-apostles are seen performing the identical miraculous functions of writing bible books and guiding them into all truth.

d. They have wrongly restricted the Gift of the Holy Spirit to non-apostles, when the apostles were the first ones to receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost when they spoke in tongues.

e. They have created a false theology of a direct, personal and literal indwelling of the Holy Spirit, when the scriptures show the language of the indwelling spirit ONLY applied to those who had supernatural power. There are examples in the Bible (Acts 8,19) of where Christians had believed been baptized and saved, but did not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit or “have the Holy Spirit” until the apostles laid their hands on them and they were empowered supernaturally by the Holy Spirit.

3. The gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38-39 is not automatically granted upon faith and water baptism.

a. Through simple comparative texts and parallel verses it is clear that the promise was limited and controlled by the apostles who would lay their hands to impart the Gift of the Holy Spirit.

b. By taking note that the Greek word “KAI” is used in both the conjunctive and narrative functions, it is clear that the phrase “And you shall receive the Gift of the Holy Spirit” begins with the narrative “AND”, and is therefore not a direct consequence of salvation.

4. Spiritual Gifts ceased with the completion of the 27 books of the New Testament around AD 100.

a. Nobody today had the miraculous indwelling of the Holy Spirit: 1 Cor 13:8-13.

b. Those who claim they have miraculous power need to simply follow Paul’s command to SHOW ME YOUR POWER NOT YOUR WORDS.

5. For those today who claim to attend a miraculously “Spirit filled church” we offer this advice:

i. "Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power." (1 Corinthians 4:18–19)

ii. "I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God." (1 Corinthians 2:3–5)

b. Stop deluding yourself. You have never seen a single miracle performed in your “Spirit filled church”. Constant claims of supernatural power by your preacher or members in the audience are mere words. Smacking someone on the head who falls backwards into the waiting hands of a “catcher” is not a miracle because anyone can do it. Speaking in tongues as gibberish (conveniently never a human language but always called a heavenly language so it is alwys “unconfirmable”) is not a miracle because many occult non-Christian world religions also “speak in tongues [gibberish]” in exactly the same way.

c. Read 1 Cor 13:8-13.

Holy Spirit outlines:

Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

Holy Spirit in the New Testament

Gift of the Holy Spirit

Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

Tongues have Ceased

By Steve Rudd: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections.

Go To Start: WWW.BIBLE.CA