Holy spirit moving in the book of acts of the apostles

The acts of the apostles should really be called the acts of the holy spirit. Luke, who allegedly wrote a gospel and the acts of the apostles, has more to say about the spirit than any other biblical writer does. When the apostles had finished praying, their meeting place shook. Just prior to this people had been cynical and accused the apostles of. He portrays the spirit as the activity and presence of god but also as an impersonal force or power luke 5. The manner in which the holy ghost came upon them is worthy of mention, since it was unique. Luke wants us to understand that jesus didnt just heal and do miracles through the holy spirit even in the issuing of instructions to the disciples our lord was operating under the guidance and power of the spirit. We see in todays passage that the apostles still dont get what jesus kingship and kingdom are about.

Acts of the holy spirit article about acts of the holy. The acts of the apostles should be called the acts of. It has often been referred to by bible teachers as a transition book between the ot religion of israel, and the new testament in jesus, the christ of god and hope of israel, if they will receive it. Acts is the book that reveals the power of the church. This page is the catholic bible study for the second volume written by the evangelist saint luke, on the acts of the. Holy spirit is the cornerstone of the acts of the apostles, attributed to the apostle luke. In almost all the editions of scripture it is called the acts of the apostles. In that account now known as the gospel of luke, he recorded all that jesus. According to lee, the book of acts refers to the formative history of the early church, while establishing luke as a charismatic theologian who demonstrates that baptism in the holy spirit is an experience of empowering to facilitate the mission of the church. The work of the holy spirit is so prevalent in acts that many commentators have suggested the book should be titled the acts of the holy spirit rather than the acts of the apostles. The holy spirit in the book of acts essay 1715 words. In turn, for luke, jesus was a man primarily of the spirit.

He is the one to fill believers with his glory and really for the purpose of worship and loyalty. Tonight were moving into the book of the acts of the apostles, but which more appropriately could be called, the acts of the holy spirit. Peter wagners complete commentary on the book of acts. Brewster in partial fulfillment of the requirements for bibl364 liberty university online by robert ortiz jr.

The disciples then gathered together and praised god, quoted scripture, and prayed. The acts of the spirit and the apostles by burk parsons. The promise of the holy spirit is not limited to any age or to any race. The book of acts has been called the book of the holy spirit. The holy spirit and equality in the book of acts marg mowczko. Luke placed more emphasis on the holy spirit than the other three gospel writers. Prologue 1 in my first book, o theophilus, i wrote about all that jesus began to do and to teach, 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the holy spirit to the apostles he had chosen. Unfortunately, in some of these traditions, an understanding of the outpouring of the holy spirit in acts is often limited to discussions about speaking in tongues, or. The holy spirit in the book of acts plays a vital role in accomplishing very specific and pointed tasks.

The book of acts is a testament of the holy spirit and equality. Acts 2 contemporary english version cev the coming of the holy spirit. There are eleven chapters in acts that contain no reference to the spirit. By the power of the holy spirit, men and women come. Luke, who allegedly wrote a gospel and the acts of the apostles, has more to say about the spirit than any other biblical writer. Acts continues from there on starting with christs resurrection. In the book of acts christ himself continues his work through the lives of his disciples. The acts of the apostles is often called the gospel of the holy spirit, for in chapter one jesus christ promises the holy spirit will come after his ascension into heaven and chapter two begins with the pentecost. Some have suggested, however, that not the acts of the apostles who have no major importance in the book but the acts of the holy spirit were meant. On the day when the lord jesus ascended from the mount of olives he said to his disciples, but you shall receive power when the holy spirit has come upon you. The book of acts, written by luke bridge the gap between the gospel accounts and the letters to the churches with the historical account of the actions of the holy spirit, working through a ragtag band of peasants lead by a man who denied jesus three times, and later joined by a man previously in the business of hunting down and murdering christians.

We will write a custom term paper on the holy spirit in acts specifically for you. From there, after his father died, god had him move to this country in which you are. Such a conclusion seems unwarranted, but a recognition of the unusual importance of the holy spirit in acts is completely justified. Throughout its pages, we read how the spirit worked through regular people to make them into bold apostles and witnesses to christ. The holy spirit in acts how does luke portray the gift and outpouring of the holy spirit in acts. Peter and john and others had been preaching the gospel and many were. Since my earliest days in christ i have been fascinated by the holy spirit.

And in the days of the apostles he wrought mightily for his church through the agency of the holy spirit. Jesus told the apostles that once the holy spirit came upon them, they would be his witnesses, starting with asia minor, moving to africa, then spain and finally, as. Now when the apostles at jerusalem heard that samaria had received the word of god, they sent to them peter and john, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the holy spirit. Contemplating the holy spirit at work through the acts of the apostles. All and as began enabled filled giving holy in of other speak spirit the them they to tongues utterance was were with nt apostles. The book of acts begins with the ascension of jesus and the coming of the holy spirit, and goes on to show how the apostles preached christ to the. Luke, acts of the apostles is often referred to as the gospel of the holy spirit. The fact that the vast majority of the references to the holy spirit in the book of acts are found in the first half of the book has raised a question mark after the contention that the concept of the holy spirit determines the structure of acts. The holy spirit in acts 3120 words term paper example ivypanda. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. This lesson will summarize the teaching of acts on the holy spirit, emphasizing the spirits baptism, the spirits filling, and the spirits power the holy spirit in acts. A theological commentary on the bible willie james.

Meditations and commentary on the acts of the apostles, fr. Mission through church and spirit i have made you a light for the gentiles, that you may. The acts of the apostles is often called the gospel of the holy spirit, for in. How the apostles died my top 15 christians duration.

Now when simon saw that the spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles hands, he offered them money, acts 10. In the many bibles that i have read and worn out, i have marked with a red pen countless references to the holy spirit in both the old and new testaments. Peter, an apostle of jesus christ, to the exiles of the dispersion throughout. It is the only 1stcentury account of the expansion of christianity in its earliest period. There is a lot of controversy concerning the role of the holy spirit in christian lifeboth personal and corporate. The scriptures in acts 9 only tell us that the holy spirit came upon saul. The holy spirit is the presence of the living lord jesus in spiritual power in. The books of acts is often called the book of the holy spirit or the book of the apostles. Alfred mcbride guides the reader through this great book of the new testament, verse by verse, illuminating its great meaning for catholics of all times. The holy spirit is named 40 times in acts, more than any other book of the bible.

When the holy spirit came, the disciples would find in him no. When we come to the acts in our holy bible reading, we meet with a history unlike any other in the world. Role of prayer and the holy spirit in acts kingdom living. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom. In this section of the book of acts we see how the holy spirit was poured out. While some see acts as the story of the founding of the christian church, jennings argues that it is so much more, depicting revolutionlife in the disrupting presence of the spirit of god. Later, the apostle paul said that he spoke in tongues more than others 1 cor. We do not doubt the power of inspiration to move peter to speak things he did. Therefore, when a church begins to dwindle, lose its power, and turn dull and drab in its witness, it needs desperately to get back into the spirit, expectation, knowledge and teaching of the book of acts.

The marvelous fact that the precise and trustworthy author of the third gospel took up his pen to record the foundation and early spread of christianity has resulted in incalculable blessing to all succeeding ages of believers. Should we call this book the acts of the apostles or should we call it the acts of the holy spirit. All of them were filled with the holy spirit and continued to speak the word of god boldly. Acts tells us how the holy spirit came upon the church, and how the gospel spreads from jerusalem to rome. It is fast moving to a close, when all israel will share in the outpouring of the spirit. The full title of the book of acts is the acts of the apostles. Acts 2 38 repent, peter said to them, and be baptized, each of you, in the name of jesus christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the holy spirit. In the book of acts, the holy spirit now begins to fulfill the designed program of god. Its commonly called the acts of the apostles, but perhaps a better title might be the acts of the holy spirit because as we go through this book chapter by chapter thats what we will see, the holy spirit moving in power as the church is born and the word of. In this new commentary for the belief series, awardwinning author and theologian willie james jennings explores the relevance of the book of acts for the struggles of today.

Neither title is inclusive, and to accept the suggestion that the book be called the acts of the holy spirit ignores the fact that the. As we approach the great history of the church in the book of acts, the question is often asked. The holy spirit in the book of acts essay 2476 words. As the gospel began to spread to the world, the early church was confronted with spiritual and cultural barriersstrongholdsit had to overcome. What is also interesting is that when you see these two things working together you find gods people filled with boldness to do what god has asked them to do. This event is designated in the bible as the day of pentecost acts 2. The holy spirit speaks, leads, and guides in the book of acts. The 6th installment of a series on the holy spirit. In preparation for this sundays sermon, meditate on these verses. The holy spirit empowers the church to continue the ministry and mission of jesus acts 1.

In fact, the word bold or boldness is used more time in the book of acts than any other book of the bible. The traditional title for the book of acts is the acts of the apostles because of its. Acts is the celestial express that carries those who believe and those who want to believe across the landscape blazed long ago by the apostles to the station of. Acts 2 niv the holy spirit comes at pentecost bible gateway. From the day of pentecost to the present time, the comforter has been sent to all who have yielded themselves fully to the lord and to his service. The acts of the holy spirit through peter and paul, apostles. Jesus tells the apostles that when the holy spirit comes upon them, they. The book picks up where the gospels four accounts of jesus life and ministry leave off. The holy spirit in the book of acts preaching source. Christ declared that the divine influence of his spirit was to be with his followers unto the end.

This article shows that these references are integral elements in the narrative of acts, presenting the holy spirit as an active character or participant in the events it reports. Luke luke, gospel according to saint, third book of the new testament. The holy spirit as an active character in the book of acts. Paul and his friends went through phrygia and galatia, but the holy spirit would. This is the 6th installment on a series on the holy spirit. Acts of the apostles acts of the holy spirit christian. The same power that sustained the patriarchs, that gave caleb and joshua faith and courage, and that made the work of the apostolic church effective, has upheld gods faithful children in every succeeding age. It is only through the holy spirit that the apostles are able to do what they do. The holy spirit in the book of acts sermon by john gaston. The book of actswhich we will be reading throughout this easter seasonis so much more than a history of the early church. Contemplating the holy spirit at work through the acts of.