The POWER of the Holy Spirit in ACTS
What have we observed most in Luke’s early accounts of Acts?
Clearly, the further power of the Holy Spirit, which Luke also notes in his Gospel as having descended on Jesus.
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased… And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil.
Gospel of Luke on the Holy Ghost 3:33, 4:1-2b KJV
"Holy" AND "Spirit" occurs 111 times in 53 verses in your custom selection ' in 'Luke-Acts'' in the NASB20. Source: BlueLetterBible.org READ ALL fifty-three verses recorded by Luke and you will be convinced not only of the Trinity, but also of the POWER of the HOLY SPIRIT of the Lord God.
ACTS 1 opens with Jesus’ Promise of the Holy Spirit.
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
Although the HEADING for ACTS 2 in one of my Bibles refers to The Coming of the Holy Spirit, from the next HEADING, Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost, we learn of the convicting POWER of the Holy Spirit in Peter’s words.
‘I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND‘
“This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.
ACTS 2:32 NKJV
ACTS 2 – Peter’s Sermon continues
Lord and Christ
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Acts 2:36 NKJV
A pall of silence most likely falls upon many in the massive crowd listening to Peter as he stands with all the Apostles and preaches Christ crucified and risen from the power of death.
Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart,
and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles,
“Brothers, what are we to do?”
Acts 2:37 NASB
J.B. Phillips paraphrases this passage following Luke’s account of Peter’s sermon:
When they heard this they were cut to the quick, and they cried to Peter and the other apostles, “Men and fellow-Jews, what shall we do now?”
They were ‘cut to the quick,’ ‘pierced to the heart.’
Sounds painful, reminding us of reference to Jesus’ gruesome crucifixion on a Cross preceding the previous Passover ‘festival’ of the Jews.
Yet one of the soldiers pierced His [Jesus‘] side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
Gospel of John 19:34
Perhaps some of these Jews hearing Peter’s sermon were sadly present during the storm of Jesus’ death and the piercing of His side with a Roman spear.
The Prophet Isaiah had said (as the Jews well knew):
But He was pierced for our offenses,
He was crushed for our wrongdoings;
The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him,
And by His wounds we are healed.וְהוּא מְחֹלָל מִפְּשָׁעֵנוּ מְדֻכָּא מֵעֲוֹנֹתֵינוּ מוּסַר שְׁלֹומֵנוּ עָלָיו וּבַחֲבֻרָתֹו נִרְפָּא־לָֽנוּ׃
Yeshaiya (Isaiah) 53:5 NASB20 :: Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC)
Luke uses a word for ‘pierced‘ which implies ‘wounded in conscience,’ a conviction of the power of the Holy Spirit in Peter’s preaching from the word of God which the crowds in Jerusalem knew well. Later, the letter written to the Hebrews reminds the faithful:
For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 NASB20
YES, Peter’s sermon pierces their hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit.
HOLY SPIRIT POWER
Because the HOLY SPIRIT is so important to Luke’s continuing account in Acts of the Apostles, before we proceed with Peter’s brief answer I would like to quote the powerful nineteenth century English preacher, Charles Spurgeon.
The Power of the Holy Ghost
Charles Haddon Spurgeon June 17, 1855 Scripture: Romans 15:13 From: New Park Street Pulpit Volume 1
Spurgeon (1834-1892)
Please note Spurgeon’s brief outline about the Third Person of the Trinity.
One. Comforter
When Christ was on earth, He must have been the consolation of all those who were privileged to be His companions.
Spurgeon – Holy Spirit Power opening paragraph
This certainly would include Peter and the eleven now at his side on Pentecost – RH
In speaking of the Resurrection, from John 16 & 14, Spurgeon relates:
He would not leave those few poor sheep alone in the wilderness. He would not desert His children and leave them fatherless. Before He left, He gave soothing words of comfort.
Spurgeon then goes on to introduce the paraclete or comforter
Jesus had told them that the Father would give them ‘another comforter‘ [helper or advocate] to be with them forever.
Peter, our Pentecost preacher today, certainly felt this comfort once Jesus asked him if he loved Him AFTER the Lord once again appeared to them. Jesus commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, with His Power to convict.
First, God the Holy Spirit is our very loving Comforter.
C.S. Spurgeon
Two: THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Our focus for Peter's Pentecost Sermon response Quoting Spurgeon Chapter 2, pg. 27
All power is the special and peculiar prerogative of God and God alone.
(Quoting Psalm 62:11 KJV)
God is God, and power belongs to Him alone.
He delegates a portion of His power to His creatures, yet it is still His. (Quoting Psalm 19:4-5)
C.S. Spurgeon – Holy Spirit Power
Just take this in for a moment .. before we return to the crowds converted by Peter's Pentecost Sermon. - RH
Spurgeon goes on to explain three ways he will look at the Power of the Holy Spirit.
- The outward and visible displays of it,
- the inward and spiritual manifestations of it,
- and the future and expected works of it.
Three: THE HOLY SPIRIT – THE GREAT TEACHER
We will not get there today as we observe the crowds of Pentecost, but the teaching of the Apostles will become immediately evident as the church grows throughout Acts. To READ HOLY SPIRIT POWER click here to order.
Repent!
“Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Acts 2:37b NKJV
Peter replied, “Repent 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.
For the promise is for you and for your children,
and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Acts 2:38-39 CSB
IT’S AN AMAZING PROMISE!
But this is not the promise of Peter, nor is it an appeal to those who have NOT ASKED ‘What shall we do?’
Peter’s promise of the Holy Spirit is from the Holy Spirit Himself.
Next: We will see evidence of the Spirit growing the Church from the moment of Peter’s sermon on Pentecost.
