Acts

BAPTIZED, FILLED, RECEIVED

/ David R Maas / Leave a comment

Do the different terms used for the receipt of the gift of the Spirit refer to different experiences or even multiple ordinances?

When describing the receipt of the Spirit, Acts applies several Greek verbs, including “baptize,” “receive,” “filled,” “given,” and “came upon.” But do they refer to different experiences or aspects of the gift, or does each refer to the same event? In other words, do “baptized with” and “received” refer to the same experience common to all believers?

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PENTECOST AND THE LAST DAYS

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The outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost signaled the arrival of the “last days” – Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2:17-21.

The application of the prophecy from Joel in Acts links the outpouring of the Spirit to the commencement of the “last days.” For the book, the Spirit’s activity and presence in the church are programmatic and foundational for its existence, from the Day of Pentecost until the return of Jesus.

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WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

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The outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost caused a great commotion and much consternation in Jerusalem – Joel 2:4-13. 

In Acts, the presence and activity of the Spirit are essential for the life and growth of the church, from its inception on the Day of Pentecost until the return of Jesus at the end of the age. The church began in Jerusalem with the initial outpouring of the Spirit, then quickly spread beyond Judea to Samaria, Syria, Asia Minor, Greece, and finally, to the city of Rome at the very heart of the empire.

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WHEN PENTECOST ARRIVED

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On the day of Pentecost, the long-anticipated time of fulfillment arrived when Jesus bestowed the Spirit on his church – Acts 2:1-4. 

The second chapter of Acts stresses fulfillment, the things foreshadowed in the Hebrew scriptures were actualized when the disciples were “filled with the Spirit,” beginning with the Feast of Pentecost. The arrival of the Spirit was the key event that marked the inauguration of the Church and the age of the Spirit and set the stage for the proclamation of the gospel.

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BETWEEN LAW AND SPIRIT

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Between the ascension and the gift of the Spirit, the apostles tarried in prayer and appointed Matthias to complete their number – Acts 1:12-26. 

After the ascension, the apostles returned to Jerusalem to wait for the “promise of the Father,” the gift of the Spirit. In the interim, they appointed Matthias to the apostolic office held previously by Judas. As the representatives of the new people of God, they needed twelve representatives to demonstrate continuity with the covenant established by Yahweh.

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