PHRASES USED: FILLED, FULL OF, COME UPON YOU, RECEIVE POWER, SPOKE OR SPEAK BY, POURING OUT OF GOD’S SPIRIT
RESULTS: TONGUES, NO TONGUES, WITNESSES, SALVATION, UNITY, SERVICE, SIGNS AND WONDERS, PROPHECY, POWER, BOLDNESS, VISIONS, DREAMS
Please Read the entire document before you stop short of hearing the full counsel of God on the subject. There are few points that are my beliefs, BUT MOST are just plain scriptures. Some statements may sound like I am trying to prove a point concerning the doctrine of tongues. I am not, I am only listing all the scriptures in the book of Acts that have to do with the Holy Spirit. Some note the activity where tongues are noted or occurred or where tongues are not noted or did not occur when He (Holy Spirit) filled or came upon people, or when people were full of the Holy Spirit, or when people received or, spoke by the Holy Spirit, or where baptized in the Holy Spirit. One argument that I heard very quickly after Salvation is… if you are baptized in the Holy Spirit do you have to speak in tongues or not? Some denominations go as far as to say if you do not speak in tongues then you are not saved. Hopefully this exhaustive look at the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts will let God answer the controversy by and through His word. I have used the color green to show where in the book of acts tongues are noted or occurred and red to show where they are not noted or did not occur. Please do not form an opinion on this until you have read all of it. Also note I have colored phrases in purple when salvation is noted and blue when the activity of the Holy Spirit is noted.
I personally do speak in tongues, but I did not speak in tongues for the first 3 years of knowing Jesus as my personal Savior. I did all of the following in my first three years of Salvation. Fellowship/unity with the saints, receive healing, pray for others that were healed, teach the word of God, worshiped, was baptized, served in the church, receive communion, interceded in prayer for others, fasted and overcame temptation and evangelized with the blessing of seeing many people come to Salvation in Christ…. and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:8 Does not say you will speak in tongues
“But you shall receive “power” when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be “witnesses” to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
POWER = dynamis
1. strength power, ability
1. inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth
2. power for performing miracles
3. moral power and excellence of soul
4. the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth
5. power and resources arising from numbers
6. power consisting in or resting upon armies, forces, hosts
WITNESS = martys
1. a witness
1. in a legal sense
2. an historical sense
1. one who is a spectator of anything, e.g. of a contest
3. in an ethical sense
1. those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of
2. their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death
Acts 1:16
"Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.
THE RESULTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT SPEAKING BY THE MOUTH OF DAVID
In Acts 1:16 The statement is “the Holy Spirit Spoke before by the mouth of David”. In this case there is no mention of tongues being used by the Holy Spirit only plane language.
Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
TONGUES = glōssa
1. the tongue, a member of the body, an organ of speech
2. a tongue
1. the language or dialect used by a particular people distinct from that of other nations Acts 2:6
TONGUES =dialektos
And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
Acts 2:11
we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God
Acts 2:14 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance
This cannot be more clear that tongues was the result of the those that were filled with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:16 States the pouring out of God’s Spirit on all flesh is the fulfilment of Joel.
"But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
So what was it the people where hearing?
Notes:
Joel does not includetongues in the list of results of God pouring out His Spirit, though tongues are noted in Acts 2:11-14 that were used were to bring people to call upon the name of the Lord for Salvation which is the end results of the pouring out of God’s Spirit in the context.
Acts 2:17
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons andyour daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.
And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.
And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.
Acts 4:8
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:
THE RESULTS OF FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
NOTE: Peter was filled with the Spirit and in this case he did not speak in tongues, rather he spoke in plane language the history of God
Acts 4:31
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness
Spoke = laleō 1).Vines = "to speak," is sometimes translated "to say;" 2). Strong’s = “to use words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts”, to speak
Word = logos Strong’s, Its use as respect to the MIND alone
1. reason, the mental faculty of thinking, meditating, reasoning, calculating
2. account, i.e. regard, consideration
3. account, i.e. reckoning, score
4. account, i.e. answer or explanation in reference to judgment
5. relation, i.e. with whom as judge we stand in relation
1. reason would
6. reason, cause, ground
THE RESULTS OF BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
1.) Unity
Acts 4:32
Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul;
2.) Great power to witness and great grace on their lives.
Acts 4:33
And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
3.) Provision and giving
Acts 4:34-35
Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need
FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT / WISDOM & FAITH
Acts 6:3-8
"Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; "but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
RESULTS OF “FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT” / WISDOM & FAITH
1.Men were appointed to serve = chreia
(of the distribution of funds, signifies "a necessity, a need," and is used in this place concerning duty or business of those in need)
2.Then the word of God spread,
3.The number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, (SALVATION)
4. A great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. SALVATION FOR THE PRIESTS
5. Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
ACTS 7:55
But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"
THE RESULTS OF BEING FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Being full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen had an open vison into the heavenly realm, was received by Jesus and was able to forgive those how killed him
Acts 7:60
Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT
Acts 8:14-17
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that theymight receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
UNDERSTANDING OF ACTIVITY AND POSITIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Peter and John came to lay hands on those that received the word of God. I believed that when it says they received the word of God this means they were saved. Then Peter and John came to them to pray and lay hands on them after there were saved for the purpose that the Holy Spirit would fall upon them. I believe the term fall upon them is the same idea as to be full or filled with or baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said in John 14:17
"the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
When you are not saved the Holy Spirit is with you “with” = Para in the Greek and it means by, besides, near”. He is near you to convict you of sin, righteousness and judgment as noted in John 16. If a person responds to the conviction of the Holy Spirit then then He will be “in” them as Jesus noted in John 14:17. In Acts 8 it states that the He “The Holy Spirit” had not fallen “upon” none of them. The “upon” is the empowering or filling of the Spirit.
FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
Acts 9:17-20
And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.
NOTES
I believe that Acts 9:1-9 describes Saul/Paul’s Salvation experience and Acts 9:17-20 describes when Paul was filled/baptized in the Holy Spirit. Please note the fruit from Pauls baptism in the Holy Spirit was not speaking in tongues or prophesying it was as follows.
1) He was physically healed “, and he received his sigh’
2) He was baptized (I believe this is water baptism in this case, because he was baptized in to Christ in acts 9:1-9 by believing in Christ (see romans 6:1-4, Colossians 2:12 to understand baptized into Christ death and resurrection)).
3) He fellowshipped with other believers “Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus”
4) He Evangelized “he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.”
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND POWER
Acts 10:38
"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
RUSULTS OF “WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND POWER”
This is passage speaks directly about how God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and the results were that “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil”.
NOTES
BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT/LED BY THE SPIRIT
Luke 4:1-2
Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry being tempted for forty days by the devil.
The first thing that happened after Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit was He was led by the Spirit. Note where He was lead “into the wilderness being tempted for forty days by the devil” and what was the second thing Jesus did? “And in those days He ate nothing” He fasted (Mat 4:2 “And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights”). Next He resisted the temptation of the devil by properly interpreting and applying the word of God to the lies and twisting of the word of God that the devil was miss using.
Next it states that (He Jesus) returned in the power of the Spirit and taught.
IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT
Luke 4:14-15
Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT / POURED OUT
Acts 10:44-48
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
NOTE
One thing to note is the following activity of the Holy Spirit falling on those that heard the word of God was Tongues and then Baptism.
HOLY SPIRIT FELL UPON THEM
Acts 11:15-18
And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, 'John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. "If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?" When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, "Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life."
NOTE
Here I believe the phrase “the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning” is a reference to Acts 2 specifically verse 4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance”. With the same purpose and heart, that is the salvation as noted “when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ” and “God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.” And in verse 21 “And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.”
FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND FAITH
Acts 11:24 states the following speaking of Barnabas
“For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.”
NOTE Here again we see a man full of the Holy Spirit and of faith was used to bring a great many people to the Lord… Evangelism. You could reason that the way people came to the Lord was through the gift of tongues as noted in Acts11:15-18. To do so would not be looking at the context based on
NOTE
Acts 11:22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
Acts 11:22 Shows a clear separation of events from 11:24
SHOWED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
Acts 11:27-28
And in these day’s prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.
NOTE
In the above passage the word in the Greek for “showed” is sēmainō and part of its definition is to give a sign, to signify, indicate. How this applies is not made clear. What is clear is that what Agabus did was showed by the Holy Spirit and he did in plain language with no mention of tongues.
HOLY SPIRIT SAID… and SENT OUT BY THE HOLY SPIIRT
Acts 13:2
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 13:4
So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
Acts 13:9
Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him
and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
NOTE
The results are found in
Acts 13:11-12
"And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time." And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
FILLED WITH JOY AND WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
Acts 13:52
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
NOTE
In Acts 13:48 it states
Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.
Then Acts 13:50
But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region
Then the results is (Acts 13:52) the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
PREACHING THE GOSPEL UNTO A GREAT MULITUDE BELIEVING IN JESUS
Acts 14:1-7
Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the gospel there.
No one calls Jesus Lord except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3)
For the great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks to “believe”, the witness of Jesus had to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. In addition to that verse three states “Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands”. Verse three points to the upon or the empowering of the Holy Spirit to Preach the Gospel (be a witness to Jesus). Also the “signs and wonders” that were performed by their hands is another manifestation of the empowering of the Holy Spirit to be a witness to Jesus. You can also read Mark 16:15-18 to understand the sings of a person that is a witness to Jesus.
GIVING THEM THE HOY SPIRIT
Acts 15:8-9
"So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, "and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
The context is Salvation as noted in
Acts 15:7 “And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe”.
SEEMED GOOD TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Acts 15:28-29
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.
NOTE
The context of this is there was a dispute about the Gentile believers and them keeping the law of Moses. The dispute was ended by James shearing what the Holy Spirit had told him.
FORBIDDEN BY THE HOLY SPIRIT/THE SPIRIT DID NOT PERMIT THEM
Acts 16:6-7
Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.
NOTE
This is not so much in context to the upon position as much as it is the “in” position of the Holy Spirit. It is clear that the Holy Spirit was directly communicating with them His will as to where they were to preach the word.
COMPELLED BY THE SPIRIT
Acts 18:5
When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
NOTE
The result of being compelled by the Spirit was testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
DID YOU RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT....WE HAVE NOT SO MUCH AS HEARD WEATHER THERE IS A HOLY SPIRIT.
Acts 19:2
he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
NOTE
I believe that those that are being addressed were not born again/saved until they were told by Paul the Gospel of Jesus Christ in verse 19:4-5 then in Acts 19:6 after their salvation experience (with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit) then with the laying on of hands they had the Holy Spirit come upon them.
THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME UPON THEM
Acts 19:6
And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
RESULTS
“They spoke with tongues and prophesied”.
PURPOSED IN THE SPIRIT
Acts 19:21
When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
RESULTS
A declaration of necessity to see Rome
THE HOLY SPIRIT TESTIFIES
ACTS 20:23
“except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.
NOTE
This is the Holy Spirit speaking prophetically as to what will come upon Paul. This is not a common teaching in missionary work in the 21st century.
THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS MADE YOU OVERSEERS
Acts 20:28
"Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
NOTE
This is speaking of the activity of the Holy Spirit making (i.e. to put in place/ appoint/ ordain) individuals as overseers (a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent the superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church) to shepherd (to feed, to tend a flock, keep sheep) the church of God.
told Paul through the Spirit
Acts 21:4
And finding disciples, we stayed there seven days. They told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.
Thus says the Holy Spirit
Acts 21:11
When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”
The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers
Acts 28:25
So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,
NOTE
This is Paul confirming what the Holy Spirit said through Isaiah hundreds of years beforehand (Isa 6:9-10)
