Acts - Introduction 1

Point #2
Acts is the story of the coming of the Spirit with power.
A. Acts is more descriptive than prescriptive.
1. Distinguish between DESCRIPTIVE and PRESCRIPTIVE texts.
Descriptive texts simply tell us what HAPPENED in the early church, not necessarily what should happen
in the 20th cent. Church - ie. The choice of Matthias to replace Judas in Acts 1:15-26.
Prescriptive texts give instruction as to what SHOULD BE DONE and often have a timeless
application - ie. Peter’s exhortation Acts 2:38.

Characteristics of Characteristics of
Occasional teaching Universal teaching
• Isolated to particular time and place - • Consistency across Biblical cultures -
concubines sanctity of life
• Meaningful in a narrow context - meat • Universal setting - water baptism
offered to idols
• Appeal to a permanent factor - marriage
• Rare references with little illustration of
• Both commanded and practiced
actual practice – foot-washing
consistently - evangelism
• Violation of clearly stated principle - baptism
• Final position within progressive revelation -
for the dead
Sabbath, tithing

2. Most of Acts is descriptive in nature.

a. All Scripture is written for us but not necessarily to us or about us.
b. We should look at the material in Acts as a model for the modern church when the
events are supported by doctrinal teaching concerning normative conduct and
belief.
c. It is important to recognize that the structure of the religious life of the early
church evolves over time so that it is difficult to find one model that is mandated
for the modern church.
B. Acts is more descriptive than prescriptive in its story of the experience of
the Holy Spirit.
1. The reception of the Holy Spirit in the Early Church.
The following texts speak of the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts.
1:4-8 The Promise of the Father (Lk.24:49) which was the Spirit (Gal.3:14) is coming to all
who have faith in Christ.
2:2-4 The disciples receive the Spirit at Pentecost and are "filled" with the result that they speak
in tongues.
2:33 Peter's sermon referring to Pentecost indicates that the Spirit could not have come until after
Jesus ascended to the Father (Jn.16:7, 7:38-39).
2:38 Peter's promise that all who Repent and are Baptized will receive the Spirit.
8:14-24 The Samaritans receive the Spirit through the laying on of hands after they "believed". It
is not clear that their faith was true faith until the Spirit came - ie. Simon vs.13,22-24.
Acts - Introduction 2

10:44-11:18 Cornelius ( a Gentile) receives the Spirit after the pattern of Pentecost (11:15) where
the Spirit "fell on them" (10:44) as a result of repentance unto life (11:18).
19:1-7 The Ephesians receive the Spirit when they believed on Jesus (vs.5-6 may have taken
place simultaneously).
2. The Biblical doctrine of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit:
a. It is unique to the Church age (II Cor.3:7-8).
b. It is a ministry of Jesus Christ (John 1:33).
1. It is stated as such in Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16.
2. The Greek present tense in He who baptizes (John 1:33) implies
continuous repeated action, not just the day of Pentecost.
c. It is linked with removal of sins (Titus 3:5).
1. Christ's ministry-removal of sin (John 1:29) and bestowal of Spirit (John 1:33).
2. Ezekiel 36:25,27; II Cor.3:8-9; Acts 2:38; Titus 3:4-7
d. It is universal among regenerate Christians (I Cor.12:13; Eph.4:5; Joel 2:38
with Acts 2:33,38-39).
e. It takes places at the moment of regeneration (Gal.3:2,14,26-29; 4:6;
Rom.8:9,14-16; 5:5; Jude 19).
f. It is sufficient and complete (Eph.1:3; I John 2:29; 3:9-10; 5:18).
g. It unites us to the Body of Christ (I Cor.12:13; Rom.6:1-4; Gal.3:26-29;
Eph.4:5).
1. We belong to Christ (Gal.4:29).
2. We are clothed with Christ (Gal.3:27).
3. We put on Christ (I Cor.12:13).
4. We are identified with Christ's death and resurrection (Rom.6:1-4; Col.2:12).
h. It results in fellowship, worship, and power (Acts 1:8; I Cor.2:15-16;
Gal.5:22-23; John 4:24).
i. It results in the bestowal of Spiritual gifts (I Cor.12).
j. It is the basis of the believer’s position and possessions in Christ (Eph.1:13;
Col.2:10; 3:1-4).
k. It is presented prophetically in the Gospels, historically in Acts (1:5 with
11:6), doctrinally in Epistles.
3. Regeneration and the Holy Spirit
Although men in every age are justified by faith (Gen.15:6), it seems clear that
regeneration or new birth (at least in the New Testament sense of the word--John
3:3-7, Titus 3:5) is the unique experience of the Body of Christ which is,
historically speaking, all believers between Pentecost and the coming of Christ for
His Church.
a. The Old Testament system offered pardon for sin but no power (new life).
1. Cleansing was provided through the Levitical sacrifices and offerings,
which pictures the coming cross of Christ.
Acts - Introduction 3

2. Change was promised through a NEW COVENANT (Jer.31:31-33;

Ezek.36:26-27) which was viewed in the Old Testament and the Gospels as a
future reality.
b. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, spoke of a Spirit baptism which was
to take place through Jesus in fulfillment of the Old Testament promise (Joel
2:28; Luke 3:16; 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; Gal.3:14).
c. Jesus came preaching that the Kingdom of God (eternal life, age to come,
regeneration) was at hand.
1. People were to repent in preparation for it (Mark 1:4-8).
2. He pointed His followed to a day (Pentecost) when they would experience
union with Him (John 14:20), and new power (Luke 24:49) through the
Spirit, Who would come after His ascension (John 16:7; Luke 24:49).
d. The Apostles make it quite clear that “new life” (regeneration) is dependent upon -
1. The death and resurrection of Christ (Rom.6:3-11,22; 7:6; Eph.2:4-9; I
Cor.5:15-17; Gal.2:20; I Peter 1:3-4).
2. The indwelling Holy Spirit (I John 3:24; 4:13; Rom.8:1-10).
e. In the New Testament, the absence of the Holy Spirit is a sign that the person
is unsaved, unregenerate, and outside the body of Christ (Rom.8:9).
4. Luke seems to makes a distinction between the SPIRIT BAPTISM (indwelling)
and SPIRIT FILLING (outworking).
a. Spirit baptism is a positional (non-experiential) event with experiential
aspects.

FACT POTENTIAL
(non-experiential for every (experiential for every Christian,
Christian at the point but often subsequent to
regeneration) regeneration)
Indwelt by the Spirit Filling (Pleroo)
Sealed with the Spirit Security of Salvation
United to Christ by the Spirit Power
United to the Body by the Spirit Fellowship
Given gifts by the Spirit Manifestation

b. We are baptized with the Spirit at the moment of new birth, and this is not
always an emotional event. Experiencing the results of the Baptism may be a
very emotional event.
c. Luke speaks of two types of FILLING.
1. PIMPLEMI (πιµπληµι)--This is a special filling which may be the best
word to describe the charismatic experience today.
a. It appears in
Acts - Introduction 4

Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to
speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.”;
Acts 4:8 “Then Peter, filled with the Hoy Spirit, said to them . . .”;
Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place where they had
gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit, and began to speak the word of God with boldness.”;
Acts 9:17 “the Lord Jesus . . . has sent me so that you may regain your
sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”;
Acts 13:9 “but Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy
Spirit, fixed his gaze upon him.” Note that this filling is consistently
associated with energy to speak prophetically or in praise.
b. Before Pentecost, “the filling of the Holy Spirit” was expressed
through a sovereign anointing for specific types of service-- Exodus
28:3 (35:30-35), Judges 3:10; 6:2,4; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6,19; 15:14.
(See also Numbers 11:17,25; 27:18; I Samuel 10:9-10; 16:13; Daniel
4:8; 5:11-14; 6:3)
c. Note the unique features of the Old Testament filling:
1. It had not relationship to spiritual character.
2. It was associated with a sovereign call to service for a specific
task.
3. It was temporary.
4. John 14:17 suggests that the Spirit’s work was from a position of
“with” as opposed to “in” the individual.
d. Classical examples of this special manifestation of power before
Pentecost are seen in Luke 1:15,41;67.
e. In short, this PIMPLEMI (filling) is not for every believer, temporary,
instant power, related to special gifts of service, given by God’s
sovereign will.
2. PLEROO (πληροω)--This is a term (translated “full” or “filled”) used to
describe a state of maturity available to all believers.
a. It is not dramatic (like PIMPLEMI) but more a description of character and
growing power.
b. It appears in
Acts 6:3 “but select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation
full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.”
Acts 7:55 “but being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven
and saw the glory of God.”
Acts 11:24 “for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.”
Acts 13:52 “and the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the
Holy Spirit.” (“Were filled” is an imperfect passive meaning “they kept on
being filled”.)
d. Some conclusions:
Acts - Introduction 5

1. Every true believer is Spirit baptized (indwelt) with the Holy Spirit - ie.
Rom.8:9, I Cor.12:13.
2. Every believer should grow to be “filled” (pleroo) with the Spirit.
3. Some (but not all) will experience a “filling” (pimplemi) for power
ministry, praise, and bold witness. This is what I would call “the
charismatic experience”.
5. Signs and Wonders in the Early Church.
a. We understand that God in Christ sustains all of nature. This means that there
is no ultimate conflict between what we call "natural" (God's normal
operation) and “supernatural” (God's unusual way of operating).
b. Supernatural acts vary in their degree of improbability:
Class “A” Miracles - Virtually unheard of in the natural world - ie. the resurrection from
the dead.
Class “B” Miracles - Highly improbable events in the natural world - ie. Physical healing
through prayer.
Class “C” Miracles - Natural events that are dramatic because of their timing - ie. Calming
the storm.
c. The importance and uniqueness of “signs and wonders” in the Early Church is
indicated in the following texts:
Heb.2:3-4 “how shall 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, God also bearing
witness with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the
Holy Spirit according to His own will.”
II Cor.12:12 “The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all
perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.”
NOTE: Jesus’ use of miracles tells us a lot about their purpose.
To authenticate a message: Jn.5:36; 20:30-31
To symbolize His spiritual work: Lk.5:23
To attract an audience: Jn.12:9
To reveal His fullness: Lk.8:46
To show compassion: Mk.1:41
d. A list of the miracles in Acts indicates that they were the work of the Apostles and
their associates, not every believer. Acts 2:43 “And everyone kept feeling a sense of
awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.” (Also
5:12)
TEXT KIND OF PERFORMED BY
2:43 Sign The twelve
3:67 Healing Peter & John
5:12 Sign The twelve
5:15-16 Healing Peter
5:19 Release from prison Angel
6:8 Sign Stephen
8:6 Sign Philip
9:40-41 Resurrection Peter
12:7 Release from prison Angel
13:11 Blinded Jesus
14:3 Sign Paul & Barnabas
Acts - Introduction 6

14:9-10 Healing Paul

16:18 Exorcism Paul
19:11-12 Healing & exorcism Paul
20:9-10 Resurrection Paul
23:11 Appearance of Christ God
27:23 Appearance of angel God
28:5 Immune to poison God
28:8 Healing Paul
28:9 Healing Paul

4. Paul indicates that the power of the Spirit would take different forms in
different people.
Eph.4:10-16 “10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the
heavens, that He might fill all things. 11 And He gave some {as} apostles, and some {as}
prophets, and some {as} evangelists, and some {as} pastors and teachers, 12 for the
equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13
until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a
mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14 As a
result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by
every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but
speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all {aspects} into Him, who is the head,
{even} Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which
every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the
growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. (See theology note file #604 on
apttoteach.org)

Lesson #2
We are called to live lives that “work properly” in the power of Godʼs Spirit.