Lesson 4:The Coming of the Holy Spirit

Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study

• Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles (1:4-8).– The promise was made to the apostles (“you” in Luke

24:49; Acts 1:4, 5, 8; John 14-16).– Jesus referenced “the Promise of the Father” (1:4; parallel

with Luke 24:49).• The “Promise of the Father” is a reference to Joel 2:28-32.

– Jesus referenced promises “you have heard from Me” (1:4).• John 14:16-17, 25-26; 15:26; 16:7-13.

Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study

• Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles (1:4-8).– Jesus detailed the manner of the Holy Spirit’s coming (1:5).

• “You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (1:5), as John promised (Matt. 3:11).– They would receive an overwhelming influence & measure of

the Spirit’s power.– Their spirits would be completely overwhelmed (immersed)

by the Holy Spirit.• “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you”

(1:8).– The apostles would be “endued with power from on high”

(Luke 24:49).– The Holy Spirit would come with power.

Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study

• Jesus promised the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles (1:4-8).– Jesus detailed the place and time of the Holy Spirit’s

coming (1:5-6).• Jesus told the apostles to remain in Jerusalem for the Spirit (Lk.

24:47, 49; Ac. 1:4, 8).• Jesus narrowed the time of the coming to “not many days from

now” (1:5).– Jesus detailed the purpose for the Holy Spirit’s coming on

the apostles (1:8).• “You shall receive power…and you shall be witnesses to Me”

(1:8).• The Spirit would come on the apostles that they might speak the

Words of Truth.

Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study

• The Holy Spirit came just as Jesus promised (2:1-4).– In Acts 2, the 12 apostles were all together in the city of

Jerusalem (1:12; 2:5).– In Acts 2, the “Day of Pentecost had fully come” (2:1).

• One of the 3 annual feasts all male Jews were required to attend.• A.K.A. Feast of weeks (Dt. 16:10), feast of harvest (Ex. 23:16), feast of

ingathering (Ex. 34:22), feast of firstfruits (Nu. 28:26-31).• Pentecost was 50 days (Greek = 50th) after Passover (Lev. 23:15-21).

– Pentecost was always on the first day of week (Lev. 23:15-16).– Sunday became day of significance for Christians, not the

Sabbath (Col. 2:14-17).• “Had fully come” literally means “was being fulfilled.” THE day had

arrived!– Not just any Pentecost! The one God made the focal point of

history (cf. Gal. 4:4).

Overview of the Passage & Helpful Facts for Further Bible Study

• The Holy Spirit came just as Jesus promised (2:1-4).– In Acts 2, the apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit

(2:2-4).• The events in their meeting place first “appeared to” the apostles

only (2:3).• The visible forked tongues of fire were a symbol of the audible

tongues to come.• “All” apostles had their spirits overwhelmed and controlled by the

Spirit (2:4).– The “power” of the Spirit took its effect on their minds.– The “presence” of the Spirit manifested itself in their words

(not own words).• The apostles began to speak real, human languages they had never

learned.