What Is “The Gift of the Holy Spirit”

What Is“The Gift of the Holy Spirit”

in Acts 2:38

The Gift of the Holy Spirit• The three views presented in this lesson are held by

members of the church. Various views held among denominationalists will not be considered here.

• Two basic questions:

– What “measure” or “manifestation” of the H.S. are we talking about?

– Is the “gift” something the H.S. gives, or is the “gift” the H.S. himself? (Note: The grammar alone will not determine which is the correct one.)

The Gift of the Holy SpiritPosition 1: Miraculous Powers

• “The gift of the Holy Spirit” is the ability to work miraculous powers by the laying on of the Apostles’ hands; the “gift” is what the H.S. gives miraculously to every believer through the Apostles’ hands

• “and ye shall receive…” is something different from remission of sins

• The day of Pentecost is set in the context of miraculous activity from the H.S. (Acts 2:1-20)


• “Gift of the Holy Spirit” in Acts 2:38 is also used in Acts 10:45; and “gift” (Gr. dorea) is also found in Acts 8:20 and 11:17 of the miraculous gifts of the H.S.

• “Receive” in Acts 2:38 is used elsewhere of receiving miraculous gifts (Jn. 20:23; Acts 8:15-17; 19:2)

• Did the 3000 go home without any miraculous confirmation of the gospel message? No. Acts 2:38 is parallel to Mark 16:15-20.


• “The promise” in verse 39 is the same as the promise of the H.S. to perform miracles (Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:4)

• “All that are afar off” (v. 39) refers to “all flesh” (v. 17)

• This (miraculous) “gift of the Holy Spirit” ceased when the last Apostle died

The Gift of the Holy SpiritPosition 1: Reviewed

• The laying on the Apostles’ hands is not found in the immediate context, but later in Acts 8:17 and 19:6

• Miraculous powers for believers are associated with the laying on of the Apostles’ hands (Acts 8:14-18), not with repentance and baptism

• All believers were baptized in the first century but not all believers received miraculous powers (1 Cor. 12:27-30)


• “Gift” (Gr. dorea) is found in Acts 10:45 and 11:17, but this refers to something that Cornelius received before baptism, and their was no laying on of the Apostles hands on this occasion

• The “promise” of Lk. 24:49 and Acts 1:4 was for the Apostles only

• If miraculous powers have ceased today as this position demands, then the first part of Acts 2:38 is still in effect today but the last part is not!


• There is no mention of believers performing miracles in Acts 2 through 5, only Apostles (3:43; 4:16; 5:13). In Acts 6:6-8 we find an example of the laying on of the Apostles’ hands.

• “Afar off” in verse 39 refers to the Gentiles receiving salvation, not miraculous gifts

The Gift of the Holy SpiritPosition 2: Indwelling of the H.S.

• “The gift of the Holy Spirit” is the indwelling of the H.S.; the gift is the H.S. himself dwelling in Christians

– View 2 (A): The H.S. dwells in us through his word

– View 2 (B): The H.S. dwells in us personally

• “The gift of the Holy Spirit” is clarified in Jn. 7:37-39; Acts 5:32; Rom. 8:9,11,16,26-27; 1 Cor. 6:19; 12:13; 2 Cor. 1:22; 5:5; Gal. 4:6; and Eph. 1:13-14


• This position demands that the “gift” be the H.S. himself which cannot be proved conclusively from the grammar alone; the context must determine what is meant

• There is nothing stated in the immediate context of Acts 2 concerning the H.S. dwelling in the believers; one has to look elsewhere for passages dealing with the Spirit’s dwelling in believers to defend the position

The Gift of the Holy SpiritPosition 3: Blessings of Salvation

• The “gift of the Holy Spirit” is the blessing of salvation

• Note three effects of the Holy Sprit from Joel 2:28-32 (Acts 2:16-21)…

– “And”: Prophetic revelation (Acts 2:17-18)

– “And”: Miraculous demonstration (Acts 2:19-20)

– “And”: Spiritual salvation (Acts 2:21)


• The word “For” (Gr. gar) in verse 39 ties “the gift of the Holy Spirit” in verse 38, with the seed “promise” offered to Abraham (Acts 7:17; 13:32; 26:6; Rom. 4:13-20; 9:8; Gal. 3:8,14,16,17,19,22,29; Eph. 2:12; 3:6; Heb. 6:15-17; 9:15; 10:36)

• “Afar off” (v. 39) refers to the promise of the Gentiles being saved through Christ (Isa. 2:2; 5:26; 49:1; 57:19; Zech. 6:12-15; Eph. 2:13,17)


• The immediate context points to salvation (2:21,37-40,47)

2:21 - And it shall be, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.2:37 - Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and

the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? 2:38 - And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name

of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

2:39 - For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him.

2:40 - And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation.

2:47 - praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to them day by day those that were saved.


• Acts 2:38 is parallel to Acts 3:19 in the same context of Peter preaching to Jews in JerusalemActs 2:38 Acts 3:191. Repent 1. Repent2. Be baptized 2. Turn again3. Remission of sins 3. Sins blotted out4. Gift of the H.S. 4. Seasons of refreshing


• The “promise of the Holy Spirit” (v.33) is what the H.S. promised Jesus (to be raised to sit at the right hand of God – Psa. 16:8-10), not the H.S. himself

• Salvation is described as a “gift” elsewhere in the NT (Eph. 2:8, doron; Rom. 5:16-17, Heb. 6:6; dorea)

• “Gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38) is like the “gift of God” (Jn. 4:10) or the “gift of Christ” (Eph. 4:7); the gift is what each member of the Godhead gives; otherwise, the gift and the giver would be the same


• Peter was preaching to Jews who would “receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”… What gift did the H.S. give the Jews?

– The H.S. predicted salvation in Christ to the Jews (1 Pet. 1:10-11; cf. 2 Pet. 1:21)

– The H.S. preached salvation in Christ to the Jews (1 Pet. 1:12)


• If “the gift of the Holy Spirit” is the blessing of salvation, then Peter is being redundant in verse 38. Therefore, the gift of the H.S. must be something different from forgiveness of sins.

– Answer: First, remission of sins precedes salvation, so the word “and” is appropriate. Second, there is more to salvation than remission of sins. There are other blessings such as answered prayer, fellowship with Christians, a living hope, etc. (Eph. 3:6).


• Miraculous gifts are found in the context of Acts 2 (especially 2:1-20). The Spirit’s indwelling is taught in the NT.

– Answer: True, but what is the immediate context of Acts 2:38? The subject of salvation is the immediate context of Acts 2:38. Also, miraculous gifts were not promised to all believers upon their baptism. It is true that the Spirit’s indwelling is found in the broad context of the NT, but it is not found in the immediate context of Acts 2:38.

The Gift of the Holy Spirit• The word “gift” by itself does not tell what manifestation

of the H.S. is meant. One must look to the immediate context to determine what “gift” is meant.

• Position 3 best fits the immediate context of Acts 2 and the gift of salvation to both Jews and Gentiles.

• Position 1 requires something that was never promised to all believers upon their baptism. Position 2 requires one to leave the immediate context of Acts 2 and go elsewhere to makes its case.

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What Is “The Gift of the Holy Spirit”