The Holy Spirit in Acts

• Jesus instructs the apostles "through the Holy Spirit" (1:2).

• Power of the Holy Spirit for believers

• Promised to first disciples (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8)

• First disciples received at Pentecost (2:1-4)

• Promised to all repentant and baptized (2:37-39)

• Gentiles receive at Cornelius’s house (10:44-48; 11:15-18)

• The disciples at Ephesus (19:1-7)

• Terminology for receiving the Holy Spirit

• Baptized with (1:5; 11:16)

• Filled with (2:1-4)

• Poured out (2:17, 33)

• Fall upon (8:16; 10:44)

• God gave (15:8)

• The Holy Spirit in relation to water baptism

• First 120 disciples at Pentecost (2:4)

• 3000 at Pentecost sermon in conjunction with water baptism (2:38)

• Samaritans after water baptism, prayer, and laying on of hands (8:14-17)

• Cornelius after believing, but before water baptism (10:47)

• Ephesians disciples after two water baptisms and laying on of hands (19:1-6)

• The relationship of  tongues to the Holy Spirit in Acts

• To preach intelligibly to speakers of other languages (2:4-12)

• As a sign of fulfillment to the Jews of Gentile inclusion (15:6-9; Is 28:11; 45:23)

• Evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Similar to other evidences:

• Joy (13:52; 16:34)

• Sharing (4:32)

• Speaking with boldness (4:31)

• A heightened power of the Holy Spirit present during times of need

• Filled to preach (2:4; 4:8, 31; 11:24)

• Filled to confront evil (13:9)

• Filled to withstand persecution (7:55; 13:52).

• Deacons and other ministers must also be "full of the Spirit" (6:1-6), esp. when they prophesy (6:10; 11:28; 21:4).

• The Spirit "speaks to" the apostles and prophets (8:29; 10:19; 11:12; 13:1-4; 21:11).

• The Spirit leads and guides the decisions and actions of the Christian leaders (13:1-4; 15:28; 16:6-7; 19:21; 20:22-23).