Acts 2:38b. The Gift Of The Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38b) Acts 2:38 And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus.

Acts 2:38b

The Gift Of The Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38b)

Acts 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.

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.

Differing views on Acts 2:38b

1. Miraculous Gifts – Unqualified, permanent, even today.

2. Miraculous Gifts – qualified, temporary, applicable only to the 1st century.

3. Personal Indwelling – “non-miraculous” literal & personal presence of the Holy Spirit when one is baptized.

4. Eternal Life – salvation granted to those who obey the Gospel.


A. Joel’s ProphecyJoel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my

Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit. 30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah cometh. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall be delivered; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those that escape, as Jehovah hath said, and among the remnant those whom Jehovah doth call.


I. Miraculous Power & Spiritual Gifts?

B. Joel’s Prophecy Fulfilled Miraculously

1. Last days (Heb. 1:1; Is. 2:2).

2. Pour out Spirit, Blood, Fire, Vapor & Smoke (miraculous events in Acts).

3. All Flesh – Jew & Gentile

- Sons & Daughters (Gender)

- Young & Old (Age)

- Servants (Social status)

4. Call on Lord - Salvation



Certainly Joel was pointing to Pentecost. Yet…

C. Some Say Acts 2:38b Is Miraculous Promise!

Joel’s Prophecy Acts 2Call on Lord

Be Saved

Pour out Spirit

Sons & Daughters

All Flesh

Acts 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.

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.



?

Does Acts 2:38b

promise miraculous gifts

to all believers?

I. Miraculous Power & Spiritual Gifts?D. Is Baptism of the Holy Spirit For All Converts?

John’s promise: Immersion in H.S. (Truth) & fire (judgment) (Mt. 3:11)

Jesus’ promise:

(1) To the apostles (Jn 14:26; 15:26; 16:13).

(2) Power from on high to apostles (Lk 24:49).

(3) A specific time & place to apostles (Acts 1:5)

Fulfillment: Apostles specified (Ax 1:26, 2:1,7,14,42). Cornelius’ immersion was surprising! Had only happened upon the apostles (Acts 11:15).


Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles that were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit: 16 for as yet it was fallen upon none of them: only they had been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay my hands, he may receive the Holy Spirit. 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.

Miracles passed by Apostles’ hands.



Cornelius’ house was the only exception!

Acts 8:14(1) From Pentecost miraculous gifts were passed on only by apostles’ hands (Acts 8:14). There was only one exception to this rule (Acts 10:45).

(2) And Paul was the LAST witness & apostle (1 Cor. 15:8; Acts 1:15-22).

(3) Thus, miracles could not continue beyond the lifetime of the apostles & those they passed them too!



Acts 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit. 17 If then God gave unto them the like gift as he did also unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?

Purpose? Announce salvation to Gentiles (11:18)!

Duration? Miracles not to abide (1 Cor. 13:8-13)!

Extent? Not all had miraculous gifts (Rom. 1:11)!



(1) Joel’s prophecy foretold the miracles & their purpose… announcing salvation!

(2) Miracles have ceased!

(3) Not all received immersion in the H.S!

(4) Not all received laying on of hands by apostles.

(5) Miracles sometimes came BEFORE one was even saved! Acts 2:38 comes AFTER baptism…

(6) Too many differences! It cannot be a promise of miracles to all believers!


I. Miraculous Power & Spiritual Gifts?E. Thus, Acts 2:38b can not be miracles!

A. If the HS works in a direct, but non-miraculous way how would we ever know it? Not revealed!

B. This is groundwork for Pentecostal mysticism!

C. The Word “Gift” [Dorea] & Sentence Structure:

(1) “The gift of God” = living water (John 4:10).

(2) “The gift of Christ” = grace, instruction (Eph. 4:7).

(3) “The gift of the Holy Spirit” = salvation (Acts 2:38b, 21, 39).If the Spirit is personally given, what of Christ & God?


II. Personal “Non-Miraculous” Indwelling?

D. Compare: The Gift & The Promise

“Receive the PROMISE of the Holy Spirit” (2:33) What did Jesus receive?

(1) Personal indwelling? OR…

(2) Throne of David (Acts 2:24, 30, 34)?

“Receive the GIFT of the Holy Spirit” (2:38)

What do all receive?

(1) Personal indwelling? OR…

(2) What the Spirit promised? Salvation!



E. Parallel In Acts 26:18

(1) Instruct: “Open their eyes”

(2) Persuade: “Turn… from darkness to light”

(3) Receive:



Acts 26:18

a. “Remission of sins”

b. “Inheritance among the sanctified”

Acts 2:38

a. “Remission of sins”

b. “Gift of the Holy Spirit”

Some say “saved” & “saved” would be redundant!

Yet, Here Is An Inspired Parallel!

F. Promise Of The Spirit (Gal. 3:14).

1. Righteousness like Abraham’s promised (Gal. 3:6-9; Gen. 12:8; 13:15; 17:8).

2. Includes Gentiles (Gal. 3:14).

3. Received “in Christ” (Gal. 3:14).

4. Called “the promise of the Spirit by faith” (3:22).



What was promised? The Spirit or Salvation?

How given? Personal indwelling or by faith?

G. What Did The Spirit Promise (1 Peter 1:3-12)?

1. Spirit prophesied via prophets (1:10-11).

2. About What?

a. Hope, Inheritance (1:3-4)! b. Res (1:3)!

c. Salvation (1:5, 9, 10)! d. Grace (1:10)!

e. Glories that follow Christ’s suffering (1:11)!

f. By faith in the gospel (1:5, 7, 9, 12)!



What was promised? The Spirit or Salvation?

How given? Personal indwelling or by faith?

H. Metonym – Figure of speech whereby one word is substituted for another that it has a relationship with.

Cause-Effect Part-Whole Etc.

Effect-Cause Whole-Part



If the Spirit literally, personally indwells us…

Why not the Father & Son too?

(1) The Holy Spirit dwells in you (Rom. 8:9).

(2) God the Father dwells in you (1 John 4:15).

(3) Jesus dwells in you (John 14:20; Eph. 3:17).

H. Metonym – Figure of speech whereby one word is substituted for another that it has a relationship with.

Cause-Effect Part-Whole Etc.

Effect-Cause Whole-Part



When we walk in the Spirit’s law, imitate God’s character, obey Christ’s commands… they dwell in us!

(1) Spirit revealed a law (Rom. 8:9, 2)!

(2) The Father revealed His character (1Jn 4:7-15)!

(3) Jesus gave commands (Jn.14:20-21; Eph.3:17)!

III. The Gift Is Salvation! Eternal Life!It is in the context!

It is the whole point of the Spirit’s temporary miraculous work!

It is for all (Jews & Gentiles)!

Is it available until the end of time to any who by faith are baptized (Acts 2:38-39)!


Differing views on Acts 2:38b

1. Miraculous Gifts – Unqualified, permanent, even today.

2. Miraculous Gifts – qualified, temporary, applicable only to the 1st century.

3. Personal Indwelling – “non-miraculous” literal & personal presence of the Holy Spirit when one is baptized.

4. Eternal Life – salvation granted to those who obey the Gospel.


Will You Obey & Be Blessed?

Acts 2:38b. The Gift Of The Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38b) Acts 2:38 And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus.

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