The Holy Spirit's Work in Stephen & others

Faith in the Book of Acts:

Our last study compared the Jewish Pentecostal Church in Jerusalem that came into existence shortly after Jesus ascended into heaven (approx. 29 AD) to the church, the Body of Christ as revealed to the Apostle Paul in about 37 AD and thereafter. Today, we’ll consider the history of the Holy Spirit’s work and gifts leading up to and bestowed upon the Pentecostal church. Our study of faith brings us to this subject found in the sixth chapter of Acts where one of the Holy Spirit’s gifts is faith, the other two being wisdom and power.

In Acts 6 we learn the job of overseeing the distribution of supplies to those in the Pentecostal church had grown exponentially as believers were added. That church included not only Hebrew speaking Jews who lived in Palestine but also Jews from other countries who spoke other languages, Acts 2:5 - 125 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

. The Greek speaking Jews were called Hellenists (the King James version translates Hellenists as “Grecians,” Acts 6:11 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

) and the Hellenists/Grecians complained against the Hebrew speaking Jews that their widows were not receiving a fair share of the daily supplies, Acts 6:1. (Keep in mind that everyone in that assembly had sold all they had and placed the proceeds into a common pool from which everyone in the group lived, Acts 2:44 & 4544 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

, 4:32.) Up to this time the 12 Apostles had been in charge of the supplies: “Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.” Acts 6:22 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

. In other words, the 12 Apostles most important responsibility was to preach and teach the Word of God, not to distribute money, food and supplies to those in the assembly. Therefore, the 12 Apostles proposed to delegate supply management so they could devote their time to their primary task, The Word of God.

The Apostles called the assembly together and told them to choose 7 men who were full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to handle the treasury and distribution of supplies, Acts 6:2 - 42 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

. This pleased the members and “... they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:” Acts 6:55 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

. Everyone in that assembly was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God with boldness (confidence), Acts 4:3131 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

so they had the necessary wisdom to chose the right men for the job. Commentators state that all seven men chosen have Greek names, indicating they probably were all Grecians. One of them was even a Gentile who had converted, he being Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.

These seven men in general and Stephen in particular are described as having 3 special gifts, namely - wisdom, faith and power, Acts 6:33 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

, 5 & 8. These 3 characteristics or attributes were gifts of the Holy Spirit and not innate abilities of the men but they were not something new to the Pentecostal church as the history of Israel is replete with men who were filled with God’s Spirit in order to accomplish His purpose for His people, as the following examples prove:

•Moses had the Spirit of God upon Him, Numbers 11:1717 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

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•God told Moses He (God) had appointed or called Bezaleel and Aholiab and others by filling them with His Spirit in wisdom, understanding and knowledge in all manner of workmanship so they could build His Tabernacle and all its contents to God’s specifications. God dwelt in the Tabernacle in the midst of Israel, Exodus 31:1 - 111 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:

3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,

4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,

5 And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.

6 And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

7 The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture of the tabernacle,

8 And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense,

9 And the altar of burnt offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot,

10 And the cloths of service, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office,

11 And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.

; 35:30 & 31,

•God shared His Spirit that He put on Moses with 70 elders appointed to assist Moses in ruling/judging Israel, Numbers 11:1616 And the LORD said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.

, 17, 25 & 26,

•Joshua had God’s Spirit when God told Moses to appoint him as his successor, Numbers 27:1818 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

, Deuteronomy 34:99 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.

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•The Spirit of the Lord came upon Othniel who judged Israel for 40 years after having thrown off their oppressors, Judges 3:9 - 119 And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.

11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

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•The Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, Judges 6:3434 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.

, who with only 300 men defeated 1000’s of Midianites, Judges 7. Gideon then judged Israel for 40 years in peace and quiet, Judges 8:2828 Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.

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•The Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson, who was far less than perfect otherwise, and gave him great strength with which to defeat Israel’s enemies, Judges 14:66 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

, 19; 15:14, etc.,

•The Spirit of the Lord came upon David, 1 Samuel 16:1313 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

, King of Israel, on whose throne Jesus Christ will someday rule Israel.

There are other examples in the Old Testament (OT) of Israelites who were given the gifts of wisdom, faith and power by the Holy Spirit and significantly, God made a promise in the OT to raise up a Man in Israel who will fulfill all God’s promises to them: “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.” Isaiah 11:1 - 51 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:

2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;

3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

4 But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.

5 And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

. See also Isaiah 42:11 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

, quoted in Matthew 12:1818 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

. The Man referenced is the Lord Jesus Christ but the complete fulfillment of this prophesy awaits a future day.

In the Gospel records we find only a few individuals said to have the Holy Spirit upon them. The first one mentioned is Simeon upon whom the Holy Spirit came. He had been promised he would see Christ before he died and was then guided by the Spirit to see Jesus after Mary completed the Law’s required purification period following Jesus’ birth and circumcision. Joseph and Mary had taken Jesus to the Temple to present Him to the Lord and offer the required sacrifice and there Simeon thanked God he had seen God’s salvation, Luke 2:22 - 3522 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

23 (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

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John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost from the time he was in his mother’s womb, Luke 1:1515 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

. “And he (John the Baptist) shall go before him (Jesus Christ) in the spirit and power of Elias, (Elijah) to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord,” Luke 1:1717 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

. (The fathers referenced here were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, etc., while the children of John’s day were unbelieving and unrighteous Jews. The effect of John’s ministry was to turn their hearts to be like their fathers, George Williams Student Commentary, page 743.)

When Jesus Christ began His earthly ministry to Israel He was baptized in order to fulfill all righteousness (in obedience to God’s will for Israel at that time) Matthew 3:13 - 1513 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

. The Holy Spirit descended upon Him, Matthew 3:1616 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

; Mark 1:99 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

, John 1:3232 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

, and Jesus’ first act of ministry was to be led by the Spirit into the Wilderness where He fasted for 40 days and nights and Satan tried his Faith, Matthew 4:1 - 131 Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

; Mark 1:1212 And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

. Satan has always attacked faith in God’s Word but Jesus withstood the test (for details about this incident see Faith Studies Vol 3, No 4, July 17, 20018 through Number 9, October 28, 2008). There are other references to Jesus being in the power of the Spirit or the Spirit being upon Him, Luke 4:1414 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

, 18.

Nowhere in the Gospels do we find where any of the Apostles or Disciples of Christ were “filled with the Spirit,” or operated with the power of the Spirit. Jesus “called” His Disciples, Matthew 4:18 - 2218 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

, 9:9; Mark 2:1414 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

; Luke 5:2727 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.

and “choose” His Apostles from among the Disciples, Luke 6:1313 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

. Then He “kept” them from being lost while He was with them on earth, John 17:1212 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

. However, He promised them He would send the Holy Spirit to them, John 14:16 & 1716 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

and: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you,” John 16:77 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

, see also John 15:2626 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

. After His death and resurrection He appeared to the 11 Apostles and revealed what was going to happen after He went to heaven, the account of which is recorded in three of the Gospel records, Mark 16:14 - 1814 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

; Luke 24:36 - 4536 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

43 And he took it, and did eat before them.

44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

and John 20:1919 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

- 2319 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD.

21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

. In these 3 passages each Gospel writer recorded his respective observation of what happened so its necessary to collate the three accounts to get the full picture:

•The 11 apostles and other disciples were gathered together behind closed/locked doors when Jesus suddenly appeared to them, John 20:19,

•Jesus demonstrated that although He could miraculously pass through sold objects, like doors, His Body was nevertheless flesh and bones and He ate food in their presence, John 20:19; Luke 24:36 - 4336 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

43 And he took it, and did eat before them.

•Jesus breathed on them the Holy Spirit, John 20:2222 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

; Luke described this as “opening their understanding” to what He had taught when He was with them about His fulfilling what Moses and the Old Testament prophets foretold about His suffering, arising from the dead and preaching the remission of sins, Luke 24:44 - 4844 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

48 And ye are witnesses of these things.

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•Jesus told them to go to all the world and preach the Gospel and those who believed and were baptized would be saved while those who didn’t believe would be dammed, Mark 16:14 - 1614 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

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•Jesus told them the following signs would be given to those who believed; they would have the power to cast out demons, speak in languages formerly unknown to them, be bitten by serpents or drink poison but not be harmed, and they were to heal the sick, Mark 16:17 - 1817 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

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•Jesus delegated to them power to forgive people for their sins and/or judge others for their sins, ,

•Finally, He told them to stay in Jerusalem until they received “power from on high,” i.e., were filled with the Holy Spirit, Luke 24:4949 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

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Scripture is very clear that the Apostles/Disciples did not receive the Holy Spirit until after Jesus Christ ascended into heaven, John 7:3939 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

, 16:7; Acts 2:3333 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

. Jesus Christ had to “finish” His work of redemption on the cross and ascend into heaven before His people could receive the Holy Spirit to carry out God’s work on earth. In fact, during His time on earth, absolutely no one knew God’s plan for Jesus to die on the cross in order to redeem His people. Jesus’ prayer on the cross “Father forgive them for they know not what they do,” Luke 24:3434 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

, reflects the truth that they didn’t know what they were doing when they had Him crucified. They did what they did because of their fallen human instincts, as provoked by the Prince and the Power of the air, 1 Corinthians 2:7 & 87 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

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Even after the Holy Spirit empowered those in the Pentecostal church, the Nation of Israel never the less rejected, persecuted and killed God’s servants, beginning with Stephen, Acts 6 & 7 and as those in that early Pentecostal church died out, the specific gifts of the Holy Spirit left with them. But this did not surprise God a bit, for He had a plan to offer salvation apart from His promises of a Kingdom here on earth to Israel, a plan to offer salvation to individual Jews and Gentiles alike, a plan He had kept secret throughout the ages until He revealed it to the Apostle Paul, Romans 16:25 & 2625 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

. Through Paul was revealed the Church, The Body of Christ, this age of Grace, not prophesied in the Old Testament because part of that secret was that Israel, as God’s chosen people, would be set aside as the World’s prominent nation for awhile, Romans 9 - 11. Unlike God’s promise to Israel for an earthly Kingdom, the Church, the Body of Christ, has had a heavenly hope and calling, Ephesians 1:3 - 143 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

; 3:1 - 13, for almost 2000 years now.

But God keeps His promises and someday in the future, after the Church, the Body of Christ is taken to heaven, He will put His Spirit into a remnant of Israel as prophesied by Ezekiel: “Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel. And they shall come thither, and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence. And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” Ezekial 11:17 - 20.

And so it was almost 2000 years ago that the Apostle Peter informed the Jewish believers in that Pentecostal church, who were waiting for the Day of the Lord, that one day is as 1000 years and 1000 years is as one day to God but God is not slack in His promises and everything He promised Israel will happen. Peter went on to explain that the longsuffering of God is Salvation, even as the Apostle Paul taught some things that were difficult to understand, 2 Peter 3. Yes, Paul’s teachings were difficult for Israel to understand because believing Israelites thought the Lord Jesus Christ would soon return and establish His Kingdom on earth, “Whom (Jesus Christ) the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began,” Acts 3:2121 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

. Those believing Israelites were looking for the times of restitution of all things to happen back then because they didn’t know about God’s secret concerning the Church, the Body of Christ during this age of pure grace.