The Power of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2: Speaking by the Spirit and Perseverance in Faith

Reflections

Looking at the second chapter of Acts, we see that Peter defends the actions of Jesus’ disciples during Pentecost and the result is that 3,000 are baptized! What amazing results!

The whole point of the Pentecost was that Jesus would send his Holy Spirit to his people, and send he did. First, the disciples have beams of light or tongues of fire settle on them. Next, they are enabled to preach the words of God in languages that they did not know. Even more amazing is that there were people in the audience that could understand these words. Some people were amazed, but others claimed that the disciples must be drunk. To combat this, Peter follows the Holy Spirit’s prompting, gets up in front of the crowd, and explains why this was an act of the Holy Spirit and not of drunkenness. Finally, 3,000 people hear Peter’s message and decide to follow Jesus by repenting and being baptized. Wow!

Peter’s Defense

First, we know that the disciples were speaking by the Holy Spirit because Acts 2:4 tells us this.

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.
Acts 2:4 (WEB)

We can then see that Peter finds the correct scripture references to convince the crowd that this event is from God. In Acts 2:18, Peter shows the crowd that Joel had predicted this exact event:

Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
Acts 2:18 (WEB)

In Acts 2:27 Peter also shows them that David predicted that Jesus would die, but that his body would not see decay. This is exactly what happened when Jesus was raised to life!

Because you will not leave my soul in Hades, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.
Acts 2:27 (WEB)

He then tells the people that the reason that Jesus was not able to stay in the realm of the dead was that Jesus is the Lord and Messiah!

For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’
Acts 2:34-36 (WEB)

In Acts 2:38-39, Peter doesn’t just leave the ideas of the Messiah abstract, but he gives a specific call to action: repent and be baptized!

Acts 2:38-39 - A Bible Memory Verse — **Read:** Acts 2:38-39 – A Bible Memory Verse with Reflection Questions

While the passage doesn’t specifically say that Peter was still filled with the Holy Spirit when he spoke these words, the end result should convince us of that fact.

With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:40-41 (WEB)

It is hard to believe that 3,000 people would choose to be baptized at once unless the Spirit was moving!

More Examples of the Holy Spirit Moving

It could be wondered whether Pentecost had unusually high activity by the Holy Spirit, but we see many more cases throughout the New Testament. In the book of Luke, Jesus assures his disciples that the Holy Spirit will be with them whenever they face persecution and arrest.

“When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don’t be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say.”
Luke 12:11-12 (WEB)

This is lived out throughout the book of Acts. In chapter 5, God allowed the disciples to be arrested, but he then had his angels freed them and told them to go speak in the public square.

And laid hands on the apostles, then put them in public custody. But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out and said,“Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”
Acts 5:18-20 (WEB)

What surprise the guards had in the morning! The disciples were again re-arrested, but the Holy Spirit gave them words that allowed them to be released.

They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Acts 5:40 (WEB)

Of course, this does not mean that the experience was pleasant. The disciples ended up getting flogged! But, they managed to still find joy in the fact that they survived their trial and would be able to carry on with their mission.

They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus’ name. Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ.
Acts 5:41-42 (WEB)

There are some things in life that are worth suffering for. The disciples decided that proclaiming the good news about Jesus was worth a flogging and other persecution. What kind of faith does it take to have this type of dedication to sharing the message of God?

Stephen also was given words by the Holy Spirit. As he preached about Jesus, the Holy Spirit gave him both the ability to speak and to perform great wonders and signs.

Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. But some of those who were of the synagogue called “The Libertines”, and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen. They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
Acts 6:8-10 (WEB)

Of course, there were people that were angered by this and who tried to oppose Stephen. Despite these obstacles, the Spirit stayed with him, and his opposers were not able to match his talent with words. Eventually, his persecutors had to resort to lies and deception to arrest him, but even then, they knew it was wrong.

All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.
Acts 6:15 (WEB)

But, his accusers would not accept the words of the Holy Spirit, covered their ears, shouted to drown out the sounds of the Holy Spirit, and had Stephen stoned.

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers. You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn’t keep it!”

Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears, then rushed at him with one accord.
Acts 7:51-57 (WEB)

My guess is that Stephen was joyful that he stayed true to God and was able to continue his evangelistic efforts, no matter what persecution and suffering he encountered. God does not promise that our lives will be easy, but he does promise that the Holy Spirit will be with us always.

How can we respond to the Holy Spirit?

There are countless more examples of the Holy Spirit working in both the New Testament, Old Testament, and the lives of people outside the Bible. The big question is, “How am I going to respond to the Holy Spirit?” Are we going to be like Stephen and the other disciples, or are we going to be like the rulers who covered their ears and made loud noises to drown out the Holy Spirit?

The temptation is to aim for a life of comfort and ease. The question is whether this is what God really wants for us? The Bible states over and over that what God really wants is for us to know him and for us to convince others to know him.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:16 (WEB)

As we do this, we are bound to encounter some uncomfortable situations. Living in America, we are unlikely to be stoned for sharing our faith in Jesus, but we are likely to face ridicule, scorn, and loss of relationship. People in the Middle East are likely to face far worse than this. As we experience these things, Jesus does not always promise rest for our bodies, he does promise rest for our souls.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you will find rest for your souls.”
Matthew 11:28-29 (WEB)

As we accept this rest in our souls, we can count on the fact that the Holy Spirit will give us the right words at the right point in time. No matter what persecution we encounter, when we run to Jesus and follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we can have joy in the fact that our souls are right with God. The disciples were beaten, but still had joy. Stephen was persecuted by the rulers, but he still had the face of an angel. We can choose to have bitterness in our circumstances, or we can choose to have joy in our souls. It isn’t an easy choice, but we have many faithful examples of people who managed to find this rest.

Reflection Questions

What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit?
Have you ever had the Holy Spirit give you words to say? Describe the encounter.
Have you ever listened to a person speak and were certain that the Holy Spirit was giving them words to say? Describe the encounter.
Are you having any current struggles with bitterness? What could you do to turn this bitterness into joy?
Have you ever been in a very difficult situation that could have produced bitterness, but instead you found comfort in your soul? What prompted this joy? Was it immediate, or did it take a while?