In this concluding article on the Holy Spirit we will prove that the points made in the first three articles are true! To this point, we have pointed out three things¨1) the apostles received “power” after the Holy Spirit came upon them; 2) this “power” enabled the apostles to speak by inspiration; 3) that this “power” enabled the apostles to do miracles which confirmed that their words came the Holy Spirit and 4) that this “power” enabled them to lay hands on others to impart spiritual gifts.
First, only the apostles did receive “power” as promised them by the Lord Jesus Christ. As Luke wrote: “But ye shall receive power, after that Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Act. 1:8) This became a reality on the first Pentecost after the Lord was resurrected, once more as Luke penned: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). Here the apostles received the promised “power’ which enabled them to preach the gospel by inspiration and confirmed it with ‘tongues; that is they spoke in languages which they did not know by natural means. This marks the beginning of the age of Christ. Paul put it this way; “which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Spirit teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:13). The “power” which the Holy Spirit gave to the apostles enabled them to speak by inspiration.
Second, this “power” received by the apostles enabled them to lay hands on others and impart “spiritual” gifts. Luke wrote: “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 you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business” (Acts 6:3). Please notice that one of the qualifications was that they had to be “full” of the Holy Spirit. This means that the apostles had already laid their hands upon them and this means that no one upon who the apostles had not laid their hands were to be considered. This is true as every time the phrase is used, a miraculous event followed. Such as when Mary conceived: “and it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:41-42). Notice when Elisabeth was “filled with the Holy Spirit” she said: “blessed art thou among women” and “blessed is the fruit of thy womb,” which would be Jesus! Every time one is said to be “filled” or “full of,” the Spirit, something miraculous follows! How did Elisabeth know this? She was “filled with the Holy Spirit.” You can look this up for yourself. Therefore, the seven had already had the apostle’s hands laid upon them!
Third, those upon whom the apostles had laid their hands on could not impart spiritual gifts to others. Let us notice this in the text. Luke wrote that the apostles heard that many had obeyed the gospel, they send John and Peter to them. Why was this done? Let Luke tell us as he wrote: ”Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Let Luke tell us how this took place when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, see this, for more proof as he wrote: : “And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money“ (Act 8:18). Please notice that Simon did not offer Philip any money! Why not? Because Philip, even though he had the hands of apostle laid upon him, he could not do same to others! Simon did not offer him money! Thus, only the apostles could impart spiritual gifts!
Let me call your attention to this truth. It was the “power” the apostles received and not the personal, bodily Holy Spirit which some claim. No one had to have the personal Holy Spirit to dwell within them. What they needed was the “power” of the Holy Spirit. The apostles imparted “power” to the ones who had hands laid on them but they could not do the same.
Frank R. Williams