The Holy Spirit and the Apostolic Church

The Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles are our sole records of the Apostolic Church. Acts is sometimes referred to as the acts or the works of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was given to the apostles as their primary source of power for the evangelistic work of the early church. Prior to their undertaking of this enormous task of witnessing, all the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). Many other passages, such as Acts 4:8, 31; 6:3-5, and 11:24 testify that the apostles and the Christian believers were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

If one will carefully journey through the Book of Acts, the powerful workings of the Spirit become obvious. The Holy Spirit was the prime mover of the early church.

For example, in Acts 2:11, when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles at Pentecost, they were instantly empowered and began to speak mightily of the acts of God. Peter instinctively began preaching about the outpouring of God's Spirit (2:17,33), and he promised people the gift of the Holy Spirit if they would repent and be baptized. As a result of this power-filled event, approximately 3,000 people were "added" to the church.

Peter also heals a lame man and preaches boldly to the Sanhedrin because he was "filled with the Spirit" (4:8). Later, we read that after being released from prison and returning to pray with other believers, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the Word of God with courage and boldness (4:31).

We also read of Ananias and Sapphira who died because they were not completely honest with the Holy Spirit.

When seven men were chosen to be in charge of serving food, one of the three qualifications was that they be "full of the Spirit" (6:3).

Stephen, one of the seven, preached stirringly in the power of the Spirit. His opponents "could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke" (Acts 6:10-12).

Philip preached in the might of the Holy Spirit in Acts 8. John Wimber and Kevin Springer say, "When the first-century Christians came to a new city, signs and wonders followed" (Power Evangelism, p. 107). The Spirit's power was so manifested that a heathen magician "believed" and desired to purchase this great power from above (8:5-24).

Philip was later led by the Spirit to witness to the Ethiopian eunuch, leading to the conversion of this important man (8:26-38). He was then snatched away by the Spirit to Azotus, where he kept proclaiming the gospel from city to city (8:39-40).

These references in Acts are only few of the manifestations and workings of the Holy Spirit. No doubt, the early church was Spirit-filled, Spirit-guided, Spirit-generated, and Spirit-powered! I might even say the early church was privileged to be "possessed" by the Holy Spirit. This was their secret of the dynamic power behind the ministry of the apostolic church. The Holy Spirit was the key to evangelism, growth, and renewal in the Book of Acts.

Even today, wherever the Christian faith is rapidly growing, we can see the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in great might and power. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate cause of growth; spiritual work can be accomplished only through the Spirit's power. The pronouncement is clear in the kingdom of God: "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6). The sovereign leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit is the church's greatest need today. Think on these things.

Dr. Wesley S. K. Daniel is a former staff member of the Discipleship Ministries.