The Spirit During the Apostolic Age
Power in Miracles
In his Pentecost sermon, Peter called attention to the “miracles and wonders and signs” which Jesus had done in their midst. Now possessing the same power of the Spirit that Jesus had before them, the apostles themselves proceeded to do many “wonders and signs.”
Miracles were an effective means of convincing the people of the genuineness of their mission. To see the sick made well and the lame walk was positive evidence of a power that was not their own, and being in possession of that power, they lost no opportunity to use it.
A Lame Man Healed
The first miracle recorded was the healing of a man “above forty years old” who was known by all to have been lame from his birth. Seeing him by the Temple gate, Peter took the man by the hand, saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk…and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength” (Acts 3:6-7). Notice that Peter does not claim any power for himself; he is simply acting as he knows his Lord would have under similar circumstances. The power is that of the Spirit of God, the same power Jesus had possessed in His ministry. The incident can be explained in no other way than as a miracle.
Sudden Death
A part of the arrangement of the Apostolic Church concerned the possessions of the believers. We learn that they were together and “had all things in common,” and they “sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need” (Acts 2:44-45). This plan was workable under Holy Spirit power because those possessing the power could know the needs and could divide the property equitably. One facet of the Power made this possible: the power to know what was in men’s minds.
Ananias sought to thwart the plan and conspired with his wife Sapphira to keep back part of the proceeds of their property (something to fall back on in case they were not satisfied with the Church). Their decision led to their demise; first Ananias, then three hours later his wife.
It is obvious from the Scriptures that having all things common was not mandatory. Their sin was not that they kept back part of the money, but that they lied to God. With the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter could read their minds and knew that they lied; and it was the same power of the Holy Spirit that caused their death. The incident caused “great fear [to come] upon all the church.” You can read the entire narrative in Acts 5:1-11.
Life Restored
A certain disciple named Dorcas, a sister in the faith, “full of good works and charitable deeds which she did,” was taken sick and died. Immediately the brethren sent for Peter, and while they mourned in another room, Peter “knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up….Then he…presented her alive” (Acts 9:36-42). As a result of the miracle, many believed. Again it was the power of the Spirit of God, the same wonder-working power that had restored the life of a widow’s son for Elijah.
• Power in Prayer
One cannot study the Book of Acts without realizing how truly great was the power possessed by the apostles after Pentecost. The power was shown not only in miracles of healing, but also through answered prayer.
The Church Prays
After being threatened by the council, Peter and John returned to the brethren and reported the incident. They had informed the men of the council that they must continue to speak, and with the brethren they prayed for the power to do so. “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31). It appears to have been a “second” Pentecost, a renewal of the Holy Spirit power, an affirmation by God that He was behind the movement and that their prayers were heard.
Cornelius’ Prayer Heard
In Acts 10 we read of the prayers of a Gentile convert being heard. In connection with the same incident, Peter’s prayers resulted in a vision that brought him an important message from God: God is no respecter of persons, it matters not whether Jew or Gentile; God judges men according to their works. All visions are the work of the Spirit, a means of communicating important messages from God to man.
The Church Prays for Peter
Peter was in prison, and “constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church “ (Acts 12:5). God heard through His Spirit and answered their prayer. He sent His angel and released Peter and he returned to the assembled brethren while they were still praying. The angel of God wrought the miracle of his release.
• Power in “Tongues”
When the Holy Spirit power came upon those assembled at Pentecost, we read that they “began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” With this event speaking in “different kinds of tongues” became a part of the Apostolic Church; it was one of the gifts of the Spirit. By speaking in tongues we do not mean some unintelligible gibberish, but the ability to speak and to understand other languages or dialects. The miracle of tongues-speaking included both the speaker and the hearer (1 Cor. 12:9-11).
The power of languages was necessary to the spreading of the Gospel throughout the then-known world, a task they had been commissioned to perform. We note that Philip was able to converse freely with the Ethiopian eunuch, to the end that he was converted to the new faith. Peter also experienced no difficulty in making his mission known to Cornelius who was of “the Italian band,” a mission directed by the Spirit of God.
How Was the Holy Spirit Delegated to Others?
A study of the work of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts indicates that not only did the original group of believers receive the Holy Spirit, but the apostles received the power to delegate that Power to another by the laying on of hands.
The power of the Spirit was not automatically given to all who joined the church. There is nothing to indicate that the large numbers who were converted soon after Pentecost received the power of the Holy Spirit or performed any miracles. In his summation of the work of the early converts, Luke says: “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles” (Acts 2:42-43). Nothing is said to suggest that all who joined the church had power to perform miracles. “Many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. “
In Acts we read of the power of the Holy Spirit being transmitted to others by the laying-on of the apostles’ hands. Philip had been preaching in the city of Samaria, and when the apostles at Jerusalem heard of his success, they sent Peter and John. After they prayed and “they laid hands on them…they received the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:5-17).
A similar instance is recorded in Acts 19 concerning the missionary efforts of Apollos. Paul arrived in Ephesus where Apollos had been preaching and learning that they knew nothing of the Holy Spirit, he instructed them and when he [Paul] “had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them.”