According to Christ's charge the apostles waited at Jerusalem till the Holy Spirit should have come. They made time by waiting. They were not equipped for their momentous work before they had received the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8). In fact it was not a work they could do; but God must do it through them, by his holy Spirit.

      On Pentecost (the "fiftieth day") the great promise was fulfilled and a new era began. The Spirit came with physical demonstration--sound and appearance of fiery tongues. The sound was heard over all the city, and caused the gathering of the multitude. The fiery tongues were significant. The immediate effect upon those who received the Spirit was that they "began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." Regardless therefore of what language they spoke in, their words were the Spirit's words.

      Who, or what, is the Spirit? The expression "poured out" might, imply that the Spirit is a thing. But the Spirit of God is not merely an "influence" from God, a current of power, a radiance or emanation from God, like the light from the sun, but the Spirit of God acts, thinks, speaks, knows, feels, wills; in fact has all the marks and attributes of personality. He is a Person. His name, in conjunction with that of the Father and of the Son, fills up the Name of the Godhead, into which we enter by our baptism. (Matt. 28:19).

      The event of Pentecost was the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:5). It came without any human instrumentality. Only one other instance like this occurred after this. (Acts 11:15, 16). There were however miraculous gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:4-11) which were imparted by the laying on of the apostles' hands (Acts 9:17, 18) and thus differed from the "baptism." But the "indwelling" of the Spirit is granted to every Christian without exception, as soon as he becomes a Christian (Gal. 3:26, 27) and without it he could not be a Christian. (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19, 20; Rom. 8:8, 9).

      The presence of the multitude of sojourning Jews "out of every nation under heaven," in Jerusalem was due to the feast. There were not, as is sometimes mistakenly asserted, representatives of all nations. They were only Jews of the Dispersion, who had settled in foreign countries. Gentiles were not preached to, nor admitted into the church till years afterward.

      The "tongues" in which they spoke were articulate, intelligible, intelligent speech, readily understood by these who were conversant with the respective languages. In this we perceive a striking difference between the real gift of tongues, and the counterfeit of it which is sometimes palmed off today as the "gift of tongues." The speakers extolled God, and His mighty works. All faithful servants of God today whose speech and whose preaching is not in persuasive words of man's wisdom, but after the Spirit, speak in the same tenor. The world and worldly teachers delight in extolling man--man's goodness and greatness and wonderful works. (1 Jno. 4:5). The world has a big man and a little God. But the Bible sets forth a very little man and a great and wonderful God, in whom the only hope of man lies.

      ¶The questions which stand alongside of the Scripture-text are so put as to call attention to what the scripture-lesson says, and to bring out its meaning. Helpful side references to other Scripture passages are also given.

      ¶The answer to each question is to be found in the verse on which the question is asked; or in the scripture reference given; sometimes in both.

      ¶To answer these questions to yourself, and to look up the Scripture references constitutes the best sort of preparation for both the pupil and the teacher. It leads to a better understanding than mere comments could possibly impart.

      ¶Method of Study: 1st. Study the Scripture text over carefully; memorizing the required verses and the "Golden Text." 2nd. Read and answer the questions, looking up the references. 3rd. Read the "Notes" and look up the references given in them. [40]

["Lord's Day Lesson No. 2: The Coming of the Holy Spirit." Word and Work 9 (January 1916): 39-40.]

      The electronic version of R. H. Boll's "Lord's Day Lesson No. 2: The Coming of the Holy Spirit" has been produced from microfilm of Word and Work for 1916.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and typography have been retained; however, corrections have been offered for misspellings and other accidental corruptions. Emendations are as follows:

            Printed Text [ Electronic Text
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 p. 39:     had come down?. [ had come down?
 

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 21 January 2002.
Updated 22 June 2003.