Expert: Brenda Martin - 10/13/2003

Question
hi my name is ben and i really appreciate u doing your best to answer these 4 short questions!
1) What is Holy Spirit's power? Note Acts 1 teaching and contrast to other ideas.
2)Why can't I live the Christian life the way I want to- the case ofPeter, who went from denying Christ to giving the first sermon in the New Testament after Christ ascended
3) Why did Luke keep writing to Theophilus?
4) Describe the events of Pentecost.


Answer
Hi Ben you asked--1. WHAT IS HOLY SPIRIT'S POWER?

A comparison of Bible texts that refer to the holy spirit shows that it is spoken of as ‘filling' people; they can be ‘baptized' with it; and they can be “anointed” with it. (Luke 1:41; Matt. 3:11; Acts 10:38)

Jesus also referred to the holy spirit as a “helper” (Greek, pa·ra'kle·tos), and he said that this helper would “teach,” “bear witness,” “speak,” and ‘hear.' (John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:13) It is not unusual in the Scriptures for something to be personified. For example, wisdom is said to have “children.” (Luke 7:35) Sin and death are spoken of as being kings. (Rom. 5:14, 21)

While some texts say that the spirit “spoke,” other passages make clear that this was done through angels or humans. (Acts 4:24, 25; 28:25; Matt. 10:19, 20; compare Acts 20:23 with Ac 21:10, 11.) At 1 John 5:6-8, not only the spirit but also “the water and the blood” are said to ‘bear witness.' So, none of the expressions found in these texts in themselves prove that the holy spirit is a person.

The correct identification of the holy spirit must fit all the scriptures that refer to that spirit. With this viewpoint, it is logical to conclude that the holy spirit is the active force of God. It is not a person but is a powerful force that God causes to emanate from himself to accomplish his holy will.—Ps. 104:30; 2 Pet. 1:21; Acts 4:31.

Used in Creation--(Ge 1:2) Psalm 33:6

Source of animate life, reproductive powers.-- Job 33:4, Ga 4:28, 29) Mt 1:18, 20;

Used on Behalf of God's Servants--(Ps 143:10) Ge 41:16, 25-39, Da 7:1; Ac 16:9, 10;

Judging and executing judgment.-- Isa 30:27, 28; 59:18, 19) (Eze 13:11, 13;Isa 25:4; 27:8.)

2) WHY CAN'T I LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE THE WAY I WANT TO- THE CASE OF PETER, WHO WENT FROM DENYING CHRIST TO GIVING THE FIRST SERMON IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AFTER CHRIST ASCENDED

Yes, because Peter repented and was sorry for what he did, God always forgives if we are sorry and take the necessary steps to make things right. None of us can " live as we please" though, we must do God's will and follow his word the bible.

3) WHY DID LUKE KEEP WRITING TO THEOPHILUS?

The person to whom Luke addressed both his Gospel and the Acts of Apostles. (Lu 1:3, 4; Ac 1:1) His being called “most excellent” may indicate a high position of some kind, or it may simply be an expression of high esteem. Theophilus apparently was a Christian, having been orally taught about Jesus Christ and his ministry. Luke's written statement served to assure him of the certainty of what he had learned previously by word of mouth.

4) DESCRIBE THE EVENTS OF PENTECOST.

It was a mild spring morning in the year 33 C.E. The air was charged with excitement! A bustling crowd of Jews and proselytes flooded the streets of Jerusalem. They had come from such places as Elam, Mesopotamia, Cappadocia, Egypt, and Rome. How fascinating it was to see them in their native attire and to hear their varied languages! Some had traveled more than a thousand miles [almost two thousand kilometers] to be present for this special occasion. What was it? Pentecost—a joyous Jewish festival marking the end of the barley harvest.—Leviticus 23:15-21.

Smoke billowed from offerings on the temple altar, and the Levites sang the Hallel (Psalms 113 to 118). Just before 9:00 a.m., something startling happened. From heaven, there occurred “a noise just like that of a rushing stiff breeze.” It filled the whole house in which about 120 disciples of Jesus Christ were gathered. Says the Scriptural account: “Tongues as if of fire became visible to them and were distributed about, and one sat upon each one of them, and they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak with different tongues, just as the spirit was granting them to make utterance.”—Acts 2:1-4.

Each One Hears His Own Language

Soon, many disciples were streaming out of the house. Amazingly, they could speak in the various languages of the crowd! Imagine how surprising it was when a visitor from Persia and a native of Egypt heard their own languages spoken by Galileans. Understandably, the crowd was in awe. “What does this thing purport to be?” they asked. Some began to mock the disciples, saying: “They are full of sweet wine.”—Acts 2:12, 13.

Next the apostle Peter stood up and addressed the crowd. He explained that this miraculous gift of tongues was in fulfillment of God's promise through the prophet Joel: “I shall pour out some of my spirit upon every sort of flesh.” (Acts 2:14-21; Joel 2:28-32) Yes, God had just poured out his holy spirit upon Jesus' disciples. This was clear evidence that Jesus had been raised from the dead and was now in heaven at God's right hand. “Therefore,” said Peter, “let all the house of Israel know for a certainty that God made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you impaled.”—Acts 2:22-36.

How did the listeners react? “They were stabbed to the heart,” the account says, “and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: ‘Men, brothers, what shall we do?'” Peter replied: “Repent, and let each one of you be baptized.” About 3,000 did just that! Thereafter, “they continued devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles.”—Acts 2:37-42.

I hope this answers your questions, if not I will be happy to enlarge.  Thanks Brenda