James D G Dunn notes:
“The epochal significance of Pentecost raises the whole course of salvation-history to a new plane ….In one sense, therefore, Pentecost can never be repeated - for the new age is here and cannot be ushered in again. But in another sense Pentecost, or rather the experience of Pentecost, can and must be repeated in the experience of all who would become Christians.”
Dunn is effectively saying that in order to witness for Jesus Christ today, just as the disciples needed the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, so we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit for our effective witness for Jesus. Just as Jesus Christ went about his ministry by the power of the Holy Spirit, it was by the same Spirit that was given …show more content…
Jesus promises His disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit, as a parting gift before his final ascension to His Father, (Acts 1: 8). The Holy Spirit could be looked on as a replacement for Jesus Christ in the world and is mentioned forty-two times in the book of Acts. Jesus had to finish His work and be crucified in order that the Holy Spirit could come and bring its power. In Acts 1: 3-5 the community are told to remain in the city for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Luke in Acts shows that the Holy Spirit is the guide for church mission work as the Spirit is the fulfilment of what Christ did. The sheer power of the Holy Spirit is demonstrated in the gift of tongues in order that the whole community could understand the gospel message in a language that they understood, (Acts 2: 4-12).¬¬ Peter tells those gathered that what they “see and hear” is “the promise of the Holy Spirit” given to them by Christ (Acts 2: 33). Mission to the world is started by the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and Peter’s sermon is that powerful that those listening to him were “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37). Throughout the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit is seen in various narratives in order to expand missionary work, for example, in Acts 8: 29, “Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it’ and verse 39 “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; …”, the Holy Spirit is seen at work with Philip’s meeting with the eunuch, Also, Acts 4: 8 - “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, …” tells us that Peter confronts the Sanhedrin “filled with the
“The epochal significance of Pentecost raises the whole course of salvation-history to a new plane ….In one sense, therefore, Pentecost can never be repeated - for the new age is here and cannot be ushered in again. But in another sense Pentecost, or rather the experience of Pentecost, can and must be repeated in the experience of all who would become Christians.”
Dunn is effectively saying that in order to witness for Jesus Christ today, just as the disciples needed the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, so we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit for our effective witness for Jesus. Just as Jesus Christ went about his ministry by the power of the Holy Spirit, it was by the same Spirit that was given …show more content…
Jesus promises His disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit, as a parting gift before his final ascension to His Father, (Acts 1: 8). The Holy Spirit could be looked on as a replacement for Jesus Christ in the world and is mentioned forty-two times in the book of Acts. Jesus had to finish His work and be crucified in order that the Holy Spirit could come and bring its power. In Acts 1: 3-5 the community are told to remain in the city for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Luke in Acts shows that the Holy Spirit is the guide for church mission work as the Spirit is the fulfilment of what Christ did. The sheer power of the Holy Spirit is demonstrated in the gift of tongues in order that the whole community could understand the gospel message in a language that they understood, (Acts 2: 4-12).¬¬ Peter tells those gathered that what they “see and hear” is “the promise of the Holy Spirit” given to them by Christ (Acts 2: 33). Mission to the world is started by the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and Peter’s sermon is that powerful that those listening to him were “cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37). Throughout the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit is seen in various narratives in order to expand missionary work, for example, in Acts 8: 29, “Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it’ and verse 39 “When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; …”, the Holy Spirit is seen at work with Philip’s meeting with the eunuch, Also, Acts 4: 8 - “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, …” tells us that Peter confronts the Sanhedrin “filled with the