Flame On!
How Do I receive the Holy Spirit?
A. Acknowledge the Promise (Acts 1:4, cf. John 14:16-31)
The promise referred to may be that quoted from Joel in 2:17–21; more probably the promise of the Father is that which the Father had spoken through Jesus.
Here promise means concretely ‘the thing promised by the Father’ and must refer to the Holy Spirit (2:33, 38f.; Gal. 3:14; Eph. 1:13); the Father’s promise is contained in the Scriptures, Isaiah 32:15 (cf. Luke 24:49) and Joel 2:28–32.
Commanded (παρήγγειλεν). Originally to pass on or transmit; hence, as a military term, of passing a watchword or command; and so generally to command.
The promise (ἐπαγγελίαν). Signifying a free promise, given without solicitation. This is the invariable sense of the word throughout the New Testament, and this and its kindred and compound words are the only words for promise in the New Testament.
It is the subjective genitive, the promise given by the Father (note this Johannine use of the word), that is the Holy Spirit (“the promise of the Holy Spirit,” objective genitive).
The promise of the Father formed the subject of our Lord’s discourse to the apostles on the last night of his earthly life, as recorded in John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:7–14.
God promised to give a new spirit (or His Spirit) abundantly when He inaugurates the new covenant (Ezek 36:26; Joel 2:28–32). Jesus had told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would empower them to be effective in their mission (Luke 12:11–12; John 14:26).
First, The Spirit was given by promise, and it was at this time the great promise, as that of the Messiah was before (Lu. 1:72), and that of eternal life is now, 1 Jn. 2:25.
Secondly, It was the promise of the Father
Thirdly, This promise of the Father they had heard from Christ many a time, especially in the farewell sermon he preached to them a little before he died, wherein he assured them, again and again, that the Comforter should come.
Promise of the Father. That is, the promise concerning the gift of the Holy Spirit (see John 14:16; 16:7–13).
Jesus reminds them that John the Baptist had promised the gift of the Spirit (Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8) in which they would be baptized with the Spirit and with fire.
B. Believe (trust) God’s Timing (Acts 1:4)
Jesus instructed the apostles to stay in Jerusalem until they received the promise of the Father.
Jerusalem was the divinely intended scene for the giving of the Spirit; the place where Jesus was rejected was to be the place where fresh witness to him would begin.
For this task the disciples are promised the power of the Spirit (Luke 24:49), a promise primarily fulfilled at Pentecost and secondarily fulfilled on many other occasions
To wait for the promise of the Father (περιμενειν την ἐπαγγελιαν του πατρος [perimenein tēn epaggelian tou patros]). Note present active infinitive, to keep on waiting for (around, περι [peri]). In the Great Commission on the mountain in Galilee this item was not given (Matt. 28:16–20).
Not to depart from Jerusalem. (See Luke 24:49.) It was necessary, according to the prophecy, Micah 4:2; Isa. 2:3, that the gospel should go forth from Jerusalem. Wait for the promise. (See Luke 24:49.)
The command he gives them to wait. This was to raise their expectations of something great; and something very great they had reason to expect from their exalted Redeemer.
They must wait till the time appointed, which is now not many days hence.
They must wait in the place appointed, in Jerusalem, for there the Spirit must be first poured out, because Christ was to be as king upon the holy hill of Zion; and because the word of the Lord must go forth from Jerusalem
The assurance he gives them that they shall not wait in vain.
Wait. Compare Luke 24:49. The task confronting the disciples could not be accomplished by human means alone. They must wait (1) until the time appointed, (2) at the place appointed, Jerusalem, the place of greatest danger and greatest challenge
The disciples are forbidden to “leave Jerusalem” and instead are to “wait for the gift” of the Holy Spirit, for the very nature of their work of witnessing would unqualifiedly require his help and direction.
Through the Holy Spirit the disciples will receive power to communicate. This power will make the witnesses clear and convincing and the listeners open and receptive, thus producing converts and genuine disciples (Matt. 28:19).
C. Connect (one accord) with others (Acts 2:1)
Throughout this book Luke records the togetherness the early Christians enjoyed. Here, at the beginning of everything, we find them all together.
All together in one place (παντες ὁμου ἐπι το αὐτο [pantes homou epi to auto]). All together in the same place.
All together; ὁμοῦ for ὁμοθυμαδόν: but ὁμοθυμαδόν—a favourite word in the Acts (ch. 4:24, note)—seems preferable to ὁμοῦ, which occurs only in St. John. In one place (see ch. 1:15, note). The purpose, doubtless, of their coming together was for prayer, as in ch. 1:14; and the third hour (9 a.m., ver. 15), the hour of offering the morning sacrifice, was close at hand (comp. ch. 3:1 and Luke 1:10)
Here, the writer is merely stating that “they were all together.”
However, though the Greek word does not say there was “accord,” it is evident that unity existed among the disciples