Receiving the Holy Spirit
What does it mean that Jesus “breathed” on his disciples? (Jn 20:22, cf Gn 2:7) If people could already receive the Holy Spirit (as when Jesus breathed on his disciples and told them to receive the Holy Spirit), why Pentecost? (Acts 2:1-4) Why did he say this and then also tell them to wait for the Holy Spirit? (Lk 24:49) How was the disciples’ spiritual life enhanced by receiving the Spirit? After all, weren’t they already believers? Did Jesus not say of Nathanael, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!”? (Jn 1:47) Also, didn’t the saints of the OT have the Holy Spirit, as when Elisha asked that he be given a double portion of the Spirit that Elijah did? (II Kgs 2:9)
So what is different now that we receive the Spirit? (Acts 2:17-18, 1:4-5)
How is it that the Christians of Samaria hadn’t received the Holy Spirit? What were their lives like without him? (Acts 8:14-17)
Why in only one case (of the Samaritans), was Peter and John needed to confer the Holy Spirit on believers (Acts 8:14-17), but in another case the Holy Spirit just fell on the Gentiles without any laying on of hands? (Acts 10:44)
How come in Acts 2:38 Peter said that the converts would receive the Holy Spirit in baptism, when he could be conferred by the laying on of hands or spontaneously even before baptism?
What good is it to have the Holy Spirit? Because Cornelius and his household were God-fearers, and so they lived according to his commandments, so of what use was the Holy Spirit if they were already on the right path? (Acts 10:1-4, 44)
So what is different now that we receive the Spirit? (Acts 2:17-18, 1:4-5)
How is it that the Christians of Samaria hadn’t received the Holy Spirit? What were their lives like without him? (Acts 8:14-17)
Why in only one case (of the Samaritans), was Peter and John needed to confer the Holy Spirit on believers (Acts 8:14-17), but in another case the Holy Spirit just fell on the Gentiles without any laying on of hands? (Acts 10:44)
How come in Acts 2:38 Peter said that the converts would receive the Holy Spirit in baptism, when he could be conferred by the laying on of hands or spontaneously even before baptism?
What good is it to have the Holy Spirit? Because Cornelius and his household were God-fearers, and so they lived according to his commandments, so of what use was the Holy Spirit if they were already on the right path? (Acts 10:1-4, 44)
