The Gentile Pentecost (Acts 8-15)Sýnishorn

Look at what the Holy Spirit DID

Look at what the Holy Spirit did to bring the Gentiles into Christ …

Immediately after Stephen’s martyrdom the Spirit used Philip the Evangelist to proclaim Christ in Samaria. Simon the Sorcerer believed and was baptised as did the official from Ethiopia, a country on the perimeter of the then known world. These very events point to God’s agenda to proclaim the Gospel to the whole world and drive out evil.

After Saul encountered the risen Christ outside Damascus through the prophet Ananias’ obedience Saul was healed and filled with the Spirit.

The Spirit prepared Peter by enabling him to do many miracles including raising Dorcas from the dead.

The Spirit clearly told Peter to go to the house of the Gentile Cornelius.

The Spirit came in power on the Gentiles and confirmed Peter’s preaching through giving the spiritual gift of speaking in tongues.

The Spirit created a church made up of Jewish and Gentile believers at Antioch. He equipped disciples with spiritual gifts and raised up the ministries of prophets and teachers.

The Spirit set apart Barnabas and Saul and commissioned them and trained them to take the message of Christ to the Gentiles.

As Saul and Barnabas proclaimed the Word of God, witnessed to the resurrection of Jesus, and preached the forgiveness of sins and justification, the Holy Spirit confirmed the message with healings and miracles.

And at the Jerusalem Council the Spirit guided the church leaders to relegate the issue of circumcision but clarify that sexual immorality and idolatry are out of bounds for disciples.

All through the story we see the Holy Spirit of God intervening to empower the proclamation of the gospel, to confirm it with signs following, to prepare His key agents, to bring the Gentiles into faith in Christ on the same basis as the Jews, and to create and form church as the body of Christ in the world.

The Holy Spirit has continued to do this over two thousand years.

And the Spirit continues to do it today.