Using Jaroslav Pelikan’s commentary on Actsin the Brazos Theological Commentary set, this series of short posts will explore some of the 84 significant theological issues raised by Luke in Acts and identified by Pelikan.
A 3rd issue comes to light in Acts 2:1: 1And in the day of the Pentecost being fulfilled, they were all with one accord at the same place, (Young’s Literal Translation). Pelikan draws attention to the literal translation of Luke’s word, especially the word “fulfilled” or “fullness” which “is an attempt to convey an emphasis on the ‘fulness’ of the Holy Spirit…” We find a similar use of language in two other places: 1) at the Passion (Lk. 9:51 – the days for his being lifted up had to be fulfilled…) and 2) the incarnation (Gal. 4:4 – when the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his son).
The theme of Holy Spirit and fullness runs through the entire narrative of Acts. Below is a very rough listing of this them (personal, not Pelikan)
Acts 2:2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:1-3 (in Context) Acts 2 (Whole Chapter) Acts 16:34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.
Acts 16:33-35 (in Context) Acts 16 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:3-5 (in Context) Acts 2 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 2:28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’
Acts 2:27-29 (in Context) Acts 2 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 2:43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
Acts 2:42-44 (in Context) Acts 2 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 3:10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
Acts 3:9-11 (in Context) Acts 3 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!
Acts 4:7-9 (in Context) Acts 4 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Acts 4:30-32 (in Context) Acts 4 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 5:3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
Acts 5:2-4 (in Context) Acts 5 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 5:17 [ The Apostles Persecuted ] Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.
Acts 5:16-18 (in Context) Acts 5 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 5:20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people the full message of this new life.”
Acts 5:19-21 (in Context) Acts 5 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 5:22 When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported,
Acts 5:21-23 (in Context) Acts 5 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 6:3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them
Acts 6:2-4 (in Context) Acts 6 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 6:5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.
Acts 6:4-6 (in Context) Acts 6 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 6:8 [ Stephen Seized ] Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.
Acts 6:7-9 (in Context) Acts 6 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 7:55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
Acts 7:54-56 (in Context) Acts 7 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 8:23 For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.”
Acts 8:22-24 (in Context) Acts 8 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 9:17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 9:16-18 (in Context) Acts 9 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 11:24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
Acts 11:23-25 (in Context) Acts 11 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 13:9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said,
Acts 13:8-10 (in Context) Acts 13 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 13:10 “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?
Acts 13:9-11 (in Context) Acts 13 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 13:45 When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying.
Acts 13:44-46 (in Context) Acts 13 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:51-52 (in Context) Acts 13 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 14:17 Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”
Acts 14:16-18 (in Context) Acts 14 (Whole Chapter)
Acts 17:16 [ In Athens ] While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.
Acts 17:15-17 (in Context) Acts 17 (Whole Chapter)
The conclusion by some that the disciples filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost were actually filled with wine (Acts 2:15) calls to mind Paul’s contrast in Eph. 5:18-19 about being filled not with wine but with the Spirit.
What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? What does it feel like, look like?
