THE WORKINGS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Yah'shuah Was Led By The Spirit

Mattityahu (Matthew) 4:1 (Luke 4:1) reads,

^4:1Then Yah'shuah was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

It should be evident that the Spirit sometimes leads servants of Yahweh to undertake various actions.

The Spirit Of The Father Speaks Through Yah'shuah's Disciples

Mattityahu (Matthew) 10:17-20 (Mark 13:11) reads,

^10:17But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you. ^10:18Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Goyim. ^10:19But when they deliver you up, don't be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say. ^10:20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

It should be evident that there are times when Yah'shuah's servants utter words that are not their own, those words that they utter belonging to the Spirit of their Father. In other words, the Spirit of the Father utters the words that he utters using the mouths of Yah'shuah's servants to do the uttering. A case when the Spirit so speaks is when he gives a testimony to other human beings.

To the hearers of such words it seems that those words belong to the human beings vocalising them. Nevertheless, as Yah'shuah as stated above, in such circumstances those words do not belong to those vocalising them, those words belonging to the Father who utters them through his Spirit. One should therefore not assume that each word uttered by a human being belongs to that human being. There are occasions when some human beings utter words that do not belong to them, words that sometimes originate with the Father and spoken by his Spirit.

Yahweh's Servant Spoke By Yahweh's Spirit

Mattityahu (Matthew) 12:15-21 reads,

^12:15Yah'shuah, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all, ^12:16and charged them that they should not make him known: ^12:17that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Yesha`yahu the prophet, saying,

^12:18"Behold, my servant whom I have chosen;

My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased:

I will put my Spirit on him,

He will declare judgment to the Goyim.

^12:19He will not strive, nor shout;

Neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets.

^12:20He won't break a bruised reed,

He won't quench a smoking flax,

Until he sends forth judgment to victory.

^12:21In his name, the Goyim will hope."

It should be evident that 12:18 implies that Yahweh's servant would declare judgement to the Goyim as a result of Yahweh's Spirit being put on him. Further implying that the various words that Yahweh's servant was to utter in the context of declaring judgement to the Goyim were not the words of that servant, but the words of Yahweh spoken by Yahweh's Spirit through Yahweh's servant.

To the hearers of Yahweh's servant it would appear that those words he uttered were his. But, in truth, those words would not have belonged to him, but would have belonged to Father Yahweh, who was to utter them using his Spirit that he had placed in his servant. It should therefore be clear that there are times when Yahweh's servants are uttering words that do not belong to them, these words belonging to the Father, who utters them by his Spirit that he has placed on his servants.

David Uttered Various Words By The Spirit

Mattityahu (Matthew) 22:41-46 (Mark 12:35-37) reads,

^22:41Now while the Perushim were gathered together, Yah'shuah asked them a question, ^22:42saying, "What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?"

They said to him, "Of David."

^22:43He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call him Master, saying,

^22:44'Yahweh said to my Master,

Sit on my right hand,

Until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet?'

^22:45"If then David calls him Master, how is he his son?"

^22:46No one was able to answer him a word, neither dared any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

It is evident from 22:43 that Yah'shuah acknowledged that David uttered various words by the Spirit. It is also evident, as seen from a study of David's life, that not all of his words were uttered in the Spirit, such as when he spoke contrary to Yahweh's word. It is therefore evident that the Spirit does not utter all of the words uttered by Yahweh's servants. Some of their words are spoken in the Spirit, while others are not.

How Is One To Ascertain Words Uttered By The Spirit?

How then may one distinguish between the word that a servant of Yahweh has uttered by the Spirit and the word that he has not uttered by the Spirit?

Yahweh's words do not contradict themselves (Yahchanan (John) 10:35). Therefore when a servant of Yahweh, who has spoken words in the Spirit, utters other words that are not in harmony with Yahweh's words, these inconsistent words are not uttered in the Spirit.

Elisheva Was Filled With The Holy Spirit

Luke 1:39-55 reads,

^1:39Miryam arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Yahudah, ^1:40and entered into the house of Zekharyah and greeted Elisheva. ^1:41It happened, when Elisheva heard Miryam's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elisheva was filled with the Holy Spirit. ^1:42She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ^1:43Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Master should come to me? ^1:44For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy! ^1:45Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from Yahweh!"

^1:46Miryam said,

"My soul magnifies Yahweh.

^1:47My spirit has rejoiced in the Mighty One my Savior,

^1:48For he has looked at the humble state of his handmaid.

For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

^1:49For he who is mighty has done to me great things;

Holy is his name.

^1:50His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.

^1:51He has shown strength with his arm.

He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

^1:52He has put down princes from their thrones.

Has exalted the lowly.

^1:53He has filled the hungry with good things.

He has sent the rich away empty.

^1:54He has given help to Yisra'el, his servant, that he might remember mercy

^1:55(As he spoke to our fathers)

Toward Avraham and his seed forever."

The words that Elisheva spoke in 1:42-45 were spoken in the Holy Spirit, for it is when the Holy Spirit came upon her, filling her, that she uttered those words.

Likewise, the words that Miryam spoke in 1:46-55 were spoken in the Holy Spirit.

Zekharyah Prophesied By The Holy Spirit

Luke 1:67-79 reads,

^1:67His father, Zekharyah, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,

^1:68"Blessed be Yahweh, the Mighty One of Yisra'el,

For he has visited and worked redemption for his people;

^1:69Has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David

^1:70(As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),

^1:71Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;

^1:72To show mercy towards our fathers,

To remember his holy covenant,

^1:73The oath which he spoke to Avraham, our father,

^1:74To grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,

^1:75In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

^1:76Yes and you, child, will be called a prophet of HaElyon,

For you will go before the face of Yahweh to make ready his ways,

^1:77To give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,

^1:78Because of the tender mercy of our Mighty One,

Whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,

^1:79To shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death;

To guide our feet into the way of shalom."

1:67 shows that Zekharyah uttered the prophecy that he uttered by the Holy Spirit, for it was upon his filling by the Holy Spirit that he uttered the prophecy recorded in 1:68-79. 1:70 also shows that Yahweh spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who had been from of old, further showing that servants of Yahweh have at various historical periods uttered Yahweh's words.

The Holy Spirit Gave Shimon Revelations

Luke 2:25-38 reads,

^2:25Behold, there was a man in Yerushalayim whose name was Shim`on; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Yisra'el, and the Holy Spirit was on him. ^2:26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death, before he had seen Yahweh's Messiah. ^2:27He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Yah'shuah, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law, ^2:28then he received him into his arms, and blessed the Mighty One, and said,

^2:29"Now let you your servant depart, Master,

According to your word, in shalom;

^2:30For my eyes have seen your yeshu`ah,

^2:31Which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;

^2:32A light for revelation to the Goyim,

The glory of your people Yisra'el."

^2:33Yosef and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him, ^2:34and Shim`on blessed them, and said to Miryam, his mother, "Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Yisra'el, and for a sign which is spoken against. ^2:35Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."

^2:36There was one Chanah, a prophetess, the daughter of Penu'el, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, ^2:37and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn't depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and petitions night and day. ^2:38Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to Yahweh, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Yerushalayim.

2:26 shows that the Holy Spirit gave Shimon a revelation of what would be fulfilled in his life, and 2:27 shows that the Holy Spirit moved Shimon to go to the temple at the time that he did in order to fulfil what he had revealed to Shimon previously. It should therefore be evident that the Holy Spirit reveals things to Yahweh's servants, and sometimes causes them to do various things to facilitate the fulfilment of Yahweh's words. It should therefore be evident that whatever prophecy uttered by the Holy Spirit is duly fulfilled in its appointed time.

The Word That The Holy Spirit Has Not Uttered

In this context it should be noted that if one had uttered a prophecy for fulfilment at a particular point in time, and that prophecy was not fulfilled as uttered, it should then be evident that that uttered prophecy did not come by the Holy Spirit. For no word of Yahweh spoken by the Holy Spirit falls to the ground. All of Yahweh's words spoken by his Spirit are fulfilled at their appointed time.

It should be evident that the words that Shimon spoke in 2:29-32 and 2:34-35 were spoken in the Holy Spirit. Likewise, the words that Chanah the prophetess spoke in 2:38 were spoken in the Spirit.

There are therefore several scriptural instances showing that Yahweh has spoken his words by his Spirit through his servants, both male and female servants of his.

Yah'shuah Performed His Various Works By The Spirit

Luke 4:14-21 reads,

^4:14Yah'shuah returned in the power of the Spirit to the Galil, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area. ^4:15He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

^4:16He came to Natzeret, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Shabbat day, and stood up to read. ^4:17The book of the prophet Yesha`yahu was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,

^4:18"The Spirit of Yahweh is on me,

Because he anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,

To proclaim release to the captives,

Recovering of sight to the blind,

To deliver those who are crushed,

^4:19And to proclaim the acceptable year of Yahweh."

^4:20He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. ^4:21He began to tell them, "Today, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

4:14 and 4:18 show that Yah'shuah performed the various works that he did by the Holy Spirit, including returning from the wilderness to the Galil, preaching, healing, proclaiming release, recovering sight, delivering and proclaiming Yahweh's acceptable year. Servants of Yahweh undertake Yahweh's works by the Spirit that Yahweh places upon them.

The Holy Spirit Imparted Joy To Yah'shuah

Luke 10:21 reads,

^10:21In that same hour Yah'shuah rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I thank you, O Father, Master of Heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight."

These are words that Yah'shuah spoke in the Holy Spirit, spoken by the Holy Spirit through Yah'shuah's mouth.

Circumstances When The Holy Spirit Teaches Yah'shuah's Servants

Luke 12:11-12 reads,

^12:11When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don't be anxious how or what you will answer, or what you will say; ^12:12for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say.

It should therefore be evident that there are occasions when the Holy Spirit teaches Yah'shuah's servants what they are to say in certain circumstances.

Yahchanan's Baptism Came By Command Of The Holy Spirit

Yahchanan (John) 1:29-34 reads,

^1:29On the next day, he saw Yah'shuah coming to him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of the Mighty One, who takes away the sin of the world! ^1:30This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.' ^1:31I didn't know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Yisra'el." ^1:32Yahchanan testified, saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of Heaven, and it remained on him. ^1:33I didn't recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, 'On whoever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' ^1:34I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of the Mighty One."

Yahchanan testified in 1:33 that the one who had given him the prophecy that had just been fulfilled was also the one who sent him to baptise in water. Yahchanan thereby indicated that it was the Holy Spirit that had given him command to baptise in water, and that he was not baptising in water acting on his own authority.

It should therefore be evident that the Holy Spirit gives servants of Yahweh instructions of one kind or another, and they are supposed to abide by these instructions that they receive. For what the Holy Spirit speaks comes from Father Yahweh. Therefore, by submitting to the Holy Spirit one is submitting to Father Yahweh.

The Counsellor, The Spirit Of Truth

Yahchanan (John) 14:16-18 reads,

^14:16I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever, ^14:17 -- the Spirit of truth, whom the world can't receive; for it doesn't see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you. ^14:18I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.

Yah'shuah stated that he would give his disciples another Counsellor in addition to himself, the Spirit of truth. And it was through this other Counsellor, who would be with them forever, that he would come to his disciples. Yah'shuah therefore dwells in his disciples through the Spirit of truth that dwells in them.

Seeing that the Holy Spirit is indeed a Counsellor, it should be evident that he counsels Yah'shuah's servants with respect to both their words and conduct. Yah'shuah's servants, in whom dwells the Spirit of truth, should therefore expect to be receiving counsel from the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit Teaches Yah'shuah's Servants All Things

Yahchanan (John) 14:23-26 reads,

^14:23Yah'shuah answered him, "If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him. ^14:24He who doesn't love me doesn't keep my words. The word which you hear isn't mine, but the Father's who sent me. ^14:25I have said these things to you, while still living with you. ^14:26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your memory all that I said to you."

It should therefore be evident that the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, is the teacher of Yah'shuah's servants, teaching them all things!

The Holy Spirit Testifies About Yah'shuah

Yahchanan (John) 15:26 reads,

^15:26When the Counselor has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will testify about me.

It is therefore evident that one of the works of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, is testifying about Yah'shuah. It is therefore the case that those through whom the Holy Spirit speaks testify about Yah'shuah.

It should also be noted that the Counsellor proceeds from the Father. Therefore, whatever he utters is what he has obtained from the Father. The words of the Counsellor are therefore the words of the Father.

The Holy Spirit Speaks The Father's Words

Yahchanan (John) 16:12-15 reads,

^16:12I have yet many things to tell you, but you can't bear them now. ^16:13However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever things he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you the things that are to come. ^16:14He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you. ^16:15All things whatever the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine, and will declare it to you.

The works of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, include guiding Yah'shuah's servants into all the truth, declaring to them the things that are to come and glorifying Yah'shuah. And the manner the Spirit of truth guides Yah'shuah's servants into all the truth is by speaking not his own words, but the Father's words. For the Father's words are truth. The Spirit of truth is therefore the messenger of the Father to Yah'shuah's servants, imparting what belongs to the Father, which also belongs to Yah'shuah, to Yah'shuah's servants.

The Holy Spirit Empowers Yah'shuah's Disciples In Forgiving And Retaining Sins

Yahchanan (John) 20:22-23 reads,

^20:22When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit! ^20:23Whoever's sins you forgive, they are forgiven to them. Whoever's sins you retain, they are retained."

It should be noted that this power and authority that Yah'shuah gave his disciples was not to be exercised by the disciples acting on their own authority, but only when acting on the authority of the Holy Spirit. For when the Holy Spirit would act through them, including speaking through them, they would do exactly what the Father wills. And seeing that it is the Father who knows the minds and hearts of all men, who knows those who have repented and those who have not, it is his judgement that counts, and not that of the disciples acting on their own authority.

Therefore, to properly forgive and retain sins, Yah'shuah's disciples must simply emulate Yah'shuah and the Holy Spirit. For just as Yah'shuah and the Holy Spirit do not speak their own words or do their own works, but speak what they hear from the Father, and do the Father's works, so also should Yah'shuah's servants do. Therefore, in forgiving and retaining sins, Yah'shuah's disciples should simply speak and act as they are taught and guided by the Counsellor, the Spirit of truth, who delivers to them what he has taken from the Father.

Yah'shuah's Command To His Disciples Came Through The Holy Spirit

Acts 1:1-8 reads,

^1:1The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Yah'shuah began both to do and to teach, ^1:2until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. ^1:3To these he also showed himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days, and spoke about the Mighty One's kingdom. ^1:4Being assembled together with them, he charged them, "Don't depart from Yerushalayim, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me. ^1:5For Yahchanan indeed baptized with water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

^1:6Therefore, when they had come together, they asked him, "Master, are you now restoring the kingdom to Yisra'el?"

^1:7He said to them, "It isn't for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within His own authority. ^1:8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you. You will be witnesses to me in Yerushalayim, in all Yahudah and Shomron, and to the uttermost parts of the earth."

1:2 shows that the commandment Yah'shuah gave to the apostles did not originate with himself, but came through the Holy Spirit. And seeing that the Holy Spirit does not speak his own words, but only what he hears from the Father, it is evident that the commandment Yah'shuah gave his apostles originated with the Father.

How To Give Commandment To Yahweh's Holy Ones

Learning from Yah'shuah, servants of Yahweh and Yah'shuah should note how to give commandment to Yahweh's holy ones. They SHOULD NOT give them a commandment originating with themselves, meaning a commandment of their own authority. For if Yah'shuah was careful not to give his apostles a commandment originating with himself, but simply gave them commandment as he had received it from the Father, so also should Yah'shuah's disciples and servants do. For disciples are not greater than their teacher, neither are servants greater than their master. Also, seeing that Yah'shuah has given his disciples another Counsellor, the Spirit of truth, to teach them all things, his disciples should also learn from the Spirit of truth.

Yah'shuah taught his disciples that the Spirit of truth does not speak of his own authority, but only what he hears, hearing this from the Father, for the Spirit of truth proceeds from the Father. Seeing that both Yah'shuah and the Holy Spirit do not do their own works, but those of the Father, and do not speak their own words, but those of the Father, Yah'shuah's disciples and servants should do likewise. Yah'shuah's servants should therefore NOT give commandment that has not originated with the Father. The only commandments they should give and relay are those originating with the Father, and delivered to them by Yah'shuah and the Holy Spirit. If Yah'shuah's disciples and servants faithfully do this they will indeed be acting within the Father's will, and not exceeding it.

The Disciples Submitted Themselves To The Scriptural Authority Of The Holy Spirit

Acts 1:15-22 reads,

^1:15In those days, Kefa stood up in the midst of the disciples (and there was a multitude of persons gathered together, about one hundred twenty), and said, ^1:16"Brothers, it was necessary that this Scripture should be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Yahudah, who was guide to those who took Yah'shuah. ^1:17For he was numbered with us, and received his portion in this ministry. ^1:18Now this man obtained a field with the reward for his wickedness, and falling headlong, his body burst open, and all his intestines gushed out. ^1:19It became known to everyone who lived in Yerushalayim that in their language that field was called 'Chakal-Dama,' that is, 'The field of blood.' ^1:20For it is written in the book of Tehillim,

'Let his habitation be made desolate,
Let no one dwell therein,'

and,

'Let another take his office.'

^1:21Of the men therefore who have accompanied us all the time that the Master Yah'shuah went in and went out among us, ^1:22beginning from the baptism of Yahchanan, to the day that he was received up from us, of these must one become a witness with us of his resurrection."

It is evident from 1:16 that the disciples submitted themselves to the authority of the Holy Spirit. For they acknowledged that what was uttered by the mouth of David was of the Holy Spirit, and they therefore acted to abide by the instruction so given.

Following the early disciples' example, Yah'shuah's disciples and servants should submit themselves to the authority of the Holy Spirit. For by so submitting themselves to the Holy Spirit they are submitting both to Yah'shuah and to Father Yahweh, thereby showing themselves to be faithful servants.

The Outpouring Of The Holy Spirit On The Day Of Shavuot

Acts 2:1-40 reads,

^2:1Now when the day of Shavu`ot had come, they were all with one accord in one place. <sup>2:2</sup>Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. <sup>2:3</sup>Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and it sat on each one of them. <sup>2:4</sup>They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. <sup>2:5</sup>Now there were dwelling at Yerushalayim Yahudim, devout men, from every nation under the sky. <sup>2:6</sup>When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. <sup>2:7</sup>They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Behold, aren't all these who speak from the Galil? <sup>2:8</sup>How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? <sup>2:9</sup>Parthians, Madai, Elamites, and people from Aram-Naharayim, Yahudah, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, <sup>2:10</sup>Phrygia, Pamphylia, Mitzrayim, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Yahudim and proselytes, <sup>2:11</sup>Cretans and `Aravi'im: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of the Mighty One!" ^2:12They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, "What does this mean?" ^2:13Others, mocking, said, "They are filled with new wine."

^2:14But Kefa, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, "You men of Yahudah, and all you who dwell at Yerushalayim, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. ^2:15For these aren't drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day. ^2:16But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Yo'el:

^2:17'It will be in the last days, says Yahweh,
I will pour forth of my Spirit on all flesh.

Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will dream dreams.

^2:18Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,
I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.

^2:19I will show wonders in the sky above,
And signs on the earth beneath;
Blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.

^2:20The sun will be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the great and glorious day of Yahweh comes.
^2:21It will be, that whoever will call on the name of Yahweh will be saved.'

^2:22"You men of Yisra'el, hear these words. Yah'shuah of Natzeret, a man approved by Yahweh to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which Yahweh did by him in the midst of you, even as you yourselves know, ^2:23him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of Yahweh, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed; ^2:24whom Yahweh raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it. ^2:25For David says concerning him,

'I saw Yahweh always before my face,
For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.

^2:26Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced.
Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;

^2:27Because you will not leave my soul in She'ol,
Neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.

^2:28You made known to me the ways of life.
You will make me full of gladness with your presence.'

^2:29"Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ^2:30Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that Yahweh had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Messiah to sit on his throne, ^2:31he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was his soul left in She'ol, nor did his flesh see decay. ^2:32This Yah'shuah Yahweh raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. ^2:33Being therefore exalted by the right hand of Yahweh, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured forth this, which you now see and hear. ^2:34For David didn't ascend into the heavens, but he says himself,

'Yahweh said to my Master, "Sit by my right hand,

^2:35Until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet."'

^2:36"Let all the house of Yisra'el therefore know assuredly that Yahweh has made him both Master and Messiah, this Yah'shuah whom you crucified."

^2:37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Kefa and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what will we do?"

^2:38Kefa said to them, "Repent, and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Yah'shuah the Messiah for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ^2:39For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as Yahweh our Mighty One will call to himself." ^2:40With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation!"

The Holy Spirit Has Power To Impart Various Attributes To Humans

2:4 shows that the Holy Spirit has power and ability to give certain attributes to those he fills, attributes those so filled did not have prior to their filling by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit Came According To His Own Prophecy

2:16-21 shows that the coming of the Holy Spirit came as was prophesied by the Holy Spirit through the prophet Yoel.

The Holy Spirit Declares That We Are Living In The Last Days

2:17 shows that from the time of the fulfilment of this prophecy the last days would have commenced, for it was a prophecy for fulfilment "in the last days". It should therefore be clear that the period commencing with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, even right up to the present time, is known as "the last days". We are therefore living in "the last days"!

The Holy Spirit Imparts Prophecies And Dreams To Yisraelites

2:17 also shows that as a result of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon them, Yisraelite sons and daughters would prophesy. Yisraelite young men would see visions, and Yisraelite old men would dream dreams.

And 2:18 also shows that Yahweh's servants and handmaidens would prophesy, after the outpouring of the Yahweh's Holy Spirit upon them.

Yah'shuah's Mighty Works, Signs And Wonders Were Actually Yahweh's

2:22 confirms that the mighty works, signs and wonders that Yah'shuah did in the midst of the people were actually done by Yahweh through Yah'shuah. Servants of Yahweh should therefore, learning from their master Yah'shuah, not undertake their own works, but should do only what Yahweh shows and teaches them to do.

The Holy Spirit Fulfils The Words That He Speaks

2:30-31 confirms the fulfilment of additional words by the Holy Spirit through David. Whatever the Holy Spirit prophesies is eventually fulfilled in its appointed time.

The Apostles Before Human Rulers

Acts 4:5-31 reads,

^4:5It happened in the morning, that their rulers, Zakenim, and Sofrim were gathered together in Yerushalayim. ^4:6Anan the Kohen Gadol was there, with Kayafa, Yahchanan, Alexander, and as many as were relatives of the Kohen Gadol. ^4:7When they had stood them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?"

^4:8Then Kefa, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "You rulers of the people, and Zakenim of Yisra'el, ^4:9if we are examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, ^4:10be it known to you all, and to all the people of Yisra'el, that in the name of Yah'shuah the Messiah of Natzeret, whom you crucified, whom the Mighty One raised from the dead, in him does this man stand here before you whole. ^4:11He is 'the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which was made the head of the corner.' ^4:12There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under Heaven, that is given among men, in which we must be saved!"

^4:13Now when they saw the boldness of Kefa and Yahchanan, and had perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. They recognized that they had been with Yah'shuah. ^4:14Seeing the man who was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. ^4:15But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, ^4:16saying, "What will we do to these men? Because indeed a notable miracle has been done through them, as can be plainly seen by all who dwell in Yerushalayim, and we can't deny it. ^4:17But so that this spreads no further among the people, let's threaten them, that from now on they don't speak to anyone in this name." ^4:18They called them, and charged them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Yah'shuah.

^4:19But Kefa and Yahchanan answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of the Mighty One to listen to you rather than to the Mighty One, judge for yourselves, ^4:20for we can't help telling the things which we saw and heard."

^4:21They, when they had further threatened them, let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for everyone glorified the Mighty One for that which was done. ^4:22For the man was more than forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was performed.

^4:23Being let go, they came to their own company, and reported all that the chief Kohanim and the Zakenim had said to them. ^4:24They, when they heard it, lifted up their voice to the Mighty One with one accord, and said, "O Master, you are the Mighty One, who made the Heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; ^4:25who by the mouth of your servant, David, said,

'Why do the nations rage,
And the peoples plot a vain thing?

^4:26The kings of the earth take a stand,
And the rulers take council together,
Against Yahweh, and against his Messiah.'

^4:27For truly, in this city against your holy servant, Yah'shuah, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Goyim and the people of Yisra'el, were gathered together ^4:28to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen. ^4:29Now, Master, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, ^4:30while you stretch forth your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Yah'shuah."

^4:31When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of the Mighty One with boldness.

The Holy Spirit Spoke On Kefa's Behalf To The Rulers

4:8 shows that the answer Kefa was giving to rulers was not made up of his own words, but of the Holy Spirit's words. For the Holy Spirit filled him and gave him utterance of what he uttered, even as Yah'shuah had prophesied to them would happen.

Yah'shuah's Servants Are To Obey The Father's Commands Over Conflicting Human Commands

4:18-20 shows that when Yah'shuah's servants are confronted with orders or instructions that conflict with those emanating from the Father, delivered by either Yah'shuah or the Spirit of truth, they are to obey the Father, and not any of these conflicting orders or instructions. The Father is head over all, the supreme being in all the universe, both in heaven and on earth. It is his word that prevails over that of any other entity, even human rulers.

The Holy Spirit Imparts Boldness

4:31 shows that one of the attributes imparted by the Holy Spirit is BOLDNESS - boldness when undertaking the works of the Father.

The Apostles Submitted To The Holy Spirit Rather Than To Men

Acts 5:27-32 reads,

^5:27When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The Kohen Gadol questioned them, ^5:28saying, "Didn't we strictly charge you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Yerushalayim with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood on us."

^5:29But Kefa and the apostles answered, "We must obey the Mighty One rather than men. ^5:30The Mighty One of our fathers raised up Yah'shuah, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. ^5:31The Mighty One exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Yisra'el, and remission of sins. ^5:32We are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom the Mighty One has given to those who obey him."

The apostles demonstrated that the one they obey, whenever they are faced with a conflict of instructions, is the Mighty One. And seeing that the Holy Spirit witnessed the things concerning Yah'shuah, even as they witnessed, they submitted themselves to the Mighty One's words as spoken through them by the Holy Spirit. Following the apostles' example, we should submit to the authority of the Holy Spirit rather than that of men whenever we are faced with conflicting instructions, whenever men give us instructions conflicting with those given by the Holy Spirit.

Stephen's Testimony In The Spirit

Acts 6:1-7:60 reads,

^6:1Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a grumbling of the Grecian Yahudim against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily service. ^6:2The twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them and said, "It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of the Mighty One and serve tables. ^6:3Therefore select from among you, brothers, seven men of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. ^6:4But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word."

^6:5These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Pilipos, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch; ^6:6whom they set before the apostles. When they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. ^6:7The word of the Mighty One increased and the number of the disciples multiplied in Yerushalayim exceedingly. A great company of the Kohanim were obedient to the faith.

^6:8Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. ^6:9But some of those who were of the synagogue called "The Libertines," and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen. ^6:10They weren't able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

^6:11Then they secretly induced men who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moshe and the Mighty One." ^6:12They stirred up the people, the Zakenim, and the Sofrim, and came on him and seized him, and brought him in to the council, ^6:13and set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. ^6:14For we have heard him say that this Yah'shuah of Natzeret will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moshe delivered to us." ^6:15All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel.

^7:1The Kohen Gadol said, "Are these things so?"

^7:2He said, "Brothers and fathers, listen. The Mighty One of glory appeared to our father Avraham, when he was in Aram-Naharayim, before he lived in Charan, ^7:3and said to him, 'Get out of your land, and from your relatives, and come into a land which I will show you.' ^7:4Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and lived in Charan. From there, when his father was dead, the Mighty One moved him into this land, where you are now living. ^7:5He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. He promised that he would give it to him in possession, and to his seed after him, when he still had no child. ^7:6The Mighty One spoke thus, that his seed would live as aliens in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. ^7:7'I will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,' said the Mighty One, 'and after that will they come out, and serve me in this place.' ^7:8He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Avraham became the father of Yitzchak, and circumcised him the eighth day. Yitzchak became the father of Ya`akov, and Ya`akov became the father of the twelve patriarchs.

^7:9"The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Yosef, sold him into Mitzrayim. The Mighty One was with him, ^7:10and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Par`oh, king of Mitzrayim. He made him governor over Mitzrayim and all his house. <sup>7:11</sup>Now a famine came over all the land of Mitzrayim and Kana`an, and great affliction. Our fathers found no food. ^7:12But when Ya`akov heard that there was grain in Mitzrayim, he sent forth our fathers the first time. <sup>7:13</sup>On the second time Yosef was made known to his brothers, and Yosef's race was revealed to Par`oh. ^7:14Yosef sent, and called Ya`akov, his father, to him, and all his relatives, seventy-five souls. <sup>7:15</sup>Ya`akov went down into Mitzrayim, and he died, himself and our fathers, ^7:16and they were brought back to Shekhem, and laid in the tomb that Avraham bought for a price in silver from the sons of Chamor of Shekhem.

^7:17"But as the time of the promise came close which the Mighty One swore to Avraham, the people grew and multiplied in Mitzrayim, ^7:18until there arose a different king, who didn't know Yosef. ^7:19The same dealt slyly with our race, and mistreated our fathers, that they should throw out their babies, so that they wouldn't stay alive. ^7:20At that time Moshe was born, and was exceedingly handsome. He was nourished three months in his father's house. ^7:21When he was thrown out, Par`oh's daughter took him up, and reared him as her own son. ^7:22Moshe was instructed in all the wisdom of the Mitzrim. He was mighty in his words and works. ^7:23But when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Yisra'el. ^7:24Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Mitzrian. ^7:25He supposed that his brothers understood that the Mighty One, by his hand, was giving them deliverance; but they didn't understand. ^7:26The day following, he appeared to them as they fought, and urged them to be at shalom again, saying, 'Sirs, you are brothers. Why do you wrong one to another?' ^7:27But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? ^7:28Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Mitzrian yesterday?' ^7:29Moshe fled at this saying, and became an alien in the land of Midyan, where he became the father of two sons.

^7:30"When forty years were fulfilled, an angel of Yahweh appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. ^7:31When Moshe saw it, he wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, a voice of Yahweh came to him, ^7:32'I am the Mighty One of your fathers, the Mighty One of Avraham, the Mighty One of Yitzchak, and the Mighty One of Ya`akov.' Moshe trembled, and dared not look. ^7:33Yahweh said to him, 'Take your sandals off of your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. ^7:34I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Mitzrayim, and have heard their groaning. I have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you into Mitzrayim.'

^7:35"This Moshe, whom they refused, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?' -- the Mighty One has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer with the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. ^7:36This man led them forth, having worked wonders and signs in Mitzrayim, in the Sea of Suf, and in the wilderness forty years. ^7:37This is that Moshe, who said to the children of Yisra'el, 'Yahweh the Mighty One will raise up a prophet to you from among your brothers, like me.' ^7:38This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him in the Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living oracles to give to us, ^7:39to whom our fathers wouldn't be obedient, but rejected him, and turned back in their hearts to Mitzrayim, ^7:40saying to Aharon, 'Make us mighty ones that will go before us, for as for this Moshe, who led us forth out of the land of Mitzrayim, we don't know what has become of him.' ^7:41They made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands. ^7:42But the Mighty One turned, and gave them up to serve the host of the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets,

'Did you offer to me slain animals and sacrifices
Forty years in the wilderness, O house of Yisra'el?

^7:43You took up the tent of Molekh,
The star of your mighty one Reifan,

The figures which you made to worship.
I will carry you away beyond Bavel.'

^7:44"Our fathers had the tent of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moshe appointed, that he should make it according to the pattern that he had seen. ^7:45Which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Yehoshua when they entered into the possession of the nations, whom the Mighty One drove out before the face of our fathers, to the days of David, ^7:46who found favor in the sight of the Mighty One, and asked to find a habitation for the Mighty One of Ya`akov. ^7:47But Shelomo built him a house. ^7:48However, HaElyon doesn't dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says,

^7:49'Heaven is my throne,
And the earth the footstool of my feet.

What kind of house will you build me?' says Yahweh;
'Or what is the place of my rest?

^7:50Didn't my hand make all these things?'

^7:51"You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. ^7:52Which of the prophets didn't your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers. ^7:53You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn't keep it!"

^7:54Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. ^7:55But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into Heaven, and saw the glory of the Mighty One, and Yah'shuah standing on the right hand of the Mighty One, ^7:56and said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of the Mighty One!" ^7:57But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed at him with one accord. ^7:58They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Sha'ul. ^7:59They stoned Stephen, as he called on the Master, saying, "Master Yah'shuah, receive my spirit!" ^7:60He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, "Master, don't hold this sin against them!" When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Those Appointed To Serve Fellow Believers Should Be Filled With The Holy Spirit

6:3 teaches us, learning from the example of the apostles, that those to be appointed to positions of responsibility among the body of believers should be those who are full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom.

Man Cannot Withstand The Wisdom Of The Spirit

6:10 shows that those who disputed with Stephen were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke, for Stephen uttered the words that he did by the Spirit, and not of his own mind! It is therefore seen in Stephen that Yah'shuah's words, which he spoke by the Holy Spirit, in places such as Mattityahu (Matthew) 10:17-20, were indeed fulfilled. Showing that what the Spirit speaks is eventually fulfilled in its appointed time.

Charge Against Stephen Transmitted By False Witnesses

6:13-14 shows the charge against Stephen as transmitted by FALSE WITNESSES. The charge was continually speaking BLASPHEMOUS words against the holy place of Yerushalayim and the law. And what the false witnesses considered blasphemous words was their allegation that he said that Yah'shuah of Natzeret would destroy the holy place at Yerushalayim, and would change the customs that Moshe had delivered to them.

The Holy Spirit Conducted Stephen's Defence

7:2 shows that when Stephen was given his opportunity to defend himself against the charges against him, and when he opened his mouth to speak, he did not begin to plead innocent or guilty to the charges against him. Instead he began to speak concerning the history of the people of Yisrael, beginning with Avraham's calling by the Mighty One while he was still in the land of Aram-Naharayim. In other words, though there were charges pending against him, Stephen did not speak as might have been expected, beginning to address those charges. Instead it appears that he spoke as the Spirit gave him utterance, for he was one who spoke words by the Spirit.

Yisrael Has Always Resisted The Holy Spirit

7:51-53 shows the climax of Stephen's words by the Spirit. The people of Yisrael were stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, always resisting the Holy Spirit. As their fathers did, so did those of the generation of Stephen's time do. In other words, Stephen's words by the Spirit were spoken as a testimony or witness against those who heard him, even as Yah'shuah prophesied that his disciples would do.

Learning from Stephen's words by the Spirit it is noted that we should not resist the Holy Spirit, but should submit to every word of the Holy Spirit, even when the vast majority of those around us do not submit to the same word of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit Opened Stephen's Eyes To See Heaven And The Mighty One's Glory

7:55 shows that the Holy Spirit opened Stephen's eyes such that he was able to see Heaven, and also the glory of the Mighty One, together with Yah'shuah standing on the right hand of the Mighty One. It should therefore be noted that the Holy Spirit indeed has power and ability to impart attributes to human beings, attributes they do not ordinarily have, such as what Stephen saw as recorded in 7:55.

The Holy Spirit Instructs Pilipos

Acts 8:26-40 reads,

^8:26But an angel of Yahweh spoke to Pilipos, saying, "Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Yerushalayim to `Aza. This is a desert."

^8:27He arose and went. Behold, there was a man of Kush, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Kushim, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Yerushalayim to worship. ^8:28He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Yesha`yahu. <sup>8:29</sup>The Spirit said to Pilipos, "Go near, and join yourself to this chariot." <sup>8:30</sup>Pilipos ran to him, and heard him reading Yesha`yahu the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" ^8:31He said, "How can I, unless someone explains it to me?" He begged Pilipos to come up and sit with him. ^8:32Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this,

"He was led as a sheep to the slaughter.
As a lamb before his shearer is silent,
So he doesn't open his mouth.

^8:33In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away.
Who will declare His generations?
For his life is taken from the earth."

^8:34The eunuch answered Pilipos, "Please tell who the prophet is talking about: about himself, or about some other?"

^8:35Pilipos opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Yah'shuah. ^8:36As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, "Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?" ^8:38He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Pilipos and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

^8:39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of Yahweh caught Pilipos away, and the eunuch didn't see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing. ^8:40But Pilipos was found at Ashdod. Passing through, he preached the good news to all the cities, until he came to Caesarea.

Pilipos Heeded Both An Angel Of Yahweh And The Holy Spirit

In 8:26 it should be noted that it was an angel of Yahweh who gave Pilipos a command to be abided by. Pilipos heeded the command from the angel of Yahweh. In 8:29 it should be noted that it was the Spirit that gave Pilipos a subsequent and related command to be abided by. And just as Pilipos heeded the first command from the angel, so did he heed this command from the Spirit.

Be Alert To How Yahweh Chooses To Speak To You

Servants of Yahweh and Yah'shuah should be alert to how Yahweh chooses to speak to them. When Yahweh chooses to speak to them by an angel of his they should heed his words. When Yahweh chooses to speak to them by his Spirit they should heed his words. Pilipos shows that Yahweh's servants should heed his words irrespective of the manner Yahweh chooses to speak to them.

The Spirit Empowered Pilopos' Geographical Movements

In should be noted from 8:39-40 that the Spirit has ability and power to carry one away from one geographical location to another. For just as Yah'shuah was taken by the Spirit from the wilderness to the Galil, after his temptation by Hasatan, so also was Pilipos caught away by the Spirit from this road leading to Aza and taken to Ashdod. The Spirit of Yahweh has power and ability to undertake various works.

The Holy Spirit Comforts Yahweh's Assemblies

Acts 9:31 reads,

^9:31So the assemblies throughout all Yahudah and the Galil and Shomron had shalom, and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of Yahweh and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

It should be noted that the Holy Spirit is indeed the Comforter, even as Yah'shuah spoke of him to his disciples before his death.

Cornelius' Vision And Kefa's Testimony

Acts 10:1-11:18 reads,

^10:1Now there was a certain man in Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, ^10:2a devout man, and one who feared the Mighty One with all his house, who gave alms generously to the people, and always prayed to the Mighty One. ^10:3At about the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of Yahweh coming to him, and saying to him, "Cornelius!"

^10:4He, fastening his eyes on him, and being frightened, said, "What is it, Master?"

He said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have gone up for a memorial before the Mighty One. ^10:5Now send men to Yafo, and get one Shim`on, who is surnamed Kefa. <sup>10:6</sup>He lodges with one Shim`on a tanner, whose house is by the seaside."

^10:7When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually. ^10:8Having explained everything to them, he sent them to Yafo. ^10:9Now on the next day, as they were on their journey, and got close to the city, Kefa went up on the housetop to pray, at about noon. ^10:10He became hungry, and desired to eat, but while they were preparing, he fell into a trance. ^10:11He saw Heaven opened, and a certain container descending to him, like a great sheet, let down by four corners on the earth, ^10:12in which were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles, and birds of the sky. ^10:13A voice came to him, "Rise, Kefa, kill and eat!"

^10:14But Kefa said, "Not so, Master; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."

^10:15A voice came to him again the second time, "What the Mighty One has cleansed, you must not make unholy." ^10:16This was done three times, and immediately the vessel was received up into Heaven.

^10:17Now while Kefa was very perplexed in himself what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Shim`on's house, stood before the gate, <sup>10:18</sup>and called and asked whether Shim`on, who was surnamed Kefa, was lodging there. ^10:19While Kefa thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men seek you. ^10:20But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them." ^10:21Kefa went down to the men, and said, "Behold, I am he whom you seek. Why have you come?"

^10:22They said, "Cornelius a centurion, a righteous man and one who fears the Mighty One, and well spoken of by all the nation of the Yahudim, was directed by a holy angel to invite you to his house, and to listen to what you say. ^10:23So he called them in and lodged them. On the next day Kefa arose and went out with them, and some of the brothers from Yafo accompanied him. ^10:24On the next day they entered into Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them, having called together his relatives and his near friends.

^10:25When it happened that Kefa entered, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him. ^10:26But Kefa raised him up, saying, "Stand up! I myself am also a man." ^10:27As he talked with him, he went in, and found many come together. ^10:28He said to them, "You yourselves know how it is an unlawful thing for a man who is a Yahudi to join himself or come to one of another nation, but the Mighty One has shown me that I shouldn't call any man unholy or unclean. ^10:29Therefore also I came without complaint when I was sent for. I ask therefore, why did you send for me?"

^10:30Cornelius said, "Four days ago, I was fasting until this hour, and at the ninth hour, I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, ^10:31and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of the Mighty One. ^10:32Send therefore to Yafo, and call to you Shim`on, who is surnamed Kefa. He lodges in the house of Shim`on a tanner, by the seaside. When he comes, he will speak to you.' ^10:33Therefore I sent to you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now therefore we are all here present in the sight of the Mighty One to hear all things that have been commanded you by the Mighty One."

^10:34Kefa opened his mouth and said, "Truly I perceive that the Mighty One doesn't show favoritism, ^10:35but in every nation he who fears him, and works righteousness, is acceptable to him. ^10:36The word which he sent to the children of Yisra'el, preaching good news of shalom by Yah'shuah the Messiah (he is Master of all): ^10:37that spoken word you yourselves know, which was proclaimed throughout all Yahudah, beginning from the Galil, after the baptism which Yahchanan preached; ^10:38even Yah'shuah of Natzeret, how the Mighty One anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil; for the Mighty One was with him. ^10:39We are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Yahudim, and in Yerushalayim; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree. ^10:40The Mighty One raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed, ^10:41not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by the Mighty One, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ^10:42He charged us to preach to the people, and to testify that this is he who is appointed by the Mighty One as the Judge of the living and the dead. ^10:43All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins."

^10:44While Kefa was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. ^10:45They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Kefa, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Goyim. ^10:46For they heard them speak with other languages, and magnify the Mighty One.

Then Kefa answered, ^10:47"Can any man forbid the water, that these who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we should not be baptized?" ^10:48He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Yah'shuah the Messiah. Then they asked him to stay some days.

^11:1Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Yahudah heard that the Goyim had also received the word of the Mighty One. ^11:2When Kefa had come up to Yerushalayim, those who were of the circumcision contended with him, ^11:3saying, "You went in to uncircumcised men, and ate with them!"

^11:4But Kefa began, and explained to them in order, saying, ^11:5"I was in the city of Yafo praying, and in a trance I saw a vision: a certain container descending, like it was a great sheet let down from Heaven by four corners. It came as far as me, ^11:6on which, when I had looked intently, I considered, and saw the four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky. ^11:7I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Rise, Kefa, kill and eat!' ^11:8But I said, 'Not so, Master, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.' ^11:9But a voice answered me the second time out of Heaven, 'What the Mighty One has cleansed, don't you make unholy.' ^11:10This was done three times, and all were drawn up again into Heaven. ^11:11Behold, immediately three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent from Caesarea to me. ^11:12The Spirit told me to go with them, without discriminating. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house. ^11:13He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying to him, 'Send to Yafo, and get Shim`on, whose surname is Kefa, ^11:14who will speak to you words whereby you will be saved, you and all your house.' ^11:15As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning. ^11:16I remembered the word of the Master, how he said, 'Yahchanan indeed baptized with water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.' ^11:17If then the Mighty One gave to them the same gift as us, when we believed in the Master Yah'shuah the Messiah, who was I, that I could withstand the Mighty One?"

^11:18When they heard these things, they held their shalom, and glorified the Mighty One, saying, "Then the Mighty One has also granted to the Goyim repentance to life!"

Kefa Refused To Heed The Command He Received In The Vision He Saw

10:10-16 contains a record of the vision Kefa saw while he was in a trance.

10:13 shows that Kefa received a voice that commanded him to kill and eat the various four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles and birds of the sky.

10:14 shows that Kefa REFUSED to heed the voice, justifying his refusal by saying that he had NEVER eaten anything that was common or unclean! Implying that the various four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles and birds of the sky that he saw in the vision were common or unclean animals. And also implying that even during the days when he was with Yah'shuah the Messiah he never ate anything common or unclean, implying that all foods that he had eaten while together with Yah'shuah were clean foods!

Why Did Kefa Refuse To Heed The Voice In The Vision?

Why did Kefa refuse to heed the voice in the vision?

Was he correct in his refusal to heed this voice?

And why had he never eaten anything that was common or unclean?

Vayikra (Leviticus) 11:1-47 reads,

^11:1Yahweh spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, saying to them, ^11:2"Speak to the children of Yisra'el, saying, 'These are the living things which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. ^11:3Whatever parts the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and chews the cud, among the animals, that may you eat. ^11:4Nevertheless these shall you not eat of them that chew the cud, or of those who part the hoof: the camel, because he chews the cud but doesn't have a parted hoof, he is unclean to you. ^11:5The rabbit, because he chews the cud but doesn't have a parted hoof, he is unclean to you. ^11:6The hare, because she chews the cud but doesn't part the hoof, she is unclean to you. ^11:7The pig, because he doesn't part the hoof, and is cloven-footed, but doesn't chew the cud, he is unclean to you. ^11:8Of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch; they are unclean to you.

^11:9"'These may you eat of all that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, that may you eat. ^11:10All that don't have fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of all the living creatures that are in the waters, they are an abomination to you, ^11:11and they shall be an abomination to you; you shall not eat of their flesh, and their carcasses you shall have in abomination. ^11:12Whatever has no fins nor scales in the waters, that is an abomination to you.

^11:13"'These you shall have in abomination among the birds; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the gier-eagle, and the ospray, ^11:14and the kite, and the falcon after its kind, ^11:15every raven after its kind, ^11:16and the ostrich, and the night-hawk, and the seamew, and the hawk after its kind, ^11:17and the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, ^11:18and the horned owl, and the pelican, and the vulture, ^11:19and the stork, the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe, and the bat.

^11:20"'All winged creeping things that go on all fours are an abomination to you. ^11:21Yet these may you eat of all winged creeping things that go on all fours, which have legs above their feet, wherewith to leap on the earth. ^11:22Even these of them you may eat: the locust after its kind, and the bald locust after its kind, and the cricket after its kind, and the grasshopper after its kind. ^11:23But all winged creeping things, which have four feet, are an abomination to you.

^11:24"'By these you shall become unclean: whoever touches the carcass of them shall be unclean until the even; ^11:25Whoever bears anything of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. ^11:26Every animal which parts the hoof, and is not cloven-footed, nor chews the cud, is unclean to you: everyone who touches them shall be unclean. ^11:27Whatever goes on its paws, among all animals that go on all fours, they are unclean to you: whoever touches their carcass shall be unclean until the even. ^11:28He who bears the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean to you. ^11:29These are they which are unclean to you among the creeping things that creep on the earth: the weasel, and the mouse, and the great lizard after its kind, ^11:30and the gecko, and the land-crocodile, and the lizard, and the sand-lizard, and the chameleon. ^11:31These are they which are unclean to you among all that creep: whoever does touch them, when they are dead, shall be unclean until the even.

^11:32"'On whatever any of them, when they are dead, does fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or clothing, or skin, or sack, whatever vessel it be, wherewith any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; then shall it be clean. ^11:33Every earthen vessel, into which any of them falls, whatever is in it shall be unclean, and it you shall break. ^11:34All food therein which may be eaten, that on which water comes, shall be unclean; and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean. ^11:35Every thing whereupon any part of their carcass falls shall be unclean; whether oven, or range for pots, it shall be broken in pieces: they are unclean, and shall be unclean to you. ^11:36Nevertheless a spring or a pit in which is a gathering of water shall be clean: but that which touches their carcass shall be unclean. ^11:37If anything of their carcass fall on any sowing seed which is to be sown, it is clean. ^11:38But if water be put on the seed, and anything of their carcass fall thereon, it is unclean to you. ^11:39If any animal, of which you may eat, die; he who touches the carcass of it shall be unclean until the even. ^11:40He who eats of the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that bears the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

^11:41"'Every creeping thing that creeps on the earth is an abomination; it shall not be eaten. ^11:42Whatever goes on the belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, even all creeping things that creep on the earth, them you shall not eat; for they are an abomination. ^11:43You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps, neither shall you make yourselves unclean with them, that you should be defiled thereby. ^11:44For I am Yahweh your Mighty One: sanctify yourselves therefore, and be you holy; for I am holy: neither shall you defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that moves on the earth. ^11:45For I am Yahweh who brought you up out of the land of Mitzrayim, to be your Mighty One: you shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

^11:46"'This is the law of the animal, and of the bird, and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth; ^11:47to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living thing that may be eaten and the living thing that may not be eaten.'"

Yisraelites Eating Unclean Or Abominable Things Defile Themselves

Vayikra (Leviticus) 11:43 states that those who eat unclean or abominable things make themselves unclean and abominable, thus defiling themselves by the unclean things that they eat. In 11:44-45 Yahweh commands the people of Yisrael to SANCTIFY themselves, to be HOLY, for he Yahweh is holy. In other words, Yahweh's people are to be holy as he is holy.

Kefa Was Faithful To The Holy Spirit's Scriptural Command

It is because of this law of Yahweh, concerning what may be eaten and what may not be eaten, that Kefa REFUSED to eat the various four-footed animals of the earth, wild animals, reptiles and birds of the sky. For these animals were unclean, and Yahweh's law prohibits the eating of unclean animals, birds, living creatures in the waters and the creeping creatures of the earth.

Therefore, in refusing to heed the voice he received in the vision, commanding him to kill and eat unclean animals, Kefa was remaining compliant with Yahweh's law. It therefore appears to me that Kefa was NOT WRONG in not heeding the voice in the vision that commanded him to eat the unclean animals that he saw in the same vision.

Do Not Make Unholy What The Mighty One Has Cleansed

The words of the second voice Kefa received in the vision should also be noted: "What the Mighty One has cleansed, you must not make unholy."

The Mighty One Did Not Cleanse Unclean Animals

This second voice DID NOT say that the Mighty One had cleansed all unclean animals, birds, living creatures in the waters and the creeping creatures of the earth! It only said that what the Mighty One had cleansed one must not make unholy. Therefore, a key to understanding this vision is to ascertain what the Mighty One had cleansed, rather than to ASSUME that the Mighty One cleansed all unclean animals, birds, living creatures in the waters and the creeping creatures of the earth.

If the Mighty One had indeed cleansed all unclean animals, birds, living creatures in the water and the creeping creatures of the earth, then they were clean from the time so cleansed. But if the Mighty One had not cleansed them, cleansing instead something else that was unclean, then it is this other thing that was unclean that was cleansed, and it is this other thing that one must not make unholy.

Kefa Did Not Immediately Understand The Vision That He Saw

Acts 10:17 shows that Kefa DID NOT immediately understand the meaning of the vision that he had just seen.

The Spirit Directly Commanded Kefa

10:19-20 shows that while Kefa was still considering this vision he received a command from the Spirit. The Spirit commanded him to go with the men who were seeking him, doubting nothing, for the Spirit had sent these men to Kefa.

That the Spirit commanded Kefa to doubt nothing, with respect to his command to accompany these men who sought him, implies that had not the Spirit so commanded him he would have doubted in his mind whether or not he was really to accompany those men who sought him. And WHY might Kefa have doubted in his mind whether or not he was to accompany those men who sought him?

Kefa Obeyed The Spirit

10:21 shows that Kefa OBEYED the command he received from the Spirit and went down to the men who sought him, the men who had been sent to him by the Spirit.

How The Spirit Sent Men To Kefa

It should also be noted that the manner the Spirit sent these men to Kefa was not by the Spirit speaking directly to them in the manner he had spoken directly to Kefa. No! The men received their instruction to seek Kefa from their master, Cornelius. And Cornelius received his instruction from an angel of Yahweh. Thus, even when an angel of Yahweh comes to one with a message from Yahweh, he so acts upon the authority of the Holy Spirit, for it is Yahweh, through his Holy Spirit, that sends the angel to one. It should therefore be evident that the authority of the Spirit is greater than that of angels, for he who sends is greater than he who is sent.

Kefa Later Understood The Meaning Of The Vision That He Saw

10:28-29 shows that Kefa had finally UNDERSTOOD the meaning of the vision that he had seen while in a trance. When the voice spoke to him, saying, "what the Mighty One has cleansed, you must not make unholy," what was meant was that Kefa should not call ANY MAN unholy or unclean. Implying that Kefa, in common with other Yahudim, called people of other nations unholy or unclean. For the Yahudim had a law that they bound themselves with to the effect that they should not join themselves with or come to one of another nation, on the ground that those of other nations were unholy or unclean.

The Mighty One's Word Supersedes Human Laws

In other words, the Spirit had shown Kefa, through both the vision that Kefa had seen, and by the direct command of the Spirit to Kefa, that the Mighty One's word had superseded or overruled that law of the Yahudim, for the Mighty One did not deem those of other nations to be unholy or unclean while deeming the Yahudim as holy or unclean. And seeing that Yah'shuah's servants are to obey the Mighty One rather than men, where there is a conflict of instruction, Kefa indeed had to obey the Mighty One through the command he received from the Spirit.

The word of the Mighty One supersedes that of human beings. Therefore when the Mighty One gives us a command that conflicts with that of human beings, even a human command binding an entire nation or group of people, it is the Mighty One's command that we must abide by, rather than the conflicting human command. Kefa and the other apostles clearly understood this lesson. Yah'shuah's servants and disciples should likewise understand this same lesson.

The Mighty One Does Not Show Favouritism

In 10:34-35 Kefa again reiterates the meaning of the vision that he saw: the Mighty One does not show favouritism. But in every nation, he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. Therefore, just as Yahudim who fear him and work righteousness are acceptable to him, so also Goyim who fear him and work righteousness are acceptable to him. And he cleanses all these who fear him and work righteousness. And once cleansed by him no one should call them unholy or unclean.

That Kefa commanded these Goyim to be baptised, as seen in 10:47-48, shows that by the time he issued his command he had understood the vision that he saw. That the Mighty One does not show favouritism, but accepts in every nation all who fear him and work righteousness, such that no one should call another human being unholy or unclean, as the Yahudim called the Goyim. And having understood that there was no distinction between the Yahudim and the Goyim who believed in Yah'shuah of Natzeret, he commanded these believing Goyim to be baptised, just as the believing Yahudim had been baptised.

Kefa's Belief In The Mighty One's Words Was Demonstrated By His Works

In other words, Kefa's belief in the Mighty One's words was not just empty belief, but was belief demonstrated by his works. For just as believing Yahudim were baptised upon their belief in Yah'shuah of Natzeret, so also he commanded that believing Goyim be baptised upon their same belief in Yah'shuah of Natzeret. There is no partiality with the Mighty One. All human beings in every nation who fear him and work righteousness are acceptable to him.

Some Yahudim Confronted Kefa

11:2-3 shows that some Yahudim at Yerushalayim confronted Kefa with the accusation that he had violated the law of the Yahudim, the Yahudim's law that forbade a Yahudi from joining with or coming to or eating with an uncircumcised person, a person of another nation. For they had become aware that Kefa had violated this law of the Yahudim.

Kefa Defended His Conduct

11:4-17 shows Kefa's defence of his actions before the gathered assembly at Yerushalayim, and how his chronological account of the events as they happened clearly explained to his audience why he undertook the action that he had, and had fellowshipped with uncircumcised people, those belonging to another nation, contrary to the law of the Yahudim.

The Gathered Assembly Accepted Kefa's Word

11:18 shows that the gathered assembly accepted Kefa's word, including his account that he had acted in the manner that he had in obedience to the Holy Spirit. The gathered assembly also understood that the word of the Mighty One superseded that of human beings, even if the word superseded was a law of the Yahudim. Those gathered therefore glorified the Mighty One for having granted repentance to life even to the Goyim.

The Spirit's Words Supersede Human Commands

It should therefore be noted, in reiteration, that the word of the Spirit supersedes human commands, even human commands that bind an entire nation, an entire group of people. It should also be noted that the Mighty One did not cleanse unclean animals, birds, living creatures of the waters and creeping creatures of the earth. No! He made clear that the meaning of his vision was that he does not show favouritism among human beings. Any human being in any nation who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. Therefore a Yahudi or anyone else should not call another human being unholy or unclean, for all humans who fear him and work righteousness are acceptable to him.

The Yahudim's Restrictive Law Was Not Yahweh's Law

It should also be noted that this restrictive law of the Yahudim was clearly not Yahweh's law. For Yahweh had clearly prophesied that he would send his salvation unto all the peoples of the earth, both Yisraelites and non-Yisraelites. Also, even from the time that Yisrael was in Mitzrayim, Yahweh had allowed uncircumcised foreigners to dwell among them. Only that they were not allowed to partake of his Pesach or enter the temple. It is therefore seen that this Yahudim's law was not entirely consistent with Yahweh's word. It is therefore not surprising that Yahweh overlooked it when his time for sending his salvation to the Goyim had come, commanding Kefa to violate this Yahudim's law in order that he Kefa abide by his will.

Bar-Nabba Was Full Of The Holy Spirit And Of Faith

Acts 11:19-24 reads,

^11:19They therefore who were scattered abroad by the oppression that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except only to Yahudim. ^11:20But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Yevanim, preaching the Master Yah'shuah. ^11:21The hand of Yahweh was with them, and a great number believed and turned to Yahweh. ^11:22The report concerning them came to the ears of the assembly which was in Yerushalayim. They sent forth Bar-Nabba to go as far as Antioch, ^11:23who, when he had come, and had seen the grace of the Mighty One, was glad. He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would remain near to Yahweh. ^11:24For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Master.

11:23-24 indicates that the reason Bar-Nabba was glad, when he saw the grace of the Mighty One, was because he was full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And he was good and exhorted the believers at Antioch to remain near to Yahweh with purpose of heart because of his fullness of the Holy Spirit and of faith. Thus it is evident that the Holy Spirit imparts various attributes to those it fills, attributes including gladness of heart, goodness and faith.

The Spirit Prophesies Through Agav The Prophet

Acts 11:27-28 reads,

^11:27Now in these days, prophets came down from Yerushalayim to Antioch. ^11:28One of them named Agav stood up, and indicated by the Spirit that there should be a great famine over all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius.

It should be noted that the prophecies of the Spirit are fulfilled at their appointed times. The words of the Spirit DO NOT fall to the ground unfulfilled. They are all fulfilled at their appointed times.

Also, that there were prophets in the early assembly further confirms the fulfilment of words the Spirit spoke of in earlier times, such as by the mouth of Yoel, as already seen in Acts 2.

The Holy Spirit Calls Bar-Nabba And Shaul To An Additional Work

Acts 13:1-4 reads,

^13:1Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Bar-Nabba, Shim`on who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Menachem the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Sha'ul. ^13:2As they served the Master and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Separate Bar-Nabba and Sha'ul for me, for the work to which I have called them." ^13:3Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. ^13:4So, being sent forth by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia. From there they sailed to Cyprus.

It should be noted that Bar-Nabba and Shaul, who were themselves both prophets and teachers, were called to an additional work by the Spirit. This additional calling of the Spirit, where the Spirit sent them forth, was the calling of apostleship.

Genuine Apostles

It should therefore be noted that those who are apostles in the household of Yahweh are those who have been specifically called to this service by the Spirit. It should also be noted that in the case of Bar-Nabba and Shaul they were first called to the service of prophesying and teaching before they were eventually called to that of apostleship.

Shaul's Prophesied In The Spirit Against Elymas

Acts 13:6-12 reads,

^13:6When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Yahudi, whose name was Bar-Yah'shuah, ^13:7who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. The same called Bar-Nabba and Sha'ul to him, and sought to hear the word of the Mighty One. ^13:8But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith. ^13:9But Sha'ul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him, ^13:10and said, "Full of all deceit and all cunning, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of Yahweh? ^13:11Now, behold, the hand of Yahweh is on you, and you will be blind, not seeing the sun for a season!"

Immediately there fell on him a mist and darkness. He went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. ^13:12Then the proconsul, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Master.

It should be noted that the words that Shaul uttered, as recorded in 13:10-11, were not his own words, but those of the Spirit. For it was upon his being filled with the Holy Spirit, and his fastening his eyes upon Elymas, that he uttered the words that he did. And because these words uttered were those of the Spirit, and not those of Shaul, their effect came into immediate fulfilment. In other words, the Spirit fulfilled what he had spoken by the mouth of Shaul. Further showing that it was the Spirit that had done that work, and not Shaul of his own power. Shaul simply allowed the Spirit to use his mouth to utter the words that he did.

The Holy Spirit Imparted Joy To The Disciples

Acts 13:48-52 reads,

^13:48As the Goyim heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Mighty One. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed. ^13:49The Master's word was spread abroad throughout all the region. ^13:50But the Yahudim urged on the devout women of honorable estate, and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Sha'ul and Bar-Nabba, and threw them out of their borders. ^13:51But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium. ^13:52The disciples were filled with joy with the Holy Spirit.

Even in the face of persecution and expulsion the Spirit imparts joy to the disciples. Joy is one of the fruits imparted by the Spirit to the disciples.

The Holy Spirit Ratified The Judgement Of The Apostles And The Zakenim

Acts 15:22-29 reads,

^15:22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the Zakenim, with the whole assembly, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Sha'ul and Bar-Nabba: Yahudah called Bar-Sabba, and Sila, chief men among the brothers. ^15:23They wrote these things by their hand:

"The apostles, the Zakenim, and the brothers, to the brothers who are of the Goyim in Antioch and Aram and Cilicia: greetings. ^15:24Because we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, 'You must be circumcised and keep the law,' to whom we gave no commandment; ^15:25it seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose out men and send them to you with our beloved Bar-Nabba and Sha'ul, ^15:26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Master Yah'shuah the Messiah. ^15:27We have sent therefore Yahudah and Sila, who themselves will also tell you the same things by word of mouth. ^15:28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things: ^15:29that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell."

It should be noted that the judgement arrived at by the apostles, the Zakenim, and the brothers, applicable to the brothers who are of the Goyim, was ratified by the Holy Spirit as seen in 15:28. The Goyim are therefore not required to be circumcised and to keep the law of Moshe. But they must adhere to the necessary things that were imposed upon them as listed in 15:29.

The Holy Spirit Forbade Shaul From Speaking The Word In Asia

Acts 16:6-12 reads,

^16:6When they had gone through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. ^16:7When they had come opposite Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit didn't allow them. ^16:8Passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. ^16:9A vision appeared to Sha'ul in the night. There was a man of Macedonia standing, begging him, and saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us." ^16:10When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go forth into Macedonia, concluding that the Master had called us to preach the good news to them. ^16:11Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the day following to Neapolis; ^16:12and from there to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the first of the district, a Roman colony. We were staying some days in this city.

16:6-7 shows that there are occasions that servants of Yah'shuah desire to undertake a particular course of action, but are not allowed to so do by the Holy Spirit. In other words, when the action that they desire to undertake is not allowed them by the Spirit it is indeed evident that that proposed action of theirs was not in harmony with the will of the Spirit at the time they sought to undertake it. It is therefore the case that servants of Yah'shuah, including Shaul, have in the past sought to do their own will, a will inconsistent with that of the master.

Servants Of Yahweh Should Subjugate Their Will To That Of The Spirit

It should also be noted that these servants of Yah'shuah subjugated their wills to that of the Spirit. For when the Spirit prevented or forbade them from doing what they thought to do, they complied with the will of the Spirit, rather than obdurately trying to do what they had previously set their minds upon. Servants of Yah'shuah should therefore subjugate their will to that of the Spirit.

The Spirit Guided Shaul By Vision

16:9-10 shows that Shaul had received a vision that indicated to him and his companions that they should go forth into Macedonia, even though the Spirit had not given them a direct command to go into Macedonia. For they considered the meaning of the vision, even though the Spirit had not given them a more clear word.

It should therefore be noted that there are times when the Spirit gives us visions or dreams that are not very clear, and need to be considered by those the visions or dreams are given to, that they may determine their correct meaning. For this is what Kefa sought to understand when he was given the vision of four-footed animals, wild animals and birds of the sky. And this is what Shaul and his companions did after Shaul was given this vision. Therefore, when the Spirit gives us dreams or visions that are not very clear in their meaning, it is for us to consider the meaning of the dream or vision given by the Spirit, and respond appropriately to the meaning of it.

And in this case, seeing that the Spirit did not forbid them from going into Macedonia, it is taken that the vision Shaul received had indeed come by the Spirit, and was the Spirit's way of speaking to Shaul on this occasion.

Servants Of Yahweh Should Be Alert To The Various Ways The Spirit Speaks To Us

Servants of Yahweh must therefore be alert to the manner the Spirit chooses to speak to them, heeding the guidance of the Spirit irrespective of the Spirit's chosen manner of communicating with us. Sometimes he communicates directly and clearly. At other times not so directly or clearly. Nevertheless, irrespective of the manner or clarity that the Spirit communicates with us, we must endeavour to understand the meaning of his communication, and respond appropriately.

Shaul Compelled By The Spirit To Preach Yah'shuah

Acts 18:1-6 reads,

^18:1After these things Sha'ul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth. ^18:2He found a certain Yahudi named Aquila, a man of Pontus by race, who had recently come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Yahudim to depart from Rome. He came to them, ^18:3and because he practiced the same trade, he lived with them and worked, for by trade they were tent makers. ^18:4He reasoned in the synagogue every Shabbat, and persuaded Yahudim and Yevanim. ^18:5But when Sila and Timotiyos came down from Macedonia, Sha'ul was compelled by the Spirit, testifying to the Yahudim that Yah'shuah was the Messiah. ^18:6When they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook out his clothing and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am clean. From now on, I will go to the Goyim!"

It should be noted that sometimes the Spirit strongly urges Yah'shuah's servants to preach a particular message. In this case Shaul was strongly urged to testify that Yah'shuah was the Messiah.

The Holy Spirit Revealed To Shaul Certain Circumstances Pertaining To His Future

Acts 20:22-23 reads,

^20:22Now, behold, I go bound by the Spirit to Yerushalayim, not knowing what will happen to me there; ^20:23except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions wait for me.

Even though Shaul did not know the details of what awaited him at Yerushalayim, he knew, from what little the Spirit had revealed to him, that bonds and afflictions awaited him.

It should therefore be noted that the Spirit does not necessarily tell Yah'shuah's servants everything that will happen to their lives in future. Sometimes the Spirit chooses to highlight only the broad outline of what will happen. Nevertheless, even that broad outline given by the Spirit will indeed be brought to fruition.

The Holy Spirit Makes Overseers In The Assembly Of Yah'shuah And Yahweh

Acts 20:28 reads,

^20:28Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Master and the Mighty One which he purchased with his own blood.

The Holy Spirit makes overseers in the assembly of Yah'shuah and Yahweh for the purpose of shepherding the assembly. It should therefore be noted that those made overseers over Yah'shuah's flock should be so brought into such service by the Holy Spirit, and not by human authority. For the Holy Spirit is the one with the authority to so make such appointments, rather than men acting on their own authority.

Who Was Really Speaking By The Spirit?

Acts 21:3-15 reads,

^21:3When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left hand, we sailed to Aram, and landed at Tzor, for there the ship was to unload her cargo. ^21:4Having found disciples, we stayed there seven days. These said to Sha'ul through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Yerushalayim. ^21:5When it happened that we had accomplished the days, we departed and went on our journey. They all, with wives and children, brought us on our way until we were out of the city. Kneeling down on the beach, we prayed. ^21:6After saying goodbye to each other, we went on board the ship, and they returned home again.

^21:7When we had finished the voyage from Tzor, we arrived at Ptolemais. We greeted the brothers, and stayed with them one day. ^21:8On the next day, we, who were Sha'ul's companions, departed, and came to Caesarea.

We entered into the house of Pilipos the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. ^21:9Now this man had four virgin daughters, who prophesied. ^21:10As we stayed there some days, a certain prophet, named Agav, came down from Yahudah. ^21:11Coming to us, and taking Sha'ul's belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit: 'So will the Yahudim at Yerushalayim bind the man who owns this belt, and will deliver him into the hands of the Goyim.'"

^21:12When we heard these things, both we and they of that place begged him not to go up to Yerushalayim. ^21:13Then Sha'ul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Yerushalayim for the name of the Master Yah'shuah."

^21:14When he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, "The Master's will be done."

^21:15After these days we took up our baggage and went up to Yerushalayim.

Did The Spirit Command The Disciples At Tzor To Speak A Particular Word To Shaul?

21:4 says that the disciples at Tzor told Shaul, through the Spirit, that he should not go up to Yerushalayim. How did these disciples so speak to Shaul, yet we have already seen in 20:22-23 that the Spirit had already testified to Shaul that bonds and afflictions awaited him at Yerushalayim, being bound in the Spirit to go to Yerushalayim?

Agav's Words In The Spirit Confirmed Shaul's Earlier Testimony In The Spirit

21:10-11 confirms the words recorded in 20:22-23, that Shaul was bound by the Spirit to go to Yerushalayim, where bonds and afflictions awaited him. For the prophet Agav, speaking the Holy Spirit's words, gave Shaul more details of what awaited him at Yerushalayim. It is therefore clearly evident that Shaul was required by the Spirit to go to Yerushalayim, to facilitate the fulfilment of the Spirit's words.

How The Disciples Reacted To The Spirit's Word

The reaction of the disciples and Shaul's companions in 21:12 should be noted. Even though they had received the Spirit's clear communication from a prophet they duly recognised as Yah'shuah's servant, they DID NOT desire to see the realisation of the words that had been spoken by the Spirit. For the words spoken by the Spirit were not their desire or will. For they did not desire to see Shaul delivered into the hands of the Goyim. They therefore urged Shaul not to go to Yerushalayim, that what the Spirit had uttered may not be fulfilled. For they thought that if he indeed arrived at Yerushalayim, what the Spirit had uttered would duly come to pass. So, to avoid seeing the realisation of the painful word of the Spirit they sought to persuade Shaul to avoid going to Yerushalayim!

My View With Respect To Acts 21:4

Noting the conduct of the disciples in 21:12, I am INCLINED to think that the same thing happened with respect to 21:4. That the disciples at Tzor were told by the Spirit that bonds and afflictions awaited Shaul at Yerushalayim. And to avoid this fate coming upon Shaul, they advised him not to go there, that he may avert this action befalling him.

Disciples Misguided In Their Advice To Shaul

Personally, I think that the disciples who so advised Shaul, were MISGUIDED in their advice. For if the Spirit had already uttered what awaited Shaul, and seeing that the words of the Spirit cannot fall to the ground, it was INEVITABLE that what the Spirit had uttered would surely come to pass! There was therefore no point in trying to avoid the coming to pass of what the Spirit had uttered! Instead, the disciples should have prayed that Shaul be filled with the Spirit to strengthen him to face up to whatever it was that awaited him, facilitating the fulfilment of the Mighty One's will.

Shaul Credited In Not Heeding The Disciples' Advice

It is to Shaul's CREDIT that in this matter he did not heed the advice he received from the disciples. He remained steadfast to what he knew was the Mighty One's will. For it is sometimes the will of the Mighty One that his servants suffer to glorify his name. Therefore if he had chosen Shaul to so glorify his name, why should anyone have tried to prevent the fulfilment of his will? Is he not the Master of heaven and earth, whose will supersedes that of all others?

Servants Of Yahweh Should Submit To Yahweh Under All Circumstances

Servants of Yahweh should indeed submit to his will, even if his will is that they die in order to glorify his name. Did not Yah'shuah die to glorify Yahweh's name? Did not other servants of Yahweh suffer and die to glorify Yahweh's name? So why should a servant try to avoid suffering and death if this is what Yahweh has determined for him for the glorification of the Mighty One's name? Servants of Yahweh, following Yah'shuah's example, should be obedient even unto sufferings and death, thus allowing the glorification of the Father's name!

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© 1999, Isaac Aluochier, All rights reserved. Published by Servants of Yahweh, P O Box 44848, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya. E-mail: servantsofyahweh@serveyahweh.org. Permission is hereby GRANTED to reproduce this and other publications in the Servants of Yahweh web site, http://www.serveyahweh.org, unless otherwise stated.