“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message” (Acts 10:44).
When we read verbs like “fell upon” to describe the Spirit’s activities, we all too easily think about the Spirit of God in terms of a non-personal force or power. Surely such unbiblical thoughts must grieve the Spirit of God! Were it not for the Spirit of God personally speaking to God’s people, the gospel would have never left Jerusalem. It was the Spirit who told Philip to go to the Ethiopian eunuch (8:29). The Spirit was the one who assured Peter he sent the three Gentile men from Caesarea (10:19; 11:12). And it was the Spirit who spoke to praying believers to set Paul and Barnabas apart to preach the gospel to the nations (Acts 13:2–4). The gift of Holy Spirit, dear friends, is not a “thing” we receive.
The gift of the Spirit is a divine person who comes to live inside us, to speak with us, and who is eternally one with the Father and the Son.
He who has ears to hear, therefore, let him listen!
“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost” (Rev 22:17).
