Holy Spirit

[Just before Stephen was stoned:] But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God's right hand.

—Acts 7:55 NLT

Key Thought​

Stephen had been chosen to serve widows because he was full of the Spirit. Stephen had spoken the truth of Jesus in the face of great hostility. He had warned those who opposed his words not to resist the Spirit like their ancestors before them. And now...

 

[Stephen, in his defense before the Sanhedrin:] "You stubborn people! You are heathens at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That's what your ancestors did, and so do you!"

—Acts 7:51 NLT

Key Thought​

Stephen was empowered by the Holy Spirit and spoke with wisdom. He knew that there was great opposition to the Jesus he proclaimed and the truth he spoke. He also knew that this kind of opposition was nothing new. God's own people had...

 

None of [the people arguing with Stephen] could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.

—Acts 6:10 NLT

Key Thought​

Stephen had been selected as one of the seven special servants of the church in Jerusalem to help make sure the widows were given the proper care. He was chosen because he was full of the Holy Spirit, faith, and wisdom. The Holy Spirit within him not only helped him in his service to the widows, but the Spirit also empowered him to...

 

[The apostles to the church in Jerusalem concerning ministering to the widows:] "Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty." ... And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.

—Acts 6:3 ESV, Acts 6:5 ESV...

 

[The apostles to the church in Jerusalem concerning ministering to the widows:] "And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility."

—Acts 6:3 NLT

Key Thought​

Almost every religion defines spirituality a little bit differently. However, a follower of Christ defines authentic spirituality based upon people having the Holy Spirit living within them. A true servant leader among Jesus'...

 

[Peter and the apostles before the Sanhedrin:] "The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him."

—Acts 5:30-32 NLT

Key Thought​

An incredible amount of truth is...

 

And Peter said [to Sapphira, concerning Ananias and her], "How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too."

—Acts 5:9 NLT

Key Thought​

There is no conspiracy theory in the story of Ananias and Sapphira. It IS conspiracy. However, Peter puts their sin of conspiracy and lying into the context of testing the Holy Spirit. They...

 

Peter said, "Ananias, how did Satan get you to lie to the Holy Spirit and secretly keep back part of the price of the field?"

—Acts 5:3 MESSAGE

Key Thought​

This verse comes from the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11). They sold their land and gave some of the proceeds to the apostles to help their fellow disciples who had financial needs (Acts 4:32-37). Ananias and Sapphira conspired to make it seem that they gave the whole amount but kept back part for themselves — a...

 

After [the disciples'] prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

—Acts 4:31 NLT

Key Thought​

I am touched by several things in the prayer of these early followers of Jesus when they were threatened (Acts 4:24-30 NIV). First, they acknowledge the sovereignty and power of God. Second, they recognize that the situation they face is the fulfillment of prophecy — they are where they are...

 

[Disciples praying to the LORD after Peter and John were released from jail:] "You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?'"

—Acts 4:25 NIV

Key Thought​

The disciples proclaimed that what was happening in their day was what God had spoken through his servant David by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The violence and opposition that the early followers of Jesus were facing were...