THE HOLY SPIRIT PRIOR TO PENTECOST
LUKE 10: 1-9 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4 Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
LUKE 9:1-2 And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
Prior to Pentecost, certain individuals were given the power of the Holy Spirit. However, not in the same way that was given at (and permanently after) Pentecost.
1. Pre-Pentecost Empowerment Was Temporary and Delegated
In Luke 10:1–20, Jesus sends out 72 (some manuscripts say 70) disciples in pairs, telling them to heal the sick and announce the Kingdom of God. This authority was given directly by Jesus, much like He did with the 12 apostles in Luke 9:1–2:
“He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases…”
This was not a permanent, indwelling empowerment by the Holy Spirit, but rather a temporary empowerment for a mission.
2. Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and Pre-Pentecost Times
The Holy Spirit did work before Pentecost, but selectively and temporarily—empowering prophets, judges, kings, and others for specific tasks (e.g., Samson, David, Elijah). This seems to be the case with the 72 as well.
- Prophets: Prophets in the Old Testament were empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak God’s word, reveal His will, and sometimes perform signs. The Spirit did not indwell them permanently but came upon them at specific times for specific purposes. For example, the Spirit enabled Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel to speak messages of warning, hope, and judgment (e.g., Ezekiel 2:2). The Holy Spirit was the source of prophetic insight (2 Peter 1:21), ensuring that their messages were not merely human opinions but divinely inspired revelations.
- Judges: The Judges were leaders raised by God to deliver Israel from oppression during the time between Joshua and the monarchy. The Holy Spirit came upon judges like Othniel, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson to give them supernatural strength, courage, and leadership ability (e.g., Judges 3:10, 6:34, 11:29, 14:6). This empowerment was temporary and task-specific, enabling them to lead military victories or make judgments, but it did not remain with them continually.
- Kings: Israel’s kings were sometimes empowered by the Holy Spirit to govern wisely and lead effectively, especially early in their reigns. Saul initially received the Spirit and even prophesied (1 Samuel 10:10), but the Spirit later departed from him due to disobedience (1 Samuel 16:14). David was also anointed by the Spirit (1 Samuel 16:13), and he prayed in Psalm 51:11, “Do not take your Holy Spirit from me,” showing his awareness that the Spirit’s presence could be withdrawn. Like with judges, the Spirit’s empowerment for kings was conditional and not yet the permanent indwelling seen in the New Testament.
3. Pentecost Marked a New Phase
At Pentecost (Acts 2), the Holy Spirit came to indwell all believers permanently, fulfilling Jesus’ promise in John 14:17:
“…He lives with you and will be in you.”
This marks a shift—from temporary empowerment to permanent indwelling and ongoing transformation.
What Happened at Pentecost (Acts 2):
Pentecost occurred 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection. As the disciples gathered in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit was poured out on them with signs like a rushing wind and tongues of fire (Acts 2:1–4). They began speaking in other languages, and Peter boldly preached the gospel. That day, about 3,000 people believed and were baptized, marking the birth of the New Testament Church.
The Role of the Holy Spirit:
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit began to permanently indwell all believers (not just selected leaders), just as Jesus had promised (John 14:16–17). This was a new era in God’s plan—where God’s presence would no longer dwell in a temple, but in His people. The Spirit convicts of sin, guides into truth, gives spiritual gifts, produces fruit like love and joy (Galatians 5:22–23), and empowers believers for witness and service (Acts 1:8).
How the Holy Spirit Empowers Christians Today:
Today, every true believer receives the Holy Spirit at salvation (Romans 8:9). He empowers us to live holy lives, understand Scripture, pray effectively, resist sin, and boldly share the gospel. He also unites the Church, comforts us in trials, and shapes us to become more like Christ. The same Spirit who empowered the apostles continues to work in and through believers to fulfill God’s mission in the world.
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