for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
If the Old Testament is more central on God the Father and the Gospels and Epistles more central on the God the Son, Acts is more central on God the Spirit. The book is entitled the “Acts of the Apostles.” It could be named, the “Acts of the Holy Spirit.” All Scripture is focused on the redemptive act of salvation by the Trinity. The Father, the Son and the Spirit are seen in all scriptures. But this book of Acts truly does record many of the movements of the Holy Spirit as He speaks about Son of God, the Savior of the world. Remember what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit’s coming ministry when He promised the Spirit’s coming to the Apostles;
John 16:13-15 (ESV)
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
So, whereas the Spirit is a key figure in Acts, He is behind the scenes bringing mankind’s attention to the Son, for the glory of the Father. The Holy Spirit is mentioned almost ten times in these first two chapters, almost 70 times in the entire book. If you look for the words, Jesus, Lord and Christ, you end up with almost 400 references in Acts. But it is the power and the purpose of the Spirit who brings these references to light. When Jesus told the Apostles they would be baptized by the Spirit, they had no idea the power that would be unleashed in them and for them. Our ministries are based upon the fact that the Spirit of God is filling us, guiding us and working mightily in us. We can rejoice that until Jesus’ return we have the presence of the Spirit to be our helper:
John 14:15-17 (ESV)
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
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