Much is debated today about if miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit still exist. Sometimes blended with the “power of the Holy Spirit” in Scripture, the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit topic could be divided into two camps – cessationists and continuationists.

It is also a debate closely associated with and connected to whether or not God still works miracles today. In fact, another good question would be, “Do miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit still continue today?” But just as the miracle question is more fundamentally answered by understanding their purpose, the question of the continuation of miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit today is more fundamentally answered by understanding how they were given.

How Scripture answers "How were miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit given?"

The miraculous power of the Holy Spirit was promised by Jesus to the apostles just before He ascended2 (He had already given them authority to do miracles1). They first received the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit “not many days later” on the day of Pentecost3. From then on, the apostles alone could bestow the miraculous gifts to baptized believers5,6 by the laying on of their hands4,5,7. There is no other mention or example of this ability of non-apostles with the power to pass it on.

Answer built on scripture-blocks below

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.

And he [Jesus] summoned His appointed apostles and gave them authority to cast out spirits and to heal every physical affliction.

Jesus is sending out the twelve apostles to teach and giving them instructions.

Scripture-block application to this question

Jesus had already specifically and directly given His apostles (and just His apostles) power and “authority” over demons and disease when He sent them out.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

You [apostles] will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will testify about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Luke’s “part 2” account to Theophilus, where he opens with a brief summary (vss 1-11) that recaps/overlaps with the ending of the “part 1” (Luke 24:36-53).

Jesus, with His apostles (vs 2), has reminded them (vs 4) of the “promise of the Father” (“the Helper”) that He first told them about in the upper room before His crucifixion (John 14:15-17, 16:7-14). He also refers back (vs 5) to the same thing John the Baptist had originally proclaimed, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Luke 3:16)

This is just before He ascends into heaven (vs 9) and the day of Pentecost (chapter 2).

Scripture-block application to this question

Jesus tells the apostles they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
They [the apostles] were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in tongues other than their own as the Spirit directed them.
It is the day of Pentecost and Jews have made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem from all different nations (vs 5). The apostles have what appear to be “tongues as of fire” (vs 3) resting on each one of them to the amazement of the crowd. They are able to speak in everyone’s native tongue (vs 6) and Peter begins to preach to them of Jesus.
Scripture-block application to this question

The apostles receive the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit and the power to speak in tongues for the first time.

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.

The apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God. They sent Peter and John in order to pray and lay their hands on them so they could receive the Holy Spirit — He had not yet fallen on them because they had only been baptized in the name Jesus. So they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw this he offered the apostles money so he too could impart this power.

The disciples scattered from Jerusalem (vss 2,4) following the stoning of Stephen (chapter 7). As a result, there were Samaritans, including a ‘sorcerer’ named Simon, who had been baptized (apparently by Philip from Acts 6). While “the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did” (vs 6), Simon’s magic was apparently a distraction or even a competition. “They all paid attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the power of God that is called Great.” (vs 10)

Scripture-block application to this question

A very plain passage, restated several ways, that “the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands.” We read that they did it, then we read that Simon saw it, then we read Simon’s statement reiterating it.

!! scripture-block context extra important here !!

“Simon believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.” (vs 13) This means that before Simon ever saw the transference of miraculous gifts, he had traveled with Philip who himself had this gift. Importantly, he never saw Philip lay his hands on someone to transfer the gift.

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? And they said, No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. And he said, Into what then were you baptized? They said, Into John’s baptism. And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus. On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed inland and came to Ephesus. There he found some converts and asked if they received the Holy Spirit when they had believed.  They had not and didn’t even know there was a Holy Spirit.  So Paul asked what they had been baptized into?  They said John’s baptism.  Paul then explained the difference between John’s baptism and Jesus’ baptism – that the former was only of repentance and pointing toward Jesus.  When they heard this, they were baptized into Jesus.  At that point, Paul laid his hands on them which gave them the power of the Holy Spirit – to speak in tongues and prophesy.
Paul is on his third missionary journey in 52AD.

Scripture-block application to this question

Paul, an apostle, laid his hands on these men in order for the Holy Spirit to come on them with power (speaking in tongues and prophesying).

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

I [Paul] am anxious to see you in order to give you some spiritual gift to strengthen you and be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Introduction of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome.

Scripture-block application to this question

Paul needed to be physically with them in order to “impart” a “spiritual gift”.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Because of this, I [Paul] want to remind you to stir up the gift that you were given through the laying on of my hands since God has provided us a spirit not of fear and timidity, but of power and love and self-control.

Paul’s second letter to a younger evangelist, Timothy.  In both letters, he instructs him on matters of doctrine and congregational order, but this second letter includes mostly admonition for Timothy to remain strong in the faith.

Scripture-block application to this question

Timothy’s gift was given by the laying on of Paul’s (an apostle) hands.

Leave your comment below…

…and if you’re wondering more about what we’re doing and why, here are some links we hope can help explain it (and maybe even get you excited about contributing):

what do you think?

related to 'How were miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit given?'

lend your own study to the discussion

PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY: While your email is required, it will not be posted publically.
All comments are vetted for potential spam before being published, but will not be restricted otherwise.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments