Much is debated today about if miraculous gifts (aka “power of the Holy Spirit” in Scripture and charismatic gifts today) of the Holy Spirit still exist. Miraculous gifts as a topic is sometimes condensed into two camps – cessationists and continuationists. It is a debate closely associated with and connected to whether or not God still works miracles today.

he miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit are understood to be those gifts of the Holy Spirit that defied natural law (i.e. miraculous) whose purpose was laying the foundation of the church. They were most usually the gifts of tongues and prophecy discussed at length in I Corinthians 13-14 by Paul, but also included healings such as Peter performed (Acts 9) with the express purpose of confirming the word and their authority (given by God).

We could ask “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 miraculous gifts question is more fundamentally answered by understanding how they were given.

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

an answer short on commentary and long on Scripture as footnoted1 | please contribute with your comment at the bottom

The miraculous power of the Holy Spirit was first promised by Jesus to the apostles just before He ascended1. They first received the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit not many days later on the day of Pentecost2. From then on, the apostles alone could bestow the miraculous gifts to baptized believers4 by the laying on of their hands3,4. There is no other mention or example of this ability of non-apostles with the power to pass it on.

the answer above is based on and footnoted with the following passages and their BSF application

1

Acts 1:8

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 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.

Jesus is resurrected and has already appeared to many.  He is with His apostles and they have asked Him when the kingdom will be restored.  He answers that it’s not for them to know, but tells them instead about power they will receive.  Immediately after saying this He ascends into heaven and then on the day of Pentecost the apostles were “filled with the Holy Spirit” and spoke in tongues. (2:4)
How does it inform?

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

Does it apply? Yes

2

Acts 2:4

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The apostles are filled with the Holy Spirit and begin to speak in tongues as the Spirit directed them.

It is the day of Pentecost and Jews have made pilgrimage to Jerusalem from all different nations. The apostles have what appear to be “tongues as of fire” resting on each one of them to the amazement of the crowd. They are able to speak in everyone’s native tongue and Peter begins to preach to them of Jesus.

How does it inform?

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

Does it apply? Yes

3

Acts 8:17-19

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.

They received the Holy Spirit when they [Peter and John] laid their hands on them.  Simon offered the apostles money when saw that the Holy Spirit was given by the laying on of their hands.  He said, “Allow me to also transfer the power of the Holy Spirit by laying my hands on someone.”

The apostles in Jerusalem learn that the people in Samaria have received the word of God [gospel message] so they send them Peter and John.  The people there had only been baptized into Jesus but the Holy Spirit had not yet “fallen on them.” (vs 16)
How does it inform?

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.

!! study note: context very important here !!

Does it apply? Yes

4

Acts 19:1-6

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.

How does it inform?

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).

Does it apply? Yes

go back up to the answer

Do you agree? If so, share this question and the Bible Study Framework with others.

If you know of some other verses or you have something to add to the verses already listed for this question please leave a comment below! We welcome the public discussion and will incorporate your input into the Framework above. We have nothing to hide and invite your help in considering all that God’s word has to say.

what do you think?

Send Us Your Question