The role of the Holy Spirit in Acts: A lesson for today’s Church By Oscar Amaechina, Op-ed Contributor for The Christian Post
The Book of Acts recounts for us that believers were first called “Christians” in Antioch (Acts 11:26). A survey through Acts has revealed that this book is more of the actions of the Holy Spirit than that of the Apostles. All the activities of the Apostles were packaged and executed by the Holy Spirit; a comprehensive study of this book will help us know more about the role of the Holy Spirit in the early Church.
The Holy Ghost gave birth to the Church on the day of Pentecost in the upper room where the disciples were waiting as instructed by Jesus. About 120 of the disciples who were waiting were filled with the Holy Ghost. They were enabled to carry out the Gospel work for which they were called: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
The early Church started their operations under the leadership and power of the Holy Spirit.
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Understanding the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church will help Christians understand who the Holy Spirit is, His works and His place in the Church. The disciples experienced a supernatural encounter that released the unction to carry out the mandate which Jesus gave to the Church. The power gave them the boldness to preach Christ. Peter who denied Jesus and was afraid to identify with Him, came out boldly and declared Christ to those who crucified Him and about 3,000 of them surrendered to the saving power of Christ (Acts 2:41).
From the day of the inauguration of the Church, nothing was done without the power of the Holy Spirit. The chief mandate of the Church is to spread the Gospel to areas where Christ has not been named, starting in Jerusalem and ending at the uttermost parts of the earth. The Holy Spirit came to empower the disciples to carry out this assignment. Sadly, this central purpose of the Church is oftentimes forgotten and abandoned in favor of secondary matters.
