Page 20 - BCCA4

This was its first coming from heaven in great measure to a large number
of people! And on that day, the newly inspired (John 20:22) disciples also
received a large measure of YEHOVAH’s spirit to enable their work ahead
when the risen Messiah breathed on them.

3. Did Peter quote the prophet Joel at Pentecost? Acts 2:16-18.

COMMENT: Now, at last, YEHOVAH God had sent His spirit, as prom-
ised, for all flesh of Israel -- all who would repent, and accept Yeshua as
Saviour, in faith believing!

John 20:22

Before receiving the holy spirit, Peter was weak. He lacked faith to cast out
a demon, or walk on the water. He denied Yeshua three times. He went

fishing instead of attending to YEHOVAH's Work.

1. What did the Messiah tell Peter at the last supper? Luke 22:32.

COMMENT: Now, the question is -- did the disciples receive a large meas-
ure of the holy spirit when the Messiah returned to earth after his ascension
following his resurrection -- or at Pentecost?

2. Notice what the Hard Sayings of the Bible, by Kaiser, Davids, Bruce
and Brauch, comments:

"In John 20:22 Jesus breathes on the disciples and indicates that he is
granting them the holy spirit, which fulfills a promise repeatedly made in
John 14-16. However, in Acts 2:4 we learn that later, after the ascension
of Jesus, the 120 disciples gathered in the upper room had an experience,

and 'all of them were filled with the holy spirit and began to speak in other
tongues as the spirit enabled them.' When was the holy spirit actually re-
ceived by the disciples?"

Continuing, this volume adds --

"In John 20:21 we have the commissioning of the disciples: 'As the Father
has sent me, I am sending you.' The sending of the Son in John is a send-
ing into the world [of Israel] to save the world [of Israel]. The sending of the
disciples is thus a continuation of this sending of Jesus as they go out into
the world [of Israel] to preach the gospel. At this point Jesus grants them
the power for [the] mission with the words 'receive the holy spirit.' Along
with this empowering comes the authority to forgive sins (which, of course,
is part of preaching the gospel, for in it one indicates whose sins are forgiv-

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