fire and pillars of smoke then appeared; and the sun was not darkened
and the moon was not turned to blood at that time; and yet what was
there witnessed was in fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel. It is equally
evident that this part of the prophecy concerning the outpouring of the
Spirit was not exhausted in that one manifestation; for the prophecy
covers all days from that time on to the coming of the great day of the
Lord
.
But the Day of Pentecost was in fulfillment of other prophecies
besides that of Joel. It fulfilled the words of Christ Himself as well. In
His last discourse to His disciples before His crucifixion, He said to
them: “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter,
... Even the Spirit of truth.”
John 14:16, 17
. “But the Comforter, which
is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall
teach you all things.”
Verse 26
. “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth,
is come, He will guide
[23]
you into all truth.”
Chapter 16:13
. And after Christ had risen from
the dead, He said to the disciples, “Behold, I send the promise of my
Father upon you: But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be
endued with power from on high.”
Luke 24:49
.
On the Day of Pentecost the disciples were thus endued with power
from on high. But this promise of Christ’s was not, any more than
the prophecy of Joel, confined to that occasion. For He gave them
the same promise in another form by assuring them that He would be
with them always, even to the end of the world.
Matthew 28:20
. Mark
tells us in what sense and what manner the Lord was to be with them.
He says, “And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord
working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.”
Mark 16:20
. And Peter, on the Day of Pentecost, testified concerning
the perpetuity of this operation of the Spirit which they had witnessed.
When the convicted Jews said unto the apostles, “What shall we do?”
Peter answered, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of
the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and
to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”
Acts 2:37-39
. This certainly provides for the operation of the Holy
Spirit in the church, even in its special manifestations, to all coming
time, as long as mercy shall invite men to accept the pardoning love of
Christ.