READINGS ON THE SPIRIT (1)
[p. 261] READINGS ON THE SPIRIT (1)
JT In view of these meetings I was thinking of the Holy Spirit as viewed in an objective sense in the book of Acts. We may be enabled to see how He is thus presented in connection with various features of the truth in this book — a divine Person operating here. It is important to apprehend the Spirit as in the inauguration of the dispensation. It is, in a certain sense, His dispensation. He has come in as a divine Person according to what the Lord had said: “I will beg the Father, and he will give you an other Comforter” (John 14: 16). It is thought that these two chapters will afford us material to work out that side of the truth. The apostles, inquiring from the Lord as to the restoration of the kingdom to Israel, were told, “It is not yours to know times or seasons, which the Father has placed in his own authority; but ye will receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you” (Acts 1: 7, 8). The matter is thus stated; the Spirit here was the great fact in which they should rest.
The Spirit would be present with them in power for testimony, and they should be trustworthy. He would unfold things, and open up the truth as needed. The first point to see is that the Spirit has come in and formed a dispensation and taken charge of it, as it were; so that the apostles were to be restful. Times and seasons were in the Father’s hand; the truth as to them would come out in due course, but not yet. In the meantime the depths of God would be brought out, a greater thought than times or seasons. The Holy Spirit, in perfect knowledge of all, would be with the [p. 262] disciples, and He would unfold the truth as needed, and regulate everything. So that the first point is to rest in the sense that a divine Person is here as Christ was here, and here in relation to God. Chapter 2 brings out the state of the brethren, the apostles and others that were there, showing how unified they were, and fit for the Spirit to take on and use, so that they moved in relation to Him. That is the great general thought in this beginning in the early chapters.
Then I thought that we might look at chapter 5 to see Him acting in relation to discipline in the assembly, and then at chapters 8, 9, and 10. In chapter 8 He is seen in relation to evangelical service, sovereignly taking charge of the service in Philip; and in chapter 9 He comforts the saints. In chapter 10 He sovereignly takes over the gentiles. There are other features that will open up later.
RWS The restoration of the kingdom was not on lower ground than what the Lord had in mind.
JT The Lord does not say anything about it, save that as included in times or seasons it was in the Father’s hand. The point is the Spirit. You are impressed with the great fact of the Spirit who was about to come.
AEH “The depths of God;” do you look upon that as connected with the objective side of things? You have suggested that it stands related to the full outshining of the revelation of God.
JT “The Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God” (1 Corinthians 2: 10). That is largely what is developed, so that the point is to make room for the Spirit. He is here as a great Commissioner; a divine Person sent here, and He operates as such.
TAT Do you think that those whom the Lord was addressing knew much about the truth of the Spirit?
JT Their understanding as to Him, and as to all [p. 263] things, was relatively meagre until the Spirit Himself came, but much had been said, by the Lord, of His coming. All the gospels, especially Luke and John, indicate this. The Lord went so far as to say that they should get the Spirit from the Father by asking Him. John stresses much the Spirit and His coming. He alone speaks of Him as the Comforter.
SJH Does the Lord’s remark, “It is not yours to know times or seasons”, suggest that it was theirs to know what is in the Spirit and in His realm?
JT That is what I thought. The apostles, no doubt, would inquire together as to what He meant. Why does He not say more? Let us be impressed with the great fact that He has come, His presence here is the great characterising fact of the dispensation. Let us seek to understand and appreciate the immensity of it.
ANW I think your use of the word ‘restful’ is interesting. We might be worried about the times and seasons, but there is enough to keep us restful.
JT That is the great point, to keep “in the Spirit”.
WL In both of these chapters the thought of the Holy Spirit being upon the disciples is emphasised. Would that suggest that He is to be in evidence in an objective sense?
JT Yes. He is here in the saints and others may take account of Him. He can be taken account of even by unconverted people; that is what comes out in Acts 2: 15. Peter says, “these are not full of wine, as ye suppose, for it is the third hour of the day”. Then he goes on to tell what it was — what they saw: the Spirit is to be taken notice of in public testimony. Previously it says, “there appeared to them parted tongues, as of fire, and it sat upon each one of them” (Acts 2: 3). It is the external side too in Luke; and again, “he that ... has anointed us, is God” (2 Corinthians 1: 21). It is what is observable. That the Spirit of God has come in, is [p. 264] a wonderful fact.
AEH Does the sitting on each of them suppose there was work to be performed in them, to make it possible for the disciples to take up a position of that kind?
JT He came on Christ as a dove and abode upon Him, but here He appeared as parted tongues of fire, and sat upon each one of them.
ANW “And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but do ye remain in the city till ye be clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24: 49). Is that an outward evidence of His presence?
JT Yes, it is public. John represents what is inward.
AHP Is there any correspondence in Pentecost with what had been seen in the Lord personally in His public service here, in the gospel of Luke especially?
JT Yes. The Holy Spirit came on the Lord Jesus, and He was on Simeon. It was a public matter, and the greatness of it is stressed. What could be brought into Jerusalem to compare with it? All the happenings of the world would pale into insignificance as compared with this great event. We are to be occupied with the great thought of the Holy Spirit come in. We should be greatly impressed by it. As we see here, it is not a question of the times or seasons; but I fear that, if you announced you were going to give an address on times and seasons, you would get a much greater hearing than if you were giving an address on the Holy Spirit. “But the rumour of this having spread, the multitude came together and were confounded, because each one heard them speaking in his own dialect” verse 6. Why had not the apostles inquired from the Lord about this great coming event? If they had been observant they would have inquired about the Holy Spirit, but in their minds it was a question of the kingdom being restored to Israel. But God was working and what was evident in the disciples caused a great stir [p. 265] in Jerusalem.
JRH The word for power in verse 7 is interesting. It evidently gives the idea of the right to exercise power. What would you say about that?
JT That is what it is. It is not the dynamic idea, but authority. In Acts 1: 8, “ye will receive power”, it is dynamic power. The former in general is made effective by the latter. The apostles had authority from the Lord, but active power (ability) was needed to make it effective. The latter is the Spirit, “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke forth” (Acts 2: 14). What is conveyed is that he had authority, but concurrently there was, in him and with him, the Spirit of God. Hence the great practical result on that great day — three thousand added. A supporter of the Jewish system might have challenged Peter as to his authority to speak, and asked him, What authority have you to stand up and preach? You are not the high priest, nor of the priestly class, nor even a Levite. Well, the actual power of the Spirit was there manifestly — universally felt. Thus the two ideas, authority and effective power, were illustratively present. Peter had the real power, confirming the authority with which he spoke. The activities of the Spirit accompanied the public services of the apostles at the beginning; and, through humble dependence on the Lord, this will in measure mark the service now.
JRH There is no right representation of God without that authority.
JT There should be authority. Positive representation of God does not have a mandate from any college. The Spirit operating carried His own credentials with it. “Never man spoke thus, as this man speaks” (John 7: 46).
ANW Does it show itself differently in the conveying of power by the Lord Himself? In Luke 9 He gave them “power and authority”. How would that show itself?
[p. 266] JT The former would be the actual power of the Spirit; the latter a mandate. The Spirit confers authority too, as well as being the power to make it effective, which is illustrated in Acts 13: 2 - 4 “And as they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, Separate me now Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then, having fasted and prayed, and having laid their hands on them, they let them go. They therefore, having been sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia, and thence sailed away to Cyprus”. That is, the authority is there, and the actual power also as seen in the blindness brought upon Elymas in verse 11; so that anyone coming in contact with them would see it. It is a question not only of dynamic power, but of something that indicates authority behind it. The Spirit of God is God, and He sent them forth. His stamp is on them.
TAT Of course He would express His mind through some brother?
JT “The Holy Spirit said, Separate me now”. We are not told how it happened in detail. Undoubtedly it would be through some brother, but the sending forth was by the Spirit of God.
RWS Is this the side of the Spirit coming Himself? He comes in to carry on the work that the Lord had started. “These things I have said to you, abiding with you; but the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and will bring to your remembrance all the things which I have said to you” (John 14: 25, 26).
JT Yes. The facts of His coming are given in the beginning of Acts 2: “And when the day of Pentecost was now accomplishing, they were all together in one place. And there came suddenly a sound out of heaven as of a violent impetuous blowing, and filled all the house where they were sitting”. These are the facts [p. 267] of the transaction. Was there ever such a transaction? The incoming of Christ was not thus signally marked. There was no public manifestation at the Lord’s birth, but here there is a “violent impetuous blowing”. That is heaven’s way of coming in. It is not wind in the ordinary sense, it is breathing, meaning that the inner parts of God, speaking reverently, are active themselves. It is how He is coming in by His Spirit.
JD Say a word on John 14: 25, 26, “These things I have said to you, abiding with you; but the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and will bring to your remembrance all the things which I have said to you”. Would the sending of the Spirit by the Father underlie what is in your mind?
JT Yes; and the Son sends Him too. But it is now the fact of His coming, the actual transaction; enlarging on what the Lord had said; “ye will receive power, the Holy Spirit having come upon you”. It is His action, and so we have the accompanying facts as to what they heard in the house; what filled the house: “there came suddenly a sound out of heaven as of a violent impetuous blowing, and filled all the house where they were sitting”. What was that for? What is anything that is happening on earth compared with it? There were persons there sitting; the word is used particularly. They are restful and composed, and now this happens. Those present would say, We shall never forget this! It was intended that they should never forget; it would go with them in all their activities. It was mighty power, not a storm, but, as it were, God breathing; and the very inwards of God expressing themselves in this most significant way.
HB Would you say that this is a much deeper thought than is seen at the end of Exodus where everything is anointed after the gathering together of the [p. 268] material?
JT This is a deeper thought. It is God’s powerful breathing. Scripture speaks in several connections of the breath of God, but this is the most unique one. The sound of it filled the house where the disciples were sitting. The apostles would say, We understand now what the Lord said as to authority and the power that goes with it.
JW If we are concerned about the times and seasons we are apt to be selfish; looking for the restoration of the kingdom would imply that we are concerned as to what belongs to ourselves.
JT Quite so, turning aside from the divine thoughts and purposes, and the means by which they are effected — the Spirit of God. The times and seasons have their place, as Paul says to the Thessalonians: “ye know perfectly well yourselves, that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief by night” (1 Thessalonians 5: 2). Christians come to know these things through the Spirit of God as here. The main thing is His presence among us. He guides us into all the truth, (John 16: 13).
RWS He fills the house. Is it the thought of filling whatever He comes into?
JT Yes. We are to be filled with the Spirit. Coming in, He commands attention. What else do you want? If you brought in all the radios in the world — and they afford only the most wretched matter — it would be only to interfere with this work and service of the Spirit. Do I want a radio to fill my house? Normally the believer’s house is already filled.
AHP Would what we see here, external power and authority, indicate a divine Person here to carry the testimony through?
JT Yes. It says, “there appeared to them;” it was to impress them. If we are divinely impressed we shall impress others. Peter stands up on that principle; he was in this sense impressed as he arose to speak on the day [p. 269] of Pentecost.
RWS Anything less than being filled is short of the divine idea.
JT Yes; the general idea is being filled with what is presented. It is a heavenly sound of impetuous breathing. Saul breathed out “threatenings and slaughter”, but this is opposite; this is God breathing, as giving to His people and affording to all men, as they value it and seek it, the gift of His Spirit.
WL They were all together. Would that be the 120?
JT Yes. All who were there heard it. It is a heavenly sound, as the passage says, “suddenly a sound out of heaven”. They evidently knew the sound. What am I going to listen to? The whole house is filled with this precious sound.
WL It was not specially for the apostles.
JT There were more than the apostles there; the 120 were there. “They were all together”, it is said; that is, those mentioned in the first chapter.
JD Your allusion to the inwards of God expressed in this way is very sweet, I think; as it reflects on the whole service of Christ and what He accomplished. The Spirit can be identified with that.
JT Assembly features were there. The persons there were suitable; all together, not an absentee, which is a principle that runs through. They were in one place when the wonderful breathing sound from heaven filled the house. Morally there was no room for anything else.
AEH The wonderful feelings of it are typically suggested in the account of the feast of Pentecost in Leviticus 23: 15 - 22. There is instruction regarding “thy field”, the corners were not to be reaped, but left to the poor and the stranger. There is infinitely more than enough in the Spirit for the apostles and those gathered at Jerusalem. It reaches out.
JT There is no time limitation to the feast of [p. 270] Pentecost. All that fits in here. It is left open. In a sense we are shut up to the Spirit; it is His day. There is no limit to His activities; nor is there a limit to what He may open up to the assembly. He searches all things, even the depths of God. Prophecy had much place with the brethren in the early days of the revival over one hundred years ago, and God helped much in the inquiry; opening up the dispensations, also the territory in view in the prophetic scriptures. The ministry rendered was most precious and instructive, clarifying the whole outlook, and thus making way for the ministry relative to Christ and the assembly which the Spirit has kept before the saints ever since.
JTJr “As the Spirit gave to them to speak forth” (Acts 2: 4). Is that administration in the Spirit’s hands?
JT That is what is prominent in this chapter. The Lord had been preparing the apostles for it.
JTJr Is that what you had in mind in the objective side of the Spirit? In a certain sense the Spirit has charge of the position.
JT Yes. Even in regard of detail in service: you are concerned for instance, about giving an address to the brethren; you feel very feeble, but presently something suggests itself to you, and you are assured. The Holy Spirit is always ready to do that. Your mind is thus clear, and as you proceed you are supported. The word to note is, “as the Spirit gave to them to speak forth”. Whatever your main thoughts are, you are concerned as to what the Spirit gives, and the general help He renders.
AB Does the apostle have in mind in that connection the reference in Isaiah 64: 4: “who [p. 271] acteth for him that waiteth for him”?
JT That passage is quoted in 1 Corinthians 2 where we have the truth relative to the Spirit enlarged on. Isaiah says: “Never have men heard, nor perceived by the ear, nor hath eye seen a God beside thee, who acteth for him that waiteth for him”. Let us allow the Spirit to enter. He is a divine Person regarded here objectively; let Him in and He will “speak forth”.
TS What difference do you make between the filling of the house and the filling of them?
JT The sound is what fills the house — heaven calling attention. Thus we must let heaven speak. It fills the house. Then it says, “And there appeared to them parted tongues, as of fire, and it sat upon each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak”. The parted tongues are for your eye; the sound is for your ear. It sat on each of them. You cannot just say the tongues sat on each of them, It sat on each of them; each one has It. That means we have to think of one another in relation to the Spirit. We have to think of heaven, of course, as regards the sound; but according to what appeared, the Holy Spirit came on each one, so that I have now to learn to think of the brethren as thus affected; anointed by the Spirit.
WL These features were carried forward.
JT Yes. These brethren were impressed and I am sure they would never lose the impression, they would pass it on. The lame man of Acts 14 heard Paul speaking and was impressed.
ANW “We hear them speaking in our own tongues the great things of God” (Acts 2: 11).
SMcC “And it came to pass in Iconium that they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a great multitude of both Jews and Greeks believed” Acts 14: 1.
JT That chapter, as already noted, illustrates what is before us. They “so spake”, and the impotent man “heard Paul speaking”.
TAT Peter was impressed when Cornelius received the Spirit. “Can any one forbid water that these should not be baptised, who have received the Holy Spirit as we also did?” (Acts 10: 47). The Spirit was the gift of [p. 272] God.
JT Quite so, we will come to that. These parted tongues, as the passage says, “sat upon each one of them”. Individuality is stressed in this.
JRH What is your thought of parted tongues of fire?
JT They imply the overthrow of the language barrier set up at Babel. The Holy Spirit gave them power to speak the languages of those present from many countries.
JRH Does as of fire allude to what is drastic?
JT Yes; the destruction of what is of the flesh in those who speak. This includes mere natural eloquence. They speak “the great things of God” (verse 11); that is the kind of thing you will be able to do; speak of the great things of God.
JTJr “To-day, if ye will hear his voice”, the voice of the Spirit.
JT Quite so.
CR “The breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding” (Job 32: 8). Does this relate to something like that?
JT The breath of the Almighty is a great thought. The first allusion to it is in Genesis 2 where God breathed into Adam the breath of life. It is the same breath that ignites the lake of fire, as said in Isaiah 30. What God can do! What He can use to ignite a fire He can use to make a man live; He can change things in their use. This scene in Acts 2 is to impress the disciples. They were going to serve in the testimony in the power and character of that of which they are being made conscious.
A.N.W. What is this “it”?
JT It refers to what appeared to them, pointing to their speech — the power and universality which would mark it. “Peter, standing up ... lifted up his voice and spoke forth to them. Men of Judaea, and all ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give heed to my words”.
JC “There appeared to them:” how does this power work out?
JT It works out so that we have right thoughts about one another; we have mutual esteem for each other as in the Lord’s service. God is thinking of us all. It promotes mutual feelings. I am glad of another brother’s prosperity in the service. We see how God qualifies His servants, and we have joy in each other’s success. We see that “each one of them” was in God’s mind. I think we do well to occupy ourselves with the saints, and especially with those qualified to serve, as the objects of God’s care and blessing. You say, We are not much; but we love the brethren more and more as we pursue this line.
JRH Is it a question of taking account of the place each of the saints has in divine favour?
JT Exactly. Look at them here. These tongues as of fire are on each one of them. This would promote unity in their service.
WL Would that be one reason why Peter could say, “Look on us” (Acts 3: 4)?
JT Just so, they are worth looking at. Peter and John were heaven’s best in testimony. These in the house as the Spirit came in were all to be looked at; as there your eye would be affected by what appeared. It was for those inside.
JTJr Would it be exemplified in Moses and Aaron in their great speaking before Pharaoh? All that came out in testimony in Egypt was known in Israel. Later Miriam spake against Moses; it was really taking issue with the great speaking of God in Moses.
JT Yes. Aaron was a great speaker; God says, “[p. 274] I know that he can speak well” (Exodus 4: 14). In some Egyptian drawing-room, doubtless, some would have listened to Moses, because he had been instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and deeds. I do not think Aaron was, but God says,
“I know that he can speak well”. Moses now is thinking that he himself cannot speak well, but God would use him according to the ability he had. If subject, we progress in the right thought as we cease to say we cannot do this or that.
RWS The Lord had grief over the man in Mark 7 “who could not speak right”. He is just one man whom He touched; now it is many.
JT The whole of humanity is in view for blessing. We have that suggestion here. All men are to be reached by the speaking inspired by the Spirit.
TS Does speaking originate with God? Is it something that stands out as original with God? I was thinking of Adam giving the animals their names, and calling his wife’s name Eve; his mind having prominence.
JT I think the greatest creative work of God is the art of speaking, the vocal powers God has given man. God says to Moses, “Who gave man a mouth?” (Exodus 4: 11); and as we see here, it is most efficient in the hands of God. Well, this appearing implies that God has made man’s mouth; these tongues allude to that. The word tongue predominates in the idea of language, indeed it is used as a synonym for language. Therefore, the idea is that as they looked around on one another — because this is visible, it says “there appeared to them” tongues as of fire — they were to see on each one this wonderful means of communication. The point is what they were to see; how they were to be impressed.
HB The epistle to the Galatians says, “but, on the contrary, seeing that the glad tidings of the uncircumcision were confided to me, even as to Peter that of the circumcision, (for he that wrought in Peter for the apostleship of the circumcision wrought also in me towards the Gentiles), and recognising the grace given to me, James and Cephas and John ... gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship” (Galatians 2: 7 - 9). Is that a similar principle?
JT [p. 275] Quite so, the ministry of the uncircumcision given to Paul, that of the circumcision to Peter. Evidently they were both good speakers. Peter is very impressive here: “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke forth to them, Men of Judaea, and all ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give heed to my words”. What authority there was in his voice! and his enunciation must have carried well too, for he calls attention to his words, not simply his voice.
JTJr What was there about the speaking that caused the listeners to perceive that they were unlettered and uninstructed men?
JT They were not college men, but, nevertheless very effective in what they were saying.
RA Speaking of Rebecca it says, “And the maiden ran and told these things to her mother’s house” (Genesis 24: 28). Then it says, “Laban ran out to the man, to the well. And it came to pass when he saw the ring and the bracelets on his sister’s hand, and when he heard the words of Rebecca his sister”, verses 29, 30. Is it what Laban saw and heard?
JT Quite so. He was impressed.
WL Would you say in that way that speaking forth is stressed as the Spirit came, not merely speaking? “As the Spirit gave to them to speak forth” (Acts 2: 4).
JT That would mean that the pitch is to go far afield. ‘Speak out’, we say sometimes. The idea would be that these speakers were full of the things they were speaking about, we can hear them speaking. I suppose these comments went on while Peter was speaking: “And they were all amazed and in perplexity, saying one to another, What would this mean? But others mocking said, They are full of new wine”, verses 12, 13. Peter takes up the words of the mockers, which is remarkable. He says, in effect, I will address them. Why should he pay attention to mockers? It is the [p. 276] sense you have that you are greater than they are, and can overpower them with what you have to say.
AHP Would the appearance of fire be for themselves personally, or enter into their service towards others?
JT It was for themselves, but it was intended to affect their ministry; in dealing with adverse things you must be drastic.
AHP Peter remonstrates severely with Simon Magus.
JT When an emergency arises through the flesh working, the idea of fire comes in. It means that you go the whole way, dealing with it effectively. So with Ananias in chapter 5; we shall see later how the Spirit is treated of in that chapter.
AEH In the book of James we have a contrast: “the tongue is fire, the world of unrighteousness; the tongue is set in our members, the defiler of the whole body, and which sets fire to the course of nature”, (James 3: 6). Man has used the tongue to set on fire the course of nature, but the Spirit uses it to give authority and guidance to carry divine things through.
JT We are told that God is a consuming fire. That bears on what is before us.
TAT As to ministry, there is a time to stand up and a time to sit down, (1 Corinthians 14: 30). Peter had been sitting down, but now he is standing up with the eleven. Are the eleven standing too?
JT Certainly. I do not think the apostles are exclusively alluded to in the Spirit coming in, because parted tongues sat on each of them, but Peter and the eleven were the appointed ones; appointed by the Lord Jesus to preach. Later, other servants, as we are told in chapter 13, were appointed by the Holy Spirit, but these twelve were appointed by the Lord Jesus, and the Spirit takes them on. They do not lose their commission. Paul is added later, also Barnabas, but the status of the [p. 277] twelve is immutable so that they appear in the heavenly city.
Ques Is the greatness of the position to be seen in these men who are to be for signs and wonders? Like this mighty blowing, are they not to be taken account of in this way?
JT Quite so. When Peter stands up the twelve are involved. Verse 4 is a general description: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them to speak forth”. This does not mean formal addresses, but what characterised the disciples. Those that heard them say, “how do ... we hear them speaking in our own tongues the great things of God?” Then verse 14 says, “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice and spoke forth to them, Men of Judaea, and all ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give heed to my words”. This is a formal address to set out what had happened, a most remarkable gospel testimony with great results. There are no specific results from the general speakings, but three thousand were added through Peter’s address. It is to suggest to us the advantage of formal preaching in the power of the Spirit by those fitted for such service.
TW Is it right to say that the Holy Spirit is no less on earth now than then, in spite of what might appear outwardly?
JT The Spirit is here in the same sense, only there are great limitations because of the great breakdown in the assembly. He is hindered by the condition of the public body. He uses that vessel, but He is hampered by the condition of it.
ANW By vessel do you mean the persons or the assembly?
JT Persons who have the Spirit bear witness severally, especially those specifically gifted, but collectively, as in Acts 2, they form the assembly, which is [p. 278] the great anointed vessel of light and testimony, in which God has set the gifts, as stated in 1 Corinthians 12: 28.
RWS The assembly is still the place where the Spirit operates.
JT Thus all should attend the meetings of those who recognise the truth of the assembly. Scripture contemplates an unbeliever entering the assembly as prophesying is proceeding, and, as convicted by the Spirit, he falls down worshipping God, (1 Corinthians 14: 24, 25). If I am really subject to the work of God I shall not fail to attend the meetings of those who own the assembly. That is where the Spirit operates.
WL The idea of coming together is immensely important.
JT It is indeed, and we may thank God that the saints value it increasingly. We are proving the gain of it. But, alas! the many do not even know of it, and a good proportion of those who do, neglect it.
EF It requires state for distinctiveness in divine things to come to light.
JT It comes by the Spirit. You find in the history of the brethren that distinctiveness in brothers comes out when we are together. Brothers say things in the assembly which they cannot say elsewhere. That is where divine thoughts come out most freely.
AB Is that why the apostle in writing to the Corinthians says, “But concerning spiritual manifestations, brethren, I do not wish you to be ignorant. Ye know that when ye were of the nations ye were led away to dumb idols, in whatever way ye might be led. I give you therefore to know, that no one, speaking in the power of the Spirit of God, says, Curse on Jesus; and no one can say, Lord Jesus, unless in the power of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12: 1 - 3)?
JT Therefore we need not only to be present, but also to listen to the speakings in the assembly. That is where we really learn the truth accurately and fully.
[p. 279] The Spirit guides us into all the truth, John 16: 13. In the assembly we must listen to the speakings — how things are said.
WL Do you think that the eleven here added to Peter’s power in his address?
JT Yes, the Holy Spirit was in them in the same sense as He was in Peter. They are gifts. In 1 Corinthians 12 we have the human body used to illustrate the assembly as composed of all saints, but the gifted ones are said to be set in the assembly: “God has set certain in the assembly” (verse 28), not in the body. The first mentioned are apostles, and other gifts follow. The word assembly has a more distinctive character as in relation to specific testimony.
JRH This is in view of the Lord speaking to them as seen in the first chapter. He does not say of all the 120: “the Holy Spirit having come upon you ... ye shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1: 8).
JT That is what Peter represents as seen in chapter 2: 14. In the whole of his address gift is in evidence, not simply that he had the Spirit of God. Persons are set in the assembly as gifts, so that if preaching is to be done, it is not assumed that every brother in the meeting can do it; it is not that at all. Preaching should only be by one that has ability for that purpose. Of course we must find out if he has it; if he has, it comes to the notice of the brother looking after the preaching. Such a brother can preach as representative of God in some sense.
JD As to the rest of the disciples here, they would be in full accord.
JT Yes. But the converts took account of the eleven, not especially of all the other christians that were there. It is said, “And having heard it they were pricked in heart, and said to Peter and the other apostles,
What shall we do, brethren?” (Acts 2: 37). These are the ones that convicted persons will especially notice.
ANW Inside would it be more like Acts 1: 15: “Peter standing up in the midst of the brethren”? That is how the prophetic word is given.
JT That is right.
SMcC In chapter 15, in the care meeting, there was much speaking that did not effect anything; then James says, “Brethren, listen to me”, (Acts 15: 13). Peter also refers to his mouth, “that the nations by my mouth should hear”, verse 7.
JT Peter and James are the two who speak with authority there.
Well, the point is to observe how this great matter is dealt with in Acts 2 and 3, because these are inaugural chapters. They convey the general idea, which we may follow up and see developing later. The Lord would give us a great impression here of the scene at Pentecost. We get the distinctiveness of each in the parted tongues as of fire which sat on each one; then the speaking forth; then the gifted men and the apostle Peter standing up with them — the other eleven apostles — and speaking formally in testimony as to the great general facts relative to Christ exalted and the Spirit here. This sets out the dispensation so far, as established in the power of the Spirit of God. The assembly is essential to this, formed of those to whom the Spirit had come; those receiving the word through the preaching being added to it. To what the Spirit had formed, the Lord added “those that were to be saved”. We can but see the dispensation set up as God would have it, the Holy Spirit dominating it and operating generally in it.
AB Acts 2: 41 says, “Those then who had accepted his word were baptised”, showing how the Spirit had been operating relative to Peter.
JT “His word”, not what the others were saying. It is what he said, “his word” showing [p. 281] that in his ministry he especially represented God in this great position.
WL Yet they are not added to Peter!
JT No indeed. “And there were added in that day about three thousand souls;” the Lord added daily to what was there, it was a daily matter. In all this evidence of grace and power we can see how the dispensation was set up. These chapters, as we have said, are inaugurative of this great and blessed dispensation.
AEH Would verse 29 suggest that the one speaking would be so conscious that what he was saying had divine authority that he could refer to it as having a voice? Peter says, “Brethren, let it be allowed to speak with freedom to you concerning the patriarch David”.
JT There is liberty to speak about Old Testament personages. That patriarchal position of David relates to Christ, for Christ was the offspring of David. He is also the root of David.
JRH This objective view of the Spirit is carried forward in Peter’s address: “Having therefore been exalted by the right hand of God, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which ye behold and hear” (Acts 2: 33). Christianity as a dispensation of God is in view.
JT It is a public matter, and God is stressing it before the authorities today. It is emphasised that christianity is a reality — “that which ye behold and hear”.
There is another thing to be noted here: “this is that which was spoken through the prophet Joel” (verse 16). Then he quotes, “And it shall be in the last days, saith God, that I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your elders shall dream with dreams; yea, even upon my bondmen and upon my bondwomen in those days will I pour out of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy”,
[p. 282] verses 16 - 18. The suggestion in this quotation is that the youth are to be specially taken into account. The apostles were at this time comparatively young men; and Joel is cited as stressing young persons, both men and women, as in the mind of heaven to be taken on for service as the Spirit was poured out. And if the testimony of God is to be continued, the young will be employed by the Spirit. The Lord is taking up young men now, and there may be further space given for testimony. At any rate the Holy Spirit is still here, and He is sovereignly taking up young persons. Let us all be available to Him. There is more work to be done and He is taking on those who are available.
ANW This should be a definite voice to young men now — a peculiar opportunity given for testimony.
JT Quite so, and for young women too. Why should they not be brought in? The four daughters of Philip the evangelist prophesied.
JTJr Joel refers to the old men too; elders are mentioned.
JT Yes; but you are struck with the stress on the young — “and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions and your elders shall dream with dreams; yea, even upon my bondmen and upon my bondwomen in those days will I pour out of my Spirit”.