Running head: THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE EARLY CHURCH 1 THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE EARLY CHURCH 2 The power of the Holy Spirit in the early church Joseph Moore BIBL 364 Professor Don Fanning Liberty University 15 November 2016 The power of the Holy Spirit in the early church The risen Christ before ascension promised the Holy Spirit to the disciples. He told them not to live Jerusalem until they have received the power, which was the Holy Spirit in acts 1:4. Jesus had told the disciples that they would be able to do exceedingly abundant works and amazing one more than he did in his lifetime. However, this never happened to the disciples when they were with Christ. Therefore, they were lacking some power to perform these signs and wonders. It was not until the day of Pentecost that the disciples started doing these great works. The early church was left in hard time after the passing away of Christ. During his early ministry day, Jesus faced stiff opposition from the Jews, who were opposed to his teaching and his stand. The persecution was increasing each day of his life up to his persecution. The remaining disciples needed massive spirituals, psychological and even social power to overcome this threat. They were going to face great tribulation, including threat to their own lives in their endeavor to spread the gospel. The Holy Spirit was very important to the lives of the disciples. Earlier when Jesus was predicting about his ascension and death, he told them that when gone, He would send the Holy Spirit, who will comfort, teach, and guide them. This was the role that the Holy Spirit was to asist the disciples and was what Jesus meant when he told them to remain in Jerusalem until they receive the power. During the hard times, like being thrown into prisons, the Holy Spirit played a great role in giving the believers enough courage to face their accusers. This was a great way of ensuring the believers remained together and focused on the great mission. The Holy Spirit guided Peter, John, and Philip in hard times to withstand the persecution and to win new disciples. The leaders were all guided by the power of the Holy Spirit to guide the believers and win new converts. This was first witnessed in the day of Pentecost when the disciples witnessed in different tongues to the masses who were gathered around them. Philip was guided by the Holy Spirit to go and minister to Saul and convert him to Christianity. Therefore, the Holy Spirit was not only guided believers but also assisted them in the mission work by revealing the gospel, and in meeting new converts. The Holy Spirit acted as a guide for the disciples to distinguish between the true believers and those who were not. This power acted as a way of guiding the community of believers into the right way of life. Such was expressly seen when Ananias and S ...

1. Running head: THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE
EARLY CHURCH 1
THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE EARLY
CHURCH 2
The power of the Holy Spirit in the early church
Joseph Moore
BIBL 364
Professor Don Fanning
Liberty University
15 November 2016
The power of the Holy Spirit in the early church
The risen Christ before ascension promised the Holy Spirit to
the disciples. He told them not to live Jerusalem until they have
received the power, which was the Holy Spirit in acts 1:4. Jesus
had told the disciples that they would be able to do exceedingly
abundant works and amazing one more than he did in his
lifetime.
However, this never happened to the disciples when they were
with Christ. Therefore, they were lacking some power to
perform these signs and wonders.
It was not until the day of Pentecost that the disciples started
doing these great works.
The early church was left in hard time after the passing away of
Christ. During his early ministry day, Jesus faced stiff
opposition from the Jews, who were opposed to his teaching and
his stand. The persecution was increasing each day of his life up
to his persecution. The remaining disciples needed massive
spirituals, psychological and even social power to overcome this

2. threat.
They were going to face great tribulation, including threat to
their own lives in their endeavor to spread the gospel.
The Holy Spirit was very important to the lives of the
disciples. Earlier when Jesus was predicting about his ascension
and death, he told them that when gone, He would send the Holy
Spirit, who will comfort, teach, and guide them.
This was the role that the Holy Spirit was to asist the disciples
and was what Jesus meant when he told them to remain in
Jerusalem until they receive the power.
During the hard times, like being thrown into prisons, the Holy
Spirit played a great role in giving the believers enough courage
to face their accusers.
This was a great way of ensuring the believers remained
together and focused on the great mission. The Holy Spirit
guided Peter, John, and Philip in hard times to withstand the
persecution and to win new disciples.
The leaders were all guided by the power of the Holy Spirit to
guide the believers and win new converts. This was first
witnessed in the day of Pentecost when the disciples witnessed
in different tongues to the masses who were gathered around
them. Philip was guided by the Holy Spirit to go and minister to
Saul and convert him to Christianity.
Therefore, the Holy Spirit was not only guided believers but
also assisted them in the mission work by revealing the gospel,
and in meeting new converts.
The Holy Spirit acted as a guide for the disciples to distinguish
between the true believers and those who were not. This power
acted as a way of guiding the community of believers into the
right way of life.
Such was expressly seen when Ananias and Sapphira tried to
lie to peter concerning the money proceeds from the sale of
their land. It also assisted Philip, peter and John to deal with
Simon the Sorcerer.
Without this power, it would have been difficult for the

3. believers to deal with deceptions and other hardship in those
treacherous times. Therefore, the Holy Spirit’s power was the
most influential force behind the spread of the early
Christianity.
Without it, the believers would not have overcome the
hardships, tribulations and the persecutions that lay ahead of
them. He revealed the scriptures to them, gave them the
audacity to stand by the name of the Lord, proclaim his gospel
without fearing death, as well as guide their course.
Bibliography
Bruce, Fredrick F. “The Holy Spirit in the Acts of the
Apostles.” Interpretation 27, no. 2 (1973): 166–183.
Course, N. T. “Biblical Theology (The Charismatic Theology of
Luke-Acts)” (2016). Accessed November 15, 2016.
http://www.taylor-
edu.ca/taylor/pdf/NT520_BiblicalTheologyLukeActs_2016Wint
er.pdf.
Gasque, W. Ward. “A Fruitful Field Recent Study of the Acts of
the Apostles.” Interpretation 42, no. 2 (1988): 117–131.
Hinings, CR Bob, V. George Shillington, and Mitchell Neubert.
“Praise for MANAGEMENT AND THE GOSPEL” (n.d.).
Accessed November 15, 2016.
http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1057/9781137315861.pd
f.
Russell, Walt. “The Anointing with the Holy Spirit in Luke-
Acts.” Trinity journal 7, no. 1 (1986): 47–63.
Turner, Max. “The Work of the Holy Spirit in Luke-Acts.”
Word and World 23, no. 2 (2003): 146–153.

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11. Research Paper Instructions
For this course, you are required to write a 5–8-page research
paper addressing 1 of the topics from the list below. Your paper
must incorporate at least 6 scholarly sources from the Approved
Sources list and must be formatted in correct, current Turabian
style. Additionally, the paper must be accompanied by a
properly formatted title page, outline, and bibliography, all of
which do not count toward the length requirement.
The Research Paper will have 3 stages of submission. In
Module/Week 3, submit the Information Preparation for your
paper. In Module/Week 5, submit an Outline for your paper.
Then, in Module/Week 8, submit your Research Paper: Final
Submission, including the revised outline and final
bibliography. Additionally, be sure to follow all of the detailed
instructions outlined below.
You must incorporate your instructor’s suggestions. Review the
grading rubrics for each of these submissions in order to
improve the quality of your work.
Choose 1 of the following topics for your research paper:
BIBL 364
Page 1 of 2
Acts 1:8
The Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts
The “calling” of Saul of Tarsus
Acts 19:1–7
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Paul’s First Missionary Journey
Paul’s Second Missionary Journey
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey
Paul’s Trip to Rome
The Relation of the 7 in Acts 6 to the Office of Deacon
Acts 4:12
Simon the Magician

12. Speaking in Tongues in Acts
Writing and Formatting Requirements
Before submitting your paper, ask yourself each of the
questions below to ensure you have fulfilled all of the
requirements.
Content
1. Are the main passages of the book of Acts relating to the
topic addressed and interpreted?
2. Is each passage clearly stated and explained in a way that
examines the topic according to Luke?
3. Is the author’s intent in each passage examined and clearly
stated?
4. Is the analysis of each passage thorough? Is each portion of
the topic according to the book of Acts clearly defined and
examined?
5. Do you interact with sources instead of merely restating their
views?
6. Is the topic treated logically and thoroughly? Is critical
thinking employed?
7. Do you provide areas where the information found in the
book of Acts may be relevant and applicable to the lives of
Christians in today’s world?
Materials & Style
1. Did you incorporate 6 sources from the approved list?
2. Are materials properly cited and quoted? Are quotes relevant
to the study?
3. Is the paper properly formatted, following current Turabian
guidelines? Are the entries in the bibliography and footnotes
properly formatted?
4. Is the paper without spelling and grammatical errors?
5. Does the paper reflect an appropriate upper-collegiate-level
of vocabulary?
Conclusion
1. Does the conclusion offer a good summary of the issues

13. treated?
2. Does it conclude the thought by offering thoughts that bring
the paper to a proper end?
3. Does it offer suggestions for further study related to the
issue/passage?
The Jerry Falwell Library has prepared a research guide to
assist you in finding academically credible sources for your
research in addition to those that are listed in the “Approved
Resources by Passage and Topic” document. That guide can be
accessed using this link. Remember that any sources you would
like to use that are not on the pre-approved resources list must
be approved in advance by your instructor.
Your Research Paper: Information Preparation is due through
SafeAssign by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 3.
Your Research Paper: Outline is due through SafeAssign by
11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of Module/Week 5.
Your Research Paper: Final Submission is due through
SafeAssign by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday of Module/Week 8.
BIBL 364
Research Paper: Outline Grading Rubric
Sources list and must be formatted in correct, current Turabian
style