When Christ ascended to Heaven immediately after His resurrection, He accomplished two actions — He brought the spirits of the Old Testament saints into Heaven and “and gave gifts unto men” (Ephesians 4:8). According to John 20:21-23, Christ appeared that evening in the upper room, He breathed on them, gave them the Holy Spirit, and commissioned the Apostles to their future ministry.
Did not Christ command the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit? Yes, He did. Did the Holy Spirit come on the Day of Pentecost? Yes, He did. What then is this giving of the Holy Spirit? It was a unique gifting of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to the Apostles for the preparation of those things which would transpire on the Day of Pentecost, namely the founding of the Church. This giving of the Holy Spirit was similar to the Holy Spirit’s Old Testament ministry, which explains the transformation of the disciples between the Resurrection and the Day of Pentecost.
Paul sheds further light on the gifts of Christ when he says, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11). The He in Ephesians 4:11 refers to Christ Himself as the giver of these gifts. The disciples in the upper room that evening were equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelist, and pastor-teachers. Scripture itself testifies that these gifts were foundational to the Church.
- Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost - John 20:21-23
Did not Christ command the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit? Yes, He did. Did the Holy Spirit come on the Day of Pentecost? Yes, He did. What then is this giving of the Holy Spirit? It was a unique gifting of the Holy Spirit’s ministry to the Apostles for the preparation of those things which would transpire on the Day of Pentecost, namely the founding of the Church. This giving of the Holy Spirit was similar to the Holy Spirit’s Old Testament ministry, which explains the transformation of the disciples between the Resurrection and the Day of Pentecost.
Paul sheds further light on the gifts of Christ when he says, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11). The He in Ephesians 4:11 refers to Christ Himself as the giver of these gifts. The disciples in the upper room that evening were equipped to be apostles, prophets, evangelist, and pastor-teachers. Scripture itself testifies that these gifts were foundational to the Church.
- for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. - Ephesians 4:12-13
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