Why were the Holy Spirit Given to the Disciples Twice?

Why were the Holy Spirit Given to the Disciples Twice?

Collin Leong. 14/10/2023

Two scriptures in the New Testament indicated that the disciples receive the Holy Spirit twice within 50 days. 

In John 20:19-23, it says:   On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”  When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

In Acts 2:1-4. it says: "When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."

The question is, why did the disciples receive the Holy Spirit twice? There are many guesses by theologians. In my own opinion, I interpreted it this way: 

a) A Temporary Spirit

I believe when Jesus "breathed" on the disciples, he did what God had done to many people in the Old Testament. 

For example, in Judges 14:5-6, it says "Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. 6Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat."

Here the "Spirit of the Lord" or the Holy Spirit went on him to give him courage and strength. 

In 1 Samuel 16:13-15, the Holy Spirit came upon David after he was anointed by Samuel:  ",,, the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward". At the same time the Spirit departed from Saul, and a "harmful spirit" came to torment him.  In this case the Holy Spirit gave confidence, protect and up hold David. 

Ezekiel heard the voice of God when the Spirit of God came into him. "As he spoke, the Spirit came into me and raised me to my feet, and I heard him speaking to me." (Eze 2:2) 

In Micah 3:8, the Spirit came into Micah to give him power and strength to declare to Israel it's sin.  ".. I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin."

Other people who has a the spirit given to them includes Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah, Haggai and others.   

This pouring of Spirit upon the old testament people are temporary only. When the Spirit has accomplished it's purposes, it will leave the person. The spirit was there temporarily to help them to do what God wants them to do. 

I believe when Jesus give them the Holy Spirit in John 20, it was temporary only, in order to strengthen them and removing the fear of the authorities that made them hide in the room. I think the Spirit will also guide them to understand what Jesus had thought them so that they are prepared to preach the Gospel when the time comes.

b) The Permanent Spirit

Jesus had promised the disciples the Holy Spirit who will permanently live in them: 

"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17)

Jesus told the disciples that the Spirit of truth will "lives with you and will be in you." The Spirit will stay with them permanently, not just to be "upon" them and leave later. The Spirit will be our "advocate" and will continually help us to assess what is true and what is wrong in our lives and convict us of our sins so that we can repent. 

How can we prove that Jesus was not giving them a permanent spirit in John 20? It's because he said this in Acts 1:8: 

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8)  

Since this is was said during his ascension that happened after his first appearance to the disciples, and it is referring to a future event, then we know that John 20 is not referring to the permanent Holy Spirit. 

Jesus also told the disciples "...not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”  (Acts 1:4-5)

During this waiting period, the disciples likely spent time studying the Scriptures, particularly the prophecies that pointed to Jesus and fulfillment of God's plan (Acts 1:16), with the help of the temporary Spirit.  As promised, the permanent Holy Spirit came and went into them in Acts 2:4 during Pentecost festival, to enable them to speak foreign languages and to convert 3000 people to become believers in Christ. 

The Holy Spirit's infilling can bring about empowerment, spiritual gifts, and a deeper understanding of God's presence and work in the believer's life. 

Epilogue

It is interesting to note that the Bible also mentioned that Holy Spirit also went into Samaritan believers and Gentiles believers: 

The Samaritan believers (Acts 8:14-17): "Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit."

Gentile believers in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-6):  "And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying."

These verses speak of the inclusiveness of God's grace on the Jews, the Samaritans, and the Gentiles. We were all different in the past, but now we are all one body with Christ as the head of the church.