The Spirit as a Gift

Convicted of their guilt of crucifying the Son of God, Peter's Pentecost audience asks "What must we do?" (Acts 2:37). They are told to "repent and be baptized each one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins" (Acts 2:38). Then a promise is attached, "and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." What does this verse mean by the "gift of the Holy Spirit"?

The words "Holy Spirit" are in the genitive case in the original Greek. The genitive is the case in Greek that normally indicates possession. In translation, you usually put the English word "of" in front of a genitive. Greek grammarians identify over a dozen types of genitives. Does the phrase here mean that the baptized believer receives "a gift consisting of the Holy Spirit" or "a gift given by the Holy Spirit?" Grammatically, either option is possible. This phrase might indicate that Christians receive some type of gift (i.e. forgiveness, salvation, etc.) from the Holy Spirit at baptism. Yet, it is equally possible (from a grammatical standpoint) that the genitive indicates that Christians receive the Spirit (Himself) as a gift at baptism. The first option would seem redundant since the verse has already made the promise of forgiveness of sins clear. There seems to be an additional gift beyond forgiveness that is promised.

Most Greek grammarians identify the genitive in Acts 2:38 ("gift of the Holy Spirit") as an epexegetical genitive of apposition and might well be rendered "you will receive the Holy Spirit, which is the gift." This is a possible translation, but is not settled by this immediate context. However, as we continue reading the book of Acts we discover that this is the most probable meaning. In Acts 5:32, the Apostle Peter affirmed, "and we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him." Here, the clear meaning is that God gives the Holy Spirit Himself as a gift to those who obey. This verse supports Acts 2:38 as being a promise of the "Spirit as a gift." Interestingly enough, the Holy Spirit Himself is called "the Holy Spirit of promise" elsewhere by Paul (Ephesians 1:13, KJV). Along these same lines, Paul later affirms that the Holy Spirit within us works along side of our own spirits, "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are the children of God" (Rom. 8:16). Also, Paul states not only that the Holy Spirit first makes us God's children but also then the Spirit is sent "into our hearts" because we are God's children (Galatians 4:6).

What's the point? Christians are given a wondrous gift when we are converted--God's Spirit Himself is dwelling within us (in a non-miraculous, yet powerful way) helping us to fight our battles against temptation (cf. Rom. 8:11) and helping us in our prayer lives (cf. Rom. 8:26-27). God's Holy Spirit dwelling within us is the very mark of our eternal inheritance (Eph. 1:13-14)! Praise God for his wondrous gifts! First his Son, then his Spirit!

(Note: This article was originally published in September 2008 and recently revised in July 2010 based upon a more accurate understanding of the Greek grammatical terminology).