48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
Echoing Jesus’ words in our verses for today, fearful Peter now boldly proclaims through the power of the Holy Spirit in Acts:
32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. Acts 2:32-33 (NIV)
“On five occasions in Acts some of the apostles said they were witnesses of the resurrected Christ (v. 32; 3:15; 5:32; 10:39-41; 13:30-31). They knew whereof they spoke!” Bible Knowledge Commentary
“You are fully assured of these things yourselves, you are eye and ear witnesses of them; go, and assure the world of them...Go tell a guilty world that there is hope for them.” Matthew Henry
Jesus also states likewise in the Gospel of John:
26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning. John 15:26-27 (NIV)
Is it not true, that in the face of opposition and hatred; ridicule and mockery, many believers (perhaps going forth in their own strength rather than the power of the Spirit) have the tendency to flee or escape situations or at the very least become silent in them – lest they draw negative attention to themselves through their testimony? Lack of witnessing has been far too commonplace in the Church’s history. Jesus commands us through the Holy Spirit’s power to bear witness for Him. As the apostles were to bear witness to the facts they held firmly as Truth, we, too, are to testify in like manner. The apostles went forth witnessing, the Holy Spirit persuaded and people were saved – it is to be no different in our day. We do not change a heart, it is God who changes a heart – opening the eyes of the spiritually blind to see. Yet, we are to be obedient in speaking the Truth in love. This exact combination of human obedience coupled with the witness of the Holy Spirit is needed in every generation.
“We may be certain that whatever God has made prominent in His Word, He intended to be conspicuous in our lives.” Charles Spurgeon
“We’re in spiritual combat – cosmic combat for the heart and soul of humankind.” Charles Colson
“Sometime after 1950 we forgot what Jesus said to Peter and what was passed on to us. ‘Take care of my sheep’ (John 21:16). There are ferocious wolves (Matthew 7:15). ‘You are to be a witness to the ends of the Earth’ (Acts 1:8). This is a commission that still holds true today. This is a very personal command to each believer, personally, privately. The all important question is whether you are getting out the work of God, or have you retired?” Wales Goebel
Jesus sends forth the Holy Spirit to clothe us with power from on high, furnishing us with the gifts and graces necessary to discharge this great trust of witnessing. We are not to go forth in our own strength. All believers are clothed with the achieving power from God – the Holy Spirit indwells every believer permanently - yet we can shrink the Spirit within through our own poor choices and our disobedience of stubbornly going our own way – running ahead rather than being lead and empowered by His Spirit.
“The one who gives the power gets the glory.” John Piper
“God doesn't seem to call the equipped, rather, He equips the 'called.'” Anonymous
Jesus tells us in John:
15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- 17 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. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:15-18 (NIV)
“The Father in heaven loves to fill His children with His Holy Spirit.” Andrew Murray
“The true secret to all ministry is spiritual power. It is not man’s genius, or man’s intellect, or man’s energy; but simply the power of the Spirit of the God of the Gospel. ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts (Zech.iv.6) It is well for all ministers (and believers) to bear this ever in mind. It will sustain the heart and give constant freshness to their ministry (and lives). A ministry which flows from abiding dependence upon the Holy Spirit can never become barren. If a man is drawing on his own resources, he will soon run dry. It matters not what his powers may be, or how extensive his reading, or how vast his stores of information; if the Holy Spirit be not the spring and power of his ministry, it must, sooner or later, lose its freshness and its effectiveness. How important then, that all who minister (and live) in the gospel...should lean continually and exclusively on the power of the Holy Spirit. He knows what souls need, and He can supply it. But he must be trusted and used. It will not do to lean partly on self and partly on the Spirit.” C H Macintosh, Notes on the Book of Numbers, 1861