Holy Spirit Joel 2 and Acts 2
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
12:25 PM
The prophet Joel (800ish BC) declared God's Spirit would be poured out on all people.
Joel 2:28-29 (NIV) 28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
This is noteworthy!
#1 Before Pentecost, select few people (mainly prophets) operated under the anointing of the Spirit. The Spirit of God was to be considered off limits and reside behind the veil in the temple/tabernacle. Joel prophesied that this Spirit would not reside in secret but be POURED OUT...
#2 ALL PEOPLE
    a. Not just sons!  Daughters will prophesy! On both men and Women will I pour out my Spirit.
    b. Not just Hebrews - but Gentiles as well.
The Apostle Peter on the day of Pentecost (30ish A.D.)
Act 2:15-18 (NIV) 
15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
    and they will prophesy.
Peter provides commentary in the words "THIS IS THAT."   THIS experience in Acts 2 is THAT spoken of by the prophet Joel.
(ALL of our doctrine should have a THIS IS THAT element. We must be able to point to THIS thing we are doing and point to THAT which is in Scripture.) 
This Acts 2 happening perfectly fulfilled Joel 2. 
 #1 In Acts 2 the Spirit was not found in the temple... but people became the Temple of the Spirit.
 #2 The promise was for all people (Acts 2:39)
   a. Not just men, but women as well were filled with the Spirit, including Mary the mother of Jesus.
   b. People from "every nation" were present. (Acts 2:5)  In Acts 10 Peter also preaches to the Gentiles who receive this same Spirit.
In these texts, the Spirit is not treated as a distinct PERSON of the Trinity. The Jews were not (and still aren't) Trinitarian and when they spoke of THE SPIRIT they simply thought of the One God who is Spirit. (John 4:24)
In these chapters, the Holy Spirit is presented as an experience with God.
God had come to earth to dwell among mankind. (Incarnation)
Now that same God had come to dwell WITHIN mankind. (Infilling of the Spirit)
This is contrasted by other scripture where Trinitarians note distinct personhood.       
John 14:16 tells of another paraclete (advocate) and many note distinct personhood here. The Spirit is given personal pronouns by Christ for example.
However (pot stirring statement) it has been argued (modalist view) that Jesus was speaking of Himself in John 14:16 because of the clear reading of 17-18.
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.
Trinitarianism argues a distinction of persons with separate minds, wills, and identities.
Modalism argues a distinction of mode/function.
Modalism was branded a heresy before the Nicene Council.
Either way, it is clear that the Holy Spirit is an important doctrine within Scripture, and the pouring out of Spirit is a revelation the Old Testament people of God could hardly fathom.  If the Spirit is a 3rd person, or the singular person of God, it could still be agreed that deity has come so close to mankind that He now lives within us.