Why did the disciples receive the Holy Spirit twice?
John 20:22 “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 2:1-4 “And when the day of Pentecost…there came a sound from heaven…cloven tongues like as of fire…and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Weren’t the disciples already filled with the Holy Spirit before the day of Pentecost came?
No doubt, but the gifts of the Holy Spirit are many and there are lesser and fuller gift and presence that the Holy Spirit can give.
In the first case the Holy Spirit gave the apostles the priestly power to grant absolution for sins.
In the second care they received the Holy Spirit to evangelise
Jesus said, “When the Advocate comes, whom I shall send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, He will be my witness. And you too will be my witnesses.” [John 15: 26-27] “When He comes, He will show the world how wrong it was, about sin…and about judgement” and “about who was in the right: proved by my going to the Father…proved by the prince of this world already being condemned.”
Jesus promised, “I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the Spirit comes He will lead you to the complete truth…All He tells you will be taken from what is mine.” “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but indeed…to the ends of the earth.” [John 16:8-9, 12-13, 15]
God bless you…Trishie