In Acts 19:6, was speaking in tongues and prophesying a manifestation of receiving the Holy Spirit? ~ Chechi Yachristu
There are two separate circumstances regarding the reception of the Holy Spirit in the first century. One, there is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which each Christian enjoys today also. However, Christians differ on the manner in which this indwelling occurs. A person would not even know about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit except that the New Testament teaches about it (Romans 8:9, 11) – because the Holy Spirit dwelling within us does not communicate to us apart from the Word of God – the Bible.
Two, there were miraculous “gifts of the Holy Spirit” (Hebrews 2:4) in the first century that were obviously manifested for all to see. These miraculous gifts of the Spirit were for the purpose of confirming the Word of God (Mark 16:17-20). The reference in Acts 19:6 pertains to these miraculous gifts that they were able to demonstrate through the laying on of hands by an apostle to give first century Christians that ability (Acts 8:17-19; 19:6). Miraculous gifts, though, ceased to be available when they accomplished the reason for which they were given – providing new revelation, the New Testament (1 Corinthians 13:8-13; Ephesians 4:11-14).
