To set the context, on the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, he prophetically explained what God’s spirit would do when it came to the disciples: John 16:7–11: “…it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the advocate (“comforter” in other translations) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:”

Advocate/Comforter: Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #3875 parakletos; an intercessor, consoler: advocate, comforter

Jesus described three ways the spirit would “prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:”

Verse 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me;

Verse 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;

Verse 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

We don’t want to overlook the amazing connection between John 16:7-11 and Acts 2:14,22-24,32-33.

How would the spirit specifically do these three things? Jesus said it would happen, and it did, at Pentecost: Acts 2:14: “But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words.”

In other words, Listen to what I tell you.

First, we see the spirit proving the world wrong about sin, because people do not believe in me:

Acts 2:22-24: “22 Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put him to death. 24 But God raised him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for him to be held in its power.”

God’s power—His spirit—worked through Jesus. We love how God’s word defines itself! After the people saw the power of the spirit, they believed because the impact could not be denied.

Peter tells the crowd to listen to his words. This is the convicting of the Israelites about sin—they were wrong; they did not believe in Jesus. He tells them, You nailed Jesus (your Messiah) to the cross! Peter is able to say this because he has the spirit working in him. The spirit performed just as Jesus predicted on this first point.

Second, we see the spirit proving the world wrong about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer:

Acts 2:32–33: “32 This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the holy spirit, he has poured forth this which you both see and hear.”

As soon as Jesus had ascended to the Father and presented his sacrifice on behalf of his followers, then the holy spirit of adoption could be sent, beginning at Pentecost.

They were wrong about righteousness. They killed Jesus unrighteously. Normally, that would be the end of it, but in Jesus’ case, he was raised from the dead. Peter is saying again they were wrong about righteousness, because Jesus was now at the right hand of God!

The holy spirit is working through Peter to help them understand these things.

Third, we see the spirit proving the world wrong about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned:

Acts 2:34–36: “34 For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, 35 UNTIL I MAKE YOUR ENEMIES A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

How did the spirit do all of these things? Through the words and explanations of the Apostle Peter regarding events and prophecies. Peter used his own words and quoted prophecy. Hear my words as I express to you what the prophets said.

This is a model of how the spirit—the power and influence of God—would work in the Christian age. In this third aspect, Peter uses prophecy to tell them they were wrong about judgment. They judged the Lord, and they were wrong. Now he is in the position of righteousness and to “make your enemies a footstool.”

We saw what Jesus said the night before his crucifixion was what actually happened with the spirit. It did those three things Jesus predicted. The spirit’s influence drove Peter to speak these words. Just like Jesus was impelled to go out into the wilderness to spend quiet time to fully meditate on his mission, Peter was impelled to say these things. This is why at the beginning of this powerful speech he said, Give heed to my words. God’s spirit works through the individuals in which it is residing. God’s power and influence changes our lives. This is the first event in which the holy spirit was in someone besides Jesus.

Additional Resource:
Christian Questions Podcast
Episode #1325: Does God’s Holy Spirit Speak to Us?
Unfolding how the holy spirit does and does not function in our lives
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes