When was the Holy Spirit FIRST given in the New Testament?

John 20: 22, or Acts 1: 5 and verse 8. read the words, slowly and carefully.

Luke 1:35

K, but didn't Jesus say [quoted below] this AFTER that ^ point in time ? :

"Now He said this concerning the Spirit, whom those having believed in Him were about to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." John 7:39

What happened in John 20 was not the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Jesus first baptized in the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. It wasn't until Jesus ascended to the Father that He received from God the promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:33).

"Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing." (ESV)

Whom those having believed at that time where about to, doesn’t seem to imply having not before of others.

Mary mentions may it happen to her
John 1:38
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

Verse35 seems to imply two things the Holy Spirit coming upon her and the power of the Most High overshadowing her

John 1:35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.

Luk 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
Luk 1:16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

Mat 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

The man Christ Jesus was the first person to have the Spirit for He was conceived by the Spirit.

John the Baptist was the next person to receive the Spirit, but it was not to save him, but to give him power to live right, and prepare the way for Jesus.

Which is why Jesus said that born of women there has not been a greater than John the Baptist, for he had the Spirit from the womb, but he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than him, for John was not saved during the time he was on earth.

Joh 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Joh 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.

Joh 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
Joh 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Mary could not touch Jesus for He had not ascended to the Father yet.

And then the disciples received the Spirit here, and Jesus was already risen from the grave, and resurrected to heaven, and came back, for Thomas could touch Him then, so it would seem like they would of been saved then.

Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

And then the people at the upper room received the Spirit, and were saved, and then people after that were added to the Church for they could receive the Spirit.

And if the disciples were not saved when Jesus said receive the Holy Spirit they would of been saved here.

For it is receiving the Spirit that saved us for then we have a relationship with God, and the blood of Christ washes away our sins allowing us to receive the Spirit.

Joh 7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

But when Jesus was on earth He was in the flesh, so it would seem nobody would be saved until the day of Pentecost when Jesus ascended to heaven and received His glorified body.

Corrected the typo was in luke

There seems to be some confusion that was caused on my part. The question should have read: After Jesus' resurrection, to whom was the Spirit first given? That would be the upper room and the 12 disciples recorded in John 20: 21,22. I read some comments that Mary had been born again, and not just impregnated by the Holy Ghost. Mary, was never born again until after Christs' resurrection. The reason for that, is the acceptance, or fulfillment for Gods' appeasement and wrath for sin, was now seen and established by the resurrection.

Matthew 1

18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah[i] took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

Luke 1

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.


For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.

Sorry I should have read the last post

“And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” John 20:22–23 (KJV 1900)

“For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” Acts 1:5 (KJV 1900)

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (KJV 1900)

Believers of all time have the Holy Spirit, faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Abel, Job, Abraham, and many more listed in Hebrews 11 had the Holy Spirit. So what did Jesus mean when he told his group of believers "Receive the Holy Spirit"?

The Holy Spirit was with the born again from Eden on. But now the Holy Spirit would be in them.

“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” John 14:17 (KJV 1900)

Now the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not the New Birth. The New Birth is the resurrection from the dead of the human spirit. All believers have this since creation. And all had the Holy Spirit with them. But since Pentecost, all believers, new and old have the Holy Spirit in them. This is according to Joel 2:28 (Acts 2:17–21).

But this is not the Baptism of the Holy Spirit causing people to speak in tongues. Only the Apostles received the Baptism of the Holy spirit proven by their signs and wonders. Also, the Gentiles at Cornelius' house received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit proven by their speaking in tongues. And the others whom the Apostles laid hands on received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. So it is not to be confused with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit all believers have.

The Baptism was to the Apostles what the miracles were to Moses, Elijah, and Elisha. God used them to identify the Apostles as having the same status as the OT miracle workers.

Why does it matter?

Words convey meaning, that is why the scripture tells us to study not just read scripture.

Good general-purpose response; good for anything. Why does it matter to Christians whether the Holy Spirit was first "given" in John 20 or Acts 2, or, as another poster pointed out, Luke 1? What is the point you are trying to make (and you are trying to make a point, I'm certain)?

In John 20:22, Jesus breathed on the twelve disciples and said "receive ye the Holy Ghost. They were now born again believers but without power.( Acts chapter two tells of THE POWER of God for service). This is referred to in Acts 1: 4-5. and especially verse 8. Many denominations teach that the Holy Spirit was given at this time, whereas it was the power for service that Chapter two is describing and makes a point of it by the disciples speaking in unlearned languages. That was the point of my question, to show the Spirit was given in John 20: 22 and the anointing with power a separate baptism for the twelve. Paul's teaching to the Corinthian Church speaks of the power or manifestation of the Spirit in 1Cor. 2: 4,5. and other places as well. I am 80 years of age and a evangelical, I have a teaching ministry of the word, and a born-again Christian since March of 1975, just in case someone thinks I am a cultist?

It's so much better when people share their own view in the first post. No mystery, just share and discuss.

It is important that we know that the Holy Spirit is God, and God is eternal so it was active in the OT before it was made available to all of God’s children.

It is spoken of at creation. Genesis 1:2 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

It is mentioned as working with humans to prevent sin. Genesis 6:3 3 And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”

The Holy Spirit was given to certain prophets and judges. Numbers 27:18
It is important that the Holy Spirit is God and God is eternal

so the Holy Spirit played an important role in OT times, before it was It is important that we know that the Holy Spirit is God, and God is eternal made available to all of God’s children.

It is spoken of at creation. Genesis 1:2 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness [a]was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

It is mentioned as working with humans to prevent sin. Genesis 6:3 3 And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive[a] with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”

The Holy Spirit was given to certain prophets and judges. Numbers 27:18

18 And the Lord said to Moses: “Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him;

David said the Holy Spirit spoke to him. 2 Samuel 23:2 “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue.

I can’t find the scripture but I have read in scripture that the Holy Spirit was with the artisans s who worked on the temple.

the Luke mentioning I liked, was it Elizabeth or the Child filled with the Holy Spirit that’s interesting to think on.

Are you cessationist?
Baptist?

It was thechild, John who knew his mission before he was born, obviously.