Empowered Believers: The Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts

Synopsis: This thesis by Gonzalo Haya-Prats written in the Catholic interpretive tradition under the supervision of Johannine scholar Ignace de la Potterie at the Gregorian University in Rome reflects a faith tradition that historically remained open to the miraculous and resisted regulations on activities of the Holy Spirit in the Book of Acts. Accordingly Haya-Prats interprets the workings of the Spirit from a perspective of narrative sensitivity. He is deliberately diligent to exercise due care so as not to obscure narrative flow and connectivity despite any ecclesial or interpretive precedents that might be of influence to the contrary. His exegetical method is to let the original meaning be discerned and discovered according to the authors intention as closely as possible. With this sound interpretive approach Haya-Prats achieves a remarkable degree of freshness and insightful vision that all readers of Luke-Acts will welcome. Students and scholars alike should find this timely and thoughtful thesis to be a valuable and long-lasting contribution to New Testament studies. This English edition is made more accessible by including translations of all contemporary foreign languages and editor Paul Elbert offers occasional explanatory notes that engage current scholarship relevant to Haya-Pratss presentation. Endorsements: Haya-Pratss influential work bursts with thought-provoking insights for Lukan exegesis and theology some now familiar and others unexpected always with a sensitivity to the larger context of early Christianity. The cooperation of Catholic and Pentecostal scholarship in its current production offers a welcome model of ecumenicity. --Craig Keener Palmer Theological Seminary I welcome with great joy the English translation of Haya-Pratss Empowered Believers a thorough study of Lukes understanding of the Holy Spirit. The author mines Lukes rich vocabulary extracting deep meaning. He lets Luke speak for himself and refuses to force Luke-Acts into an artificial academic mold resulting in a profound insight: according to Luke the Church receives an eschatological Holy Spirit. --James B. Shelton Oral Roberts University Written at approximately the same time as James Dunns Baptism in the Holy Spirit and independent of it Haya-Pratss stimulating book offered dramatically different conclusions concerning Lukes understanding of the work of the Holy Spirit. Although various aspects of Haya-Pratss proposal may be questioned his contention that for Luke the Spirit is directly related to neither conversion nor salvation anticipated important themes discussed by contemporary Lukan scholars. I am delighted that this fine work has now been made available to an English-speaking audience. --Robert P. Menzies Director of Synergy a rural service organization located in Kunming China. English language readers everywhere will welcome this translation into English of Haya-Pratss study of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. His aim is to look at the subject from the inside with Lukan eyes. Other interpreters who share the same aim will not be surprised that Haya-Prats concludes that Luke does not identify the Holy Spirit with the gifts of salvation or sanctification. Rather he identifies the Holy Spirit with the gift of prophecy. The Foundation for Pentecostal Scholarship Paul Elbert (editor) and Scott Ellington (translator) are to be commended for making Empowered Believers readily accessible to a new English language readership. --Roger Stronstad Summit Pacific College Author Biography: Gonzalo Haya-Prats before retirement was active in education and civil service in Chile and Spain. He now lectures and writes on the issues of human rights liberation theology and interreligious dialogue. He resides in Madrid.