In the New Testament, the Spirit is called the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit of God. Jesus speaks of Him as another Helper whom the Father will send; He will teach and remind them of what Jesus said, guide them into all truth, and glorify Christ. The Spirit helps believers and intercedes for them, searches the depths of God; in Acts 13:2, the Holy Spirit speaks, while in Acts 5:3–4 Peter equates deceiving the Holy Spirit with lying to God. The relationship between the Spirit, the Father, and the Son is examined in the question about the Trinity.
What the Bible Says About This
- Names. Jesus speaks of another Helper, the Spirit of truth, who remains with the disciples and will be in them (John 14:16–17); the Helper is called the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in Jesus’ name (John 14:26); Paul writes about the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:11).
- Acts 5:3–4: Peter asks Ananias why he decided to deceive the Holy Spirit, and then says that he lied not to people but to God. Peter equates deceiving the Holy Spirit with lying to God.
- Actions. The Helper will teach everything and remind them of all that Jesus said (John 14:26). When He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment, guide them into all truth, declare what is to come, and glorify Christ (John 16:7–15).
- The Spirit helps us in our weakness: when believers do not know how to pray, the Spirit Himself intercedes (Romans 8:26–27). The Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God (1 Corinthians 2:10–11).
- Acts 13:2 tells us that, while they were worshiping and fasting, the Holy Spirit commanded them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which He had called them. This is an account of one instance, not a general pattern for receiving personal guidance.
- Conclusion: in these passages, the Holy Spirit speaks, teaches, intercedes, and acts; in Acts 5:3–4, deceiving the Holy Spirit is equated with lying to God. The relationship between the Spirit, the Father, and the Son is addressed separately in the question about the Trinity.
This brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the Scripture passages are from the Father’s Blessing Bible.
Key Scriptures
7 Scriptures · Father’s Blessing Bible
John 14:16–17
16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, because He abides with you and will be in you.
John 14:26
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 16:7–15
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is better for you that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you will see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take what is Mine and declare it to you.
Acts 5:3–4
3 But Peter said, Ananias! Why have you allowed Satan to fill your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.
Romans 8:26–27
26 Likewise, the Spirit helps in our weaknesses; for we do not know what we should pray for or how we should pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And He who searches the hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
1 Corinthians 2:10–11
10 But God has revealed this to us through His Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God. 11 For who among people knows what is in a person except the human spirit within them? In the same way, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
Acts 13:2
As they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
