What was the purpose of "the Spirit" coming "UPON" Jesus' Israelite disciples at Pentecost? Recall the admonition of Jesus gave to the Jewish disciples, at the time of His ascension to heaven.

"And, behold, I (Jesus) send the promise of my Father UPON YOU: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be Endued (Gk. enduo, Clothed) With Power from on high." Luke 24:49

"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)

Note that word for "endued" (above) is the Greek "enduo," meaning, "clothed." Clothes are worn on the outside. Thus, "the Spirit" at Pentecost was to clothe the disciples "with Power from on high" for their outward service to offer "the kingdom" on earth to Israel, as they did offer it in the early Acts period.

This Holy Spirit "endued" or "clothed" Jesus' "little flock" (Luke 11:32) of kingdom disciples with "power" to enable them to preach and offer "the gospel of the Kingdom" (Matt 24:14) to Israel. The kingdom that only been "at hand" at the time of Jesus' ministry on earth was now to be actually offered to Israel.

"The Spirit" empowered these disciples, who had experienced Pentecost, to preach boldly and perform "signs and wonders (miracles)" to substantiate the veracity (truth of) of their message of "the kingdom" offered by Peter at Pentecost (cf. Act 3:18-21). It is written that "...the Jews require a sign…" (1 Cor. 1:22).

The gospel message of the Messianic Kingdom was offered to Israel (to Israel only, cf., Acts 11:19b, Mat 10:5-6) in power during the Acts chapters 2-7. Peter preached essentially saying, "If the nation Israel would repent and receive the King and His kingdom, Jesus would return." (paraphrasing cf., Acts 3:20). The proclamation of the Kingdom by the power of the "Spirit UPON" them was evidenced with signs of healing, raising the dead, casting out evil spirits, and more. The "enduement" as clothing was by the Holy Spirit "upon" its recipients, and this spoke not of the inner life.

We should note that the once fearful Peter, who had denied the Lord three times previously, preached boldly to "ye men of Israel" on the "day of Pentecost," proclaiming Jesus, to fulfil the "promises to the fathers (of Israel)," confirming what was "spoken by ALL the prophets." (v24, below) but NOT the cross.

" (Peter said) ALL the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after... have likewise foretold of these days. 25Ye (Israel) are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham... in thy seed (Christ) shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed." (Acts 3:24-25)

The Pentecostal account of Acts 2:8, to which Peter here below refers, is the fulfillment of the prophetic words of Israel's "prophet Joel." "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit UPON all flesh (of Israel); and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions" (Joel 2:28)

Many believed Peter's message of the restitution of the kingdom, but many required seeing "signs and wonders" in order to believe. This "enduement with power" lasted only for the first several chapters in Acts... then Israel was "fallen" (cf., Rom 11:10-11) by and with stoning Stephen to death (Act 7:58). God then turned from Israel temporarily and the "signs and wonders" began to wane. Israel was then "blinded" and set aside "until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled (completed)" (Rom 11:25). It was then that Paul was converted and received his new "gospel of the grace of God" from Christ for the Gentile "body of Christ." So the Pentecost Spirit enduement was similar to what occurred in the O.T. saints when "the Spirit of the Lord" came UPON men transiently; e.g., David, and all the prophets who spoke to Israel on behalf of God. David said, "take not thy spirit from me" because he knew the Spirit's coming on him was transient.

So, in early Acts the disciples who were sent out had received Spirit power from on high to proclaim the "Kingdom" to the nation of Israel. If the Nation Israel would "repent and be baptized" but they didn't, the Messiah would then come and set up His eternal kingdom in Jerusalem as the center of the universe.

Let's now see how Israel's Law-keeping religion, as promoted by it religious class, opposed Jesus. we will note the accounts and their reaction to Him and His disciples in breaking their "law" on four Sabbath Days.