24. He proclaimed Christ in the prophets; He acted in the Apostles; To this day in Baptism He seals souls. And although the Father gives everything to the Son, the Son gives it to the Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself says this, not I: all things are committed to Me by My Father (Matt. 11:27). And of the Holy Spirit He says: When He comes, the Spirit of truth, etc. (John 16:13). He will glorify Me, as He will receive from Me, and He will declare it to you (14).

The Father gives everything through the Son together with the Holy Spirit. Not other gifts of the Father, some of the Son, but others of the Holy Spirit. There is one salvation, one power, one faith, one God the Father, one Lord, His only-begotten Son, one Holy Spirit the Comforter. It is enough for us to know this; but do not be curious about His nature, or His essence. For if it had been written, we would have said. What is not written, we dare not say.

It is enough for us to know for salvation that there is a Father, and a Son, and the Holy Spirit.

25. This Spirit descended upon the seventy elders in the time of Moses: (but let not a long conversation be a burden to you, beloved; may He Himself, of whom we speak, give strength to all of us, both to me who speaks and to you who hear). This Spirit descended, as I said, upon the seventy elders in the time of Moses. and this I offer you in order to show now that He knows all things, and acts as He pleases.

Seventy elders were chosen: and the Lord descended in the cloud, and received from the Spirit, which was upon Moses, and put an elder upon the seventy men (Num. 11:23): it was not the Spirit that was divided, but grace was divided according to the readiness and ability of those who received it. But sixty-eight were there and prophesied; Eldad and Modad were not there. Therefore, in order to show that it was not Moses who communicated this gift, but the working Spirit, Eldad and Modad, although they were called, did not come, and yet prophesied.

26. Joshua, the successor of Moses, was amazed, and when he came, he said to Moses, "You have heard that Eldad and Modad prophesy, they were called, and they did not come, 'My Lord, to Moses! rebuke them" (Num. 11:28). I cannot forbid them, says Moses, for this is a heavenly gift: and much less can I forbid them, since I myself have the gift of grace. But I do not think that you said this out of envy.

Do not be jealous that they prophesy, and you do not yet prophesy. Wait for time. And who will give all the people of the Lord (to be) prophets, when the Lord gives his Spirit upon them (29)? Moses also said this prophetically, "When the Lord gives." Now he has not yet given: therefore thou hast not yet had. Did not Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph have this Spirit? Did those who were formerly their former also not have Him?

But these words, when the Lord gives, obviously mean that He will give it to all. Now grace is partial, then it will be given in abundance. He spoke divination about what happened to us on the day of Pentecost: for the same Spirit came to us. He had come down to many before. For it is written: "And Joshua the son of Nun shall be filled with the Spirit of wisdom: for Moses lay his hands on him" (Deuteronomy 34:9).

Do you see that everywhere, both in the Old and New Testaments, the Spirit was communicated in the same way? In the time of Moses, the Spirit was communicated by means of ordination; and Peter communicated the Spirit by putting on him: "And grace shall descend upon thee, when thou shalt be baptized: in what manner? I do not say; for it is not yet the time.

27. This Spirit descended upon all the righteous and prophets, i.e. Enos, Enoch, Noah, and others: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. As for Joseph, Pharaoh already knew that he had the Spirit of God in him. You have heard many times about Moses and his miraculous actions performed by the power of the Spirit. The courageous Job and all the Saints had this Spirit: although we do not count the names of all of them.

28. By the power of this Spirit, as we read in the book of Judges, Othniel judged; Gideon was strong, Jephah overcame, Deborah's wife waged war; and Sampson, as long as he did righteousness and did not offend the Spirit, did by His power works greater than man. About Samuel and David we clearly read in the books of Kings, how they themselves prophesied by the Holy Spirit, and other prophets were leaders. Samuel was called a seer (1 Samuel 9, 9)

, and David clearly says: "The Spirit of the Lord has spoken in me" (2 Samuel 23:2); and in the Psalms: "And take not away Thy Holy Spirit from me" (Psalm 50:13); and in another place: "Thy good Spirit shall guide me to the land of righteousness" (Psalm 142:10). In the book of Chronicles we read that Azariah was vouchsafed the Holy Spirit in the reign of Asa, and Josiel in the reign of Josephat; and another Azariah, stoned to death.

Ezra says: "And thy good Spirit hast gave, that thou shalt teach them" (Neh. 9:20). Of Elijah, who was taken to heaven, and of Elisseus, these Spirit-bearers and wonder-workers, though we do not speak; it is known, however, that they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

29. If anyone reads all the books of the twelve and other prophets, he will find many testimonies about the Holy Spirit. Micah says in the presence of God: "Unless I am filled with power with the Spirit of the Lord" (Micah 3:8). Joel exclaims, "And thou shalt be after these things," saith God, "I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and so forth." (Joel 2:28). Haggai says: "I am not with you," saith the Lord Almighty, "and my Spirit shall dwell in your midst" (Haggai 2:5-6).