In Isaiah, chapter forty-two, verse one, the Messiah would be anointed with the Holy Spirit to perform His task of redemption, as in Isaiah sixty-one, verse one, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” His followers, who would continue what Jesus had begun, also needed the Holy Spirit poured out upon them, as in Acts one, verse eight, and Acts two, verse four, respectively. Only the Spirit can enable believers to minister with the necessary wisdom, revelation, and power.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, the Messiah would bring the standards of holy justice and the principles of divine truth to all the nations; His work was missionary in nature. Today, this same task is the responsibility of those who bear the name of Christ. He baptizes His followers in the Holy Spirit so that they may carry out this commission.
In Acts eight, verse nine, “But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one.” This man witnessed the laying of hands by the servant of God and wanted to have this gift. “And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, as in verse eighteen. Here’s what Peter the servant replied in verse twenty, “But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Money cannot buy the Spirit of God.