Reference: Discerning Of Spirits
American
1Co 12:10, a miraculous gift of the Holy Ghost to certain of the early church, empowering them to judge of the real character of those who professed to love Christ, and to be inspired to teach in his name, 1Jo 4:1; 2Jo 1:7. Compare Ac 5:1-10; 13:6-12.
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But a certain man, Ananias by name, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also knowing it; and, bringing a certain part, he laid it at the apostles' feet. read more. But Peter said, "Ananias, why did Satan fill your heart, that you should lie to the Holy Spirit, and keep back part of the price of the land? While remaining, did it not remain your own? and, when sold, did it not continue in your own authority? Why did you conceive in your heart this thing? You did not lie to men, but to God." And Ananias, hearing these words, falling down, expired; and great fear came upon all who heard it; but the young men, rising up, wrapped him round; and, bearing him out, buried him. Now it came to pass about three hours after, that his wife also, not knowing what had happened, came in; and Peter made answer to her, "Tell me, if ye sold the place for so much?" And she said, "Yes, for so much." But Peter said to her, "Why is it that it was agreed by you to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." And she immediately fell at his feet, and expired; and, coming in, the young men found her dead; and, carrying her forth, they buried her by her husband.
And, having gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man; the same having called for Barnabas and Saul, desired to hear the word of God; read more. but Elymas, the sorcerer (for so his name is interpreted) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith. But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looking intently upon him, said, "O full of all guile, and all villainy, son of the Devil, enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you; and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a season." And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and, going about, he was seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul, seeing what had taken place, believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
and to another, workings of mighty deeds; and to another, prophecy; and to another, discerning of spirits; to another, various kinds of tongues; and to another, interpretation of tongues.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone forth into the world.
Fausets
1Co 12:10. Discerning between the operation of God's Spirit and that of the evil spirit, or unaided human spirit claiming to utter the dictates of God's Spirit. Ac 5:1-11; 8:28; 1Co 14:23,37: "if any man think himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord." It is this which assures us of the inspiration of the New Testament The books were accepted as inspired, by churches having men possessing" the discerning of spirits" (1Jo 4:1; 1Ti 4:1).
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But a certain man, Ananias by name, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also knowing it; and, bringing a certain part, he laid it at the apostles' feet. read more. But Peter said, "Ananias, why did Satan fill your heart, that you should lie to the Holy Spirit, and keep back part of the price of the land? While remaining, did it not remain your own? and, when sold, did it not continue in your own authority? Why did you conceive in your heart this thing? You did not lie to men, but to God." And Ananias, hearing these words, falling down, expired; and great fear came upon all who heard it; but the young men, rising up, wrapped him round; and, bearing him out, buried him. Now it came to pass about three hours after, that his wife also, not knowing what had happened, came in; and Peter made answer to her, "Tell me, if ye sold the place for so much?" And she said, "Yes, for so much." But Peter said to her, "Why is it that it was agreed by you to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." And she immediately fell at his feet, and expired; and, coming in, the young men found her dead; and, carrying her forth, they buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon the whole assembly, and upon all who heard these things.
he was also returning, and, sitting on his chariot, was reading the prophet Isaiah.
and to another, workings of mighty deeds; and to another, prophecy; and to another, discerning of spirits; to another, various kinds of tongues; and to another, interpretation of tongues.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone forth into the world.
Morish
This was one of the gifts in the early church, needful for 'testing the spirits,' because even then many false prophets had gone forth into the world. 1Co 12:10; 1Jo 4:1-3. This gift was especially necessary at the time when the word of God was not fully written.
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and to another, workings of mighty deeds; and to another, prophecy; and to another, discerning of spirits; to another, various kinds of tongues; and to another, interpretation of tongues.