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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NOW a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, had sold an estate, and secreted a part of the price paid, his wife also being privy to the transaction, and he brought a part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. read more. But Peter said, O Ananias! why hath Satan filled thy heart that thou shouldst lie to the Holy Ghost, and secrete something from the price of the estate? it remained unsold, was it not vested in thee? and when sold, was it not in thine own power? why then hast thou determined in thine heart to do this deed? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. Then Ananias, hearing those words, sunk down and expired: and great dread fell upon all who heard these things. Then the young men arose, and swathed him up, and carrying him out, buried him. Now it came to pass at the distance of about three hours, his wife also, not knowing what had passed, came in. And Peter addressed her, Tell me, if ye sold the estate for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have conspired together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? see, the feet of them who have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then she fell instantly at his feet, and expired: and the young men entering, found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her with her husband.
Now as they travelled through the island as far as Paphos, they found a certain person who professed magic, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus: who was with the proconsul Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man; he inviting to his house Barnabas and Saul, desired earnestly to hear the word of God. read more. But Elymas the magician (for such is his name when interpreted) opposed them, seeking to pervert the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul (now Paul), filled with the Holy Ghost, and fixing his eyes upon him, said, O thou full of all guile and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease perverting the strait ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, seeing the sun no more for a season. And instantly there fell on him a thick mist and darkness; and groping about he sought some to lead him by the hand. Then when the proconsul saw what was done, he believed, being struck with the doctrine of the Lord.
to another miraculous powers; to another prophecy; to another discernments of spirits; to another different kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
BELOVED, believe not every pretender to inspiration, but bring these spirits to the trial whether they are of God; because many false prophets are 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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NOW a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, had sold an estate, and secreted a part of the price paid, his wife also being privy to the transaction, and he brought a part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. read more. But Peter said, O Ananias! why hath Satan filled thy heart that thou shouldst lie to the Holy Ghost, and secrete something from the price of the estate? it remained unsold, was it not vested in thee? and when sold, was it not in thine own power? why then hast thou determined in thine heart to do this deed? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. Then Ananias, hearing those words, sunk down and expired: and great dread fell upon all who heard these things. Then the young men arose, and swathed him up, and carrying him out, buried him. Now it came to pass at the distance of about three hours, his wife also, not knowing what had passed, came in. And Peter addressed her, Tell me, if ye sold the estate for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have conspired together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? see, the feet of them who have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then she fell instantly at his feet, and expired: and the young men entering, found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her with her husband. And great awe fell on all the Church, and on all who heard these things.
and was returning, and sitting in his chariot, was reading the prophet Isaiah.
to another miraculous powers; to another prophecy; to another discernments of spirits; to another different kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
BELOVED, believe not every pretender to inspiration, but bring these spirits to the trial whether they are of God; because many false prophets are 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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
to another miraculous powers; to another prophecy; to another discernments of spirits; to another different kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: