A passage in the book of Acts gives us many of these proofs that the Spirit is a person: > [!bible]+ [Acts 13:2 - ESV](https://bolls.life/ESV/44/13/) > 2. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” %% #Acts %% In just this one short verse, we see that the Holy Spirit: - Speaks to the Church in Antioch ([Acts 13:1](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.13.1)) - Makes choices (Sending Barnabas and Saul) - Gives direction (Telling the leaders what to do) - Makes plans (The work that Barnabas and Saul will do in the rest of Acts) - Is self-aware. (The Spirit said, *I* and *Me*) This passage alone can show us that the Spirit is not a force but a person. But this is not the only passage that give us personal attributes, the rest of the Bible is full of them. ### Personal Attributes 1. **Speaks** - The Holy Spirit is also seen speaking in [2 Samuel 23:2](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2SA.23.2); [Ezekiel 11:5](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EZK.11.5) [John 16:13](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.16.13); [1 Timothy 4:1](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1TI.4.1); [Acts 8:29](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.8.29), [10:19](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.10.19), [13:2](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.13.2); [Revelation 2:17](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/REV.2.17) 2. **Hears**: - The Spirit is able to hear from God and answer prayer [John 16:13](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.16.13), [Romans 8:26](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ROM.8.26) 3. **Thinks**: - The Holy Spirit has a mind: [Isa 11:2](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.11.2) [Romans 8:27](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ROM.8.27), [1 Corinthians 1:10](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1CO.1.10) 4. **Teaches**: - The Holy Spirit actively teaches: [Nehemiah 9:20](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/NEH.9.20); [Ezekiel 11:5](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EZK.11.5); [John 14:26](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.14.26), [John 16:13](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.16.13) 5. **Guides**: - The Sprit guided in [1 Kings 18:12](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1KI.18.12) and [Isa 30:1](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.30.1) 6. **Bears Witness**: - The Holy Spirit gives testimony: [John 15:26-27](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.15.26-27), 7. **Intercedes**: - The Spirit intercedes for Believers to God ([Zechariah 12:10](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ZEC.12.10); [Romans 8:26](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ROM.8.26)), Just as Jesus does. 8. **Convicts of Sin**: - The Holy Spirit convicts us Sin ([Genesis 6:3](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/GEN.6.3)) and of Gods Law in [John 16:7-14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.16.7-14). Just as God said he would do in [Jeremiah 31:33](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JER.31.33) , [32:39](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JER.32.39); [Ezekiel 36:26](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EZK.36.26) 9. **Can Be lied To**: - When members of the church tried to lie to Peter, He accused them of lying to the Holy Spirit and called it God ([Acts 5:3](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.5.3)). He did so again when he says that "You always resist the Holy Spirit"([Acts 7:51](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.7.51)) but refers to God speaking in [Malachi 3:7](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MAL.3.7) 10. **Can Arrive**: - This implies that The Spirit can leave one place and go to another ([John 15:26](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.15.26), [John 16:13](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.16.13), [16:7-14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.16.7-14)). 11. **Makes Decisions/Commands** - The Spirit makes decisions ([Acts 15:28](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.15.28), [16:6-7](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.16.6-7); [1 Corinthians 12:11](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/1CO.12.11), [Revelation 2:17](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/REV.2.17)) 12. **Casts Judgment**: - Not only does the Spirit make decisions for us, but even casts Gods Judgement on us. [John 16:7-14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.16.7-14). 13. **Has Feelings**: - Paul's says the Holy Spirit is able to love ([Romans 15:30](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ROM.15.30)), be insulted ( [Hebrews 10:29](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/HEB.10.29)), Tested([Acts 5:9](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.5.9)), be blasphemed against ([Matthew 12:31-32](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MAT.12.31-32)), and grieve ([Isaiah 63:10](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.63.10); [Ephesians 4:30](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EPH.4.30)). ## Impersonal Language Also Used For God Furthermore, there are instances where "impersonal" language used of the Holy Spirit is paralleled by similar language used of other persons of the Trinity. For example, the Holy Spirit is compared to fire in verses such as [Matthew 3:11](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/MAT.3.11) and [Luke 3:16](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/LUK.3.16), echoing the descriptions of God as a consuming fire in [Deuteronomy 4:24](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/DEU.4.24) and [Hebrews 12:29](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/HEB.12.29). This comparison is reminiscent of God's revelation to Moses through the burning bush ([Exodus 3:2-4](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.3.2-4)) and His manifestation on Mount Sinai ([Exodus 19:18](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EXO.19.18)). Moreover, God's judgment is also likened to fire, as seen in [Isaiah 33:14](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.33.14) and [Isaiah 66:15](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.66.15). Additionally, the concept of being "filled with the Holy Spirit" ([Ephesians 5:18](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EPH.5.18)) is compared to being "filled with the fullness of God" ([Ephesians 3:17-19](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/EPH.3.17-19)). Similarly, God is described as wind, which is associated with His presence and power ([Psalm 104:4](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/PSA.104.4);[Isaiah 66:15](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.66.15)). The Holy Spirit is also depicted as wind, as seen in [John 3:8](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.3.8) and in [Acts 2:2](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ACT.2.2):. Moreover, Gods power and life is likened to water ([Isaiah 44:3](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/ISA.44.3); [Jeremiah 2:13](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JER.2.13)). The Holy Spirit is similarly compared to water, as illustrated in [John 7:38-39](https://www.bible.com/bible/59/JHN.7.38-39).