Holy Spirit -19-What is the meaning of the Spirit�s being poured out on all flesh?

4. What is the meaning of the Spirit’s being poured out on all flesh?

Answer: All flesh means both Jews and Gentiles. There is no other flesh that is comprehended in the gospel -simply all human flesh. It does not mean every being that has flesh and bones and blood. True it is said by Paul: "There is one flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds and another of fishes" (1 Corinthians 15:39); but one thinks to conclude that beasts, birds, and fishes are baptized in the Holy spirit because God promised to pour out his Spirit "on all flesh." Nor do any suppose that he means all human flesh distributively -the good, the bad, the different. No, all know better than that. In fact it was not a "distributive" promise at all but a "representative" promise that all flesh should receive God’s Spirit. This all flesh did receive-the Jews at Jerusalem on Pentecost when the gospel in its completeness was first allowed to be preached to them, and the Gentiles at Caesarea at the house of the Roman centurion, Cornelius, when the word was first allowed to be preached to uncircumcised people.