The Holy Spirit speaks

How does the Holy Spirit speak?
At first, the Holy Spirit inspired people to speak.
For example, Christians believed that David wrote many psalms under the inspiration from the Holy Spirit.
Brethren, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David, concerning Judas who was guide to those who arrested Jesus (Acts 1:16, Pss 69:26, 109:8)
The disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in other tongues on Pentecost. They thought that the Holy Spirit was an empowering gift from God.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4).
The Holy Spirit empowered them to speak boldly with wisdom such that others could not rebut (Acts 4:8-12, 6:10).

For the first time in human history, the Holy Spirit opened its mouth and spoke.
And the Spirit said to Philip, "Go up and join this chariot." (Acts 9:29)

Of the seven deacons, Luke only wrote of Stephen and of Philip. When Saul persecuted the Jerusalem Church, Philip fled to Samaria, bringing the good news to the Samaritans (Acts 9:5). Many believed and were baptized by Philip (Acts 9:12).
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John,
who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:14-15).

As a digression, the way in which Luke told the story was interesting. So far, Luke seemed to have established the leadership of Peter among the apostles. Yet, Peter was sent by the apostles to Samaria. Expressed in this way, Peter was not above the rest of the apostles. He followed their instruction. Therefore, the relationship between Peter and the other apostles was NOT simply one of a leader and followers. The apostles formed a team with a higher authority than the individual members. Peter or any other apostles might have proposed the action. But finally, it was the decision of the whole team and Peter followed. Therefore, when we talk about the Primacy of Peter or of the Popes over the college of bishops, we should think more cautiously about the issue. Let us return to Samaria.

After Peter and John had finished their task, they left with Philip. But God had some other plans.
But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert road (Acts 9:26).
On his way, Philip saw an Ethiopian eunuch. We cannot tell whether Philip was praying throughout the whole process or not. Yet, the Holy Spirit spoke to him.
And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” (Acts 9:29)
We have come back to where we began.
Now, shall we conclude that before we can hear the Holy Spirit speak to us, we must befriend the angels first? Perhaps. At the Ascension of Jesus, an angel appeared to the disciples, telling them about the Second Coming of Jesus (Acts 1:11). That was before the Pentecost. Later, an angel appeared to Cornelius, instructing him to send for Peter in Joppa (Acts 10:3-6). That was before he and his family received the Holy Spirit when Peter visited him (Acts 10:44).

However, in other cases, the Holy Spirit came even without the herald of any angels. When Peter and John were released from the Jewish Sanhedrin to join the disciples, they prayed and the Holy Spirit descended a second time on them (Acts 4:31). In the church at Antioch, when the disciples were praying, the Holy Spirit instructed them to send Barnabas and Saul on the first missionary journey (Acts 13:2). From these two incidents, we can conclude that the Holy Spirit came when Christians prayed. If we want to take angels into account, we must include them in our prayers. That is to say, whenever Christians pray, they pray with angels! This piece of reflection is a bit crude and cannot be ranked as theological. But I think it makes sense.

Dear Lord, I feel privileged to be able to pray with angels. May I be empowered by the Holy Spirit to allow me to plunge into whatever You have arranged for me. Amen.