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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
How then did the Prophets prophesy and work those ten thousand wonders? For the Apostles cast not out devils by the Spirit, but by power received from Him; as He saith Himself, "If I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out?" (Matt. xii. 27.) And this He said, signifying that before the Crucifixion not all cast out devils by the Spirit, but that some did so by the power received from Him. So when He was about to send them, He said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost" (c. xx. …
Cyril of Alexandria
But I will recur again to what was before us. The Spirit came to be in the Prophets for the need's sake of prophesying, He indwelleth now through Christ in believers, having begun in Him first when He was made Man. For as God He has unceasingly the Spirit Who is Essentially of His Nature and His own. He is anointed for our sakes and said to receive the Spirit as Man, not for Himself bringing in the participation of the Divine good things, but for the nature of man as we have already taught. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
The Evangelist, explaining what "rivers of living water" means, says that "this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive: for the Holy Spirit was not yet given." Here someone will ask: "How does the Evangelist say that the Holy Spirit was not yet, that is, given? Did not the prophets speak by the Spirit? And how did the apostles perform miracles?" We answer. Undoubtedly, the prophets spoke by the Spirit. But this grace ceased and departed from the earth. …
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
What kind of drink it was, to which our Lord invited them, the Evangelist next explains; But this He spake of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive. Whom does the Spirit mean, but the Holy Spirit? For every man has within him his own spirit. (Tract. xxxii. 6) The Spirit of God was, i. e. …
Thomas Aquinas
Then he explains what he said. First we see the explanation; secondly, the reason behind this explanation (v 39b). Christ had said: "out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water." The Evangelist tells us that we should understand this concerning the Spirit, whom those who believed in him would receive, because the Spirit is the fountain and river of life. He is the fountain of which we read: "With you is the fountain of life; and in your light we will see light" (Ps 35:10). …
Bonaventure
"But this he said of the Spirit, whom those believing in him were to receive:" concerning which, Acts two: "There came suddenly from heaven a sound as of a mighty rushing spirit." They were to receive him, but had not yet received him. Therefore he says: "For the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified:" below, in the sixteenth chapter: "If I go away, I will send him to you." But it is asked concerning what he says, that "the Holy Spirit was not yet given." To the contrary: The prophets prophesied true things, …
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