Gr. paraklētos (see on v. 16).

Rather, “Holy Spirit.” “Ghost” is an obsolete form of “Spirit.” The expression “Holy Ghost” occurs 89 times in the NT, and the expression “Holy Spirit” 4 times. Both are translations of the same Greek phrase. The word “Spirit” without the qualifying adjective is frequent.

Literally, “that one.” The antecedent is “Comforter,” which in the Greek is masculine and hence calls for the personal pronoun “he.”

 One of the principal functions of the Holy Spirit is teaching. Much of Jesus’ work was teaching (see on Luke 4:15). Forty-one times the word “Master” in the NT is from the Gr. didaskalos, meaning, “teacher.” For three years the disciples had been under the instruction of the Master Teacher, but there were still many things for them to learn. They were unable in their present state of mind to comprehend many of the truths (John 16:12). They would need further instruction, and this the Holy Spirit would give to them. The Spirit of God knows the “things of God” and “searcheth all things, year, the deep things of God” (1 Cor. 2:10, 11), and He is able to impart them to men who are willing to be instructed.

 Not only would the Spirit reveal new truths; He would also call to mind truths that had slipped from the mind, of those things Jesus had taught, or of those things that had earlier been revealed in the Scriptures of truth. In moments of crisis, such as when the disciples would be haled into court, the Spirit would bring the appropriate ideas into mind (Matt 10:19, 20). When asked to give a reason for the hope that is in them (1 Peter 3:15), Christians who have been diligent students of the Bible may have the confidence that the Holy Spirit will call to mind passages suited to the occasion.