SPECIAL TOPIC: The Concept of "Filling" in Luke and Paul

The VERB "filled" (plēthō) is used in a variety of ways by Luke in his Gospel and Acts to show what characterizes or describes a person or personified entity.
1. John the Baptist, even before his birth, was filled with the Holy Spirit ‒ Luke 1:15
2. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit ‒ Luke 1:41
3. Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit ‒Luke 1:61
4. all in the Synagogue who heard Jesus speak were filled with rage ‒ Luke 4:28
5. those in the house where the paralytic was lowered through the roof were filled with fear ‒ Luke 5:26
6. Pharisees and Scribes traveling with Jesus on a Sabbath were filled with rage ‒ Luke 6:11
7. those in the upper room on Pentecost were filled with the Holy Spirit ‒ Acts 2:4
8. those who heard Peter speak in the temple were filled with amazement ‒ Acts 3:10
9. Peter speaking before the Sanhedrin was filled with the Holy Spirit ‒ Acts 4:8
10. all in the upper room were filled with the Holy Spirit ‒ Acts 4:31
11. Satan filled Ananias' and Sapphira's hearts ‒ Acts 5:3
12. Peter and John spoke to the Sanhedrin again and they were filled with jealousy ‒ Acts 5:17
13. Jerusalem filled with the gospel ‒ Acts 5:28
14. the seven full of the Spirit and wisdom ‒ Acts 6:3
15. Stephen full of faith and the Holy Spirit ‒ Acts 6:5,8; 7:55
16. Ananias lays hands on Saul/Paul and he is filled with the Holy Spirit ‒ Acts 9:17
17. Paul preaches filled with the Spirit ‒ Acts 13:9
18. Jews in the crowd who Paul preached to were filled with jealousy ‒ Acts 13:45
19. the disciples were continually filled with joy and the Holy Spirit ‒ Acts 13:52
20. Ephesus was filled with confusion ‒ Acts 19:29
  In the presence of the gospel what are you "filled" with?
In Paul's writings (plēroō)
1. The classical text is Eph. 5:18 (a PRESENT PASSIVE IMPERATIVE), meaning "you must continue to be filled with the Spirit" or "ever be filled with the Spirit." This is a command, not an option! It is the normal state for all believers, not the exception. This phrase implies that believers are to be available, sensitive, and obedient to the Spirit's forming of Christ in their daily lives (cf. Rom. 8:28-29; 2 Cor. 3:18; 7:1; Gal. 4:19; Eph. 1:4; 2:10; 4:13; Col. 1:28; 1 Thess. 3:13; 4:3,7; 5:23; 1 Pet. 1:15). Believers cannot fill themselves, but must regularly allow the Spirit to have freedom and influence (PASSIVE VOICE). Human performance is not the key to effective living but the presence and influence of the Spirit (cf. Gal. 3:1-3). However, believers must volitionally open themselves to the Spirit's leadership and control on a daily basis.
2. The term "fullness" (plerōma) was used by the Gnostic false teachers to refer to the angelic levels (eons) between the high, good god and lesser gods/angels. The last eon farthest removed from the high god was YHWH, who was able to form (not create) matter. Paul used the false teachers' vocabulary and slogans and redefined them in light of Christ's ultimacy! Jesus is "the fullness of God."
3. The structural parallel (Colossians & Ephesians are based on almost the same outline) in Col. 3:16 changed the "ever be filled with the Spirit" to "let the word of Christ richly dwell within you." They both refer to daily, intentional submission to the Spirit's producing Christlikeness, particularly as it relates to dealing with people. Jesus died for people. People are priority; only people are eternal.
  
  For an extensive discussion of the use of plēroma (with PREPOSITIONS), see Bruce Winter, The Book of Acts in Its First Century Setting, pp. 85-87.