Being Filled With the Holy Spirit

[darinhouston]

How is it that John the Baptist, Zechariah, Elizabeth, Anna, Mary et al. were filled with the Holy Spirit before the atonement / pentecost ?

[steve]

I believe this was the case with certain Old Testament folks—particularly prophets. The difference between the Old Testament and the New in this matter, I think, is that the Holy Spirit, after Pentecost, was and is given to every believer—not just a chosen few.