In the era before Christ, the Holy Spirit was certainly present, but working sovereignly in creation or in anointing those few that God raised up for the purposes of his Kingdom plan. The prophets of old looked forward to a new age when everyone would be given the Spirit in the messianic kingdom. That is what the prophet Joel wrote, quoted by Peter in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost. The early Church was so convinced that the Spirit was for everyone that if the gift of the Spirit didn’t appear to happen they sent the apostles to pray (e.g. Acts 8, Acts 19). Bible Ref 1 Corinthians 12
