Verse 11
Third, the Spirit would convict the world of judgment coming on it for its sins that culminated in the rejection of Jesus. The Jews of Jesus’ day generally judged Him to be a false pretender to Messiah’s throne. That judgment was wrong, and the Spirit would convict many of them of the error of their judgment (cf. Acts 2:36-37). The Cross and the Resurrection would be compelling proofs that would change the minds of many.
The Spirit would do this because God had judged Satan (cf. John 12:31). The resurrection of Jesus constituted a condemnation of the devil (cf. Colossians 2:15). Since the ruler of the world stands condemned, his children can expect the same treatment unless they believe in Jesus (cf. John 14:30).
"When a lost sinner is truly under conviction, he will see the folly and evil of unbelief; he will confess that he does not measure up to the righteousness of Christ; and he will realize that he is under condemnation because he belongs to the world and the devil (Ephesians 2:1-3). . . . There can be no conversion without conviction, and there can be no conviction apart from the Spirit of God using the Word of God and the witness of the child of God." [Note: Wiersbe, 1:362.]
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