This verse probably tells us more about the Holy Spirit than any other single verse in the Bible.

The Holy Spirit is here referred to as a Person and not a thing or a force. He is a “he” and not an “it.”

He is given the title attributed to Him earlier (14:16, 26), the Counselor (Greek = paracletos), which literally means “called to the side of for the purpose of helping”. The Greeks used the term for someone who was called in to court to testify on behalf of someone, or of an advocate to plead the case of someone in need, or of someone who was called in to boost the moral of a company of troops. The word could perhaps be best translated as “Advocate” but, as noted previously, even that is lacking in its scope, for it really means a friend, especially a legal friend. “Comforter” is the traditional translation, following the translation into English by John Wycliffe who died in 1384. In those days, comforter meant strengthener or helper, but in later days it has come to mean consoler. The word “comforter” indicates making the best of a bad situation, but the real meaning of paracletos is not so much this as it is providing the help which will deliver the afflicted one from the situation itself. The Holy Spirit is indeed a comforter, but He is so much more than that! He not only comforts us, but He also delivers us.

John 14:16  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever—

John 14:26  But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

He was sent by Jesus after He ascended to heaven (Eph 4:8). Jesus was going to take great care of His disciples.

Ephesians 4:8  This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”

He was sent from the Father. Jesus was about to die and ascend to heaven, but the Father had already designed a plan to send the Spirit to take the place of Jesus and be there for the disciples and us in an even better fashion than Jesus was. Interestingly, the phrase “from the Father” is literally “from the side of the Father” which indicates an intimacy of presence with the Father.

He is sent “to you,” that is, to the disciples and to their seed and their seed’s seed, in fulfillment of the prophecy in (Isa 59:21).The Spirit is still here to help us as He helped the disciples.

Isaiah 59:21  “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and for ever,” says the LORD.

He is the Spirit, or pneuma, of God. Pneuma also means “breath,” “movement of air,” or “wind” just as does the Hebrew word for “spirit” (ruwach). Man is able to use his breath, when expelled under certain circumstances, to express his mind to others, and so can God. Also, His Spirit, like the wind, is not visible, and yet His presence may be discerned by His influence on things around us, i.e. people.

He is the Spirit of truth. Considering His ministry of witnessing about Jesus and telling the disciples what to say, this is a necessary attribute.

Part of the Spirit’s ministry noted in this verse is that He will be a witness for Jesus. He is one of the Three Who bear witness in heaven and the first of the three who bear witness on the earth (1 John 5:7-8). He instructed the disciples on the meaning of things (Joh 14:26) (Godet mentions that “The Spirit does not teach the facts of history; He reveals their meaning.”); He was the real Author of scripture, all of which spoke of Christ (2 Tim 3:16); and He enabled the disciples to work miracles that witnessed to the veracity of their message (Rom 15:18-19). And the Spirit testified through the apostles and other messengers(Acts 2:4), so that in a sense, as McGarvey notes, “the apostles were double witnesses. They themselves could testify as to what they had seen and heard. The Spirit could aid them to testify accurately, and with a full intelligence as to the real meaning of things.”

1 John 5:7-8  For there are three that testify:  the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

John 14:26  But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

2 Timothy 3:16  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

Romans 15:18-19  I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done—  by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way round to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

Acts 2:4  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.