Spiritual Gifts Discernment In Paul's list of spiritual gifts discernment of spirits is among those listed, (1 Cor. 12:10). What is this particular gift of the Spirit and how was it used? Clarke's commentary says it is a gift by which the person so privileged could discern a false miracle from a true one; or a pretender to inspiration from him who was made really partaker of the Holy Ghost. It probably extended also to the discernment of false professors from true ones, as appears in Peter in the case of Ananias and his wife. (Adam Clarke, First Corinthians, p. 259, ...