THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BOOK OF ACTS

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1 THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BOOK OF ACTS INTRODUCTION One cannot help but recognize that in the early church when believers received the infilling of the Holy Spirit, there was the evidence of them speaking in other tongues. From this we can conclude that when one is baptized in the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues is the primary evidence of their receiving the promise of the Father. We will now look through the book of Acts and study the five instances that record when believers in the early church were baptized in the Holy Spirit. We will also notice that along with tongues, other manifestations of the Holy Spirit and gifts of the Spirit were also often expressed. Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call. Acts 2:38-39 I. THE BIBLICAL BACKGROUND OF PENTECOST A. A close observation of Pentecost (Penta:50) will reveal that Jesus actually died during the feast of Passover, when Jews traditionally would offer a sacrificial lamb for the sins of the nation. They would then take the blood and apply it over the door posts of their homes to symbolize God s divine protection from judgment, as we read in the book of Exodus. The blood of Jesus is the fulfillment of the feast as He offered up His life that the wrath of God would not fall on those who put their trust in Christ. After the feast of Passover, 50 days later the Jews celebrated another feast called the feast of Pentecost. Historically, two main things were celebrated by the Jews; (1) The giving of the law or the Ten Commandments by Moses, (2) They thanked and praised the Lord in faith for the coming harvest. B. Notice how the Old Testament feast of Pentecost in Exodus 19 was simply foreshadowing what would actually be fulfilled in the life of the early church with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the 120 in Acts chapter Fifty days after Passover, the Jews find themselves at Mount Sinai where the law was given on tablets of stone. In Acts 2, fifty days after the death of Christ, the Holy Spirit is poured out upon tablets of flesh (heart). God supernaturally writes His word on the heart of the believer.

2 2. In Exodus 19, the Lord descends on Mount Sinai with manifestations of a cloud, lighting (loud noise) and fire. In Acts 2 the Spirit of God descends upon the 120 with tongues of fire and the sound of a mighty rushing wind. 3. In Exodus 19, three thousand people died for turning away from God and worshiping a golden calf. In Acts 2, three thousand people hear the sermon of Peter and are saved for turning to Christ. 4. In Exodus 19 the nation of Israel is established by the giving the Ten Commandments. In Acts 2, the church is birthed and established by the giving of the Holy Spirit as promised by God the Father. C. The prophet Isaiah prophesied that the day would come when God would speak through His people through strange tongues. It would be a sign that would lead to true spiritual rest from the demands of the law in attempting to attain righteousness, thereby confirming that Christ was actually the Messiah who paid the price for true rest and true righteousness. The confirming sign would be the sealing and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, to whom He said, This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest, And, This is the refreshing ; Yet they would not hear. Isaiah 28:11-12 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language... Cretans and Arabs we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God. So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, Whatever could this mean?... But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. Acts 2:6, 11-12, Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 1 Corinthians 14:22

3 II. FIVE INSTANCES IN THE BOOK OF ACTS A. The 120 Disciples When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2: Strange manifestations were present at the time that the disciples received the infilling of the Holy Spirit. The sound of a mighty rushing wind and tongues of fire were upon each of the disciples. 2. They were ALL FILLED with the Holy Spirit. Everyone has a right to receive this gift. 3. They ALL SPOKE IN TONGUES. All 120 disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Notice that speaking in tongues came AFTER they were filled with the Holy Spirit. B. The Samaritans receive the Gospel Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed... But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized... then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:5-7, 12, The preaching of the gospel was received by the Samaritans (v.5-6). 2. The Samaritans believed on Christ and were saved and immediately baptized in water (v.12). 3. Peter and John laid hands on them and the Samaritans were baptized in the Holy Spirit (v ).

4 4. The Bible doesn't exactly say that they spoke in tongues but something happened when Simon SAW the Samaritans receive the Holy Spirit. He was moved to offer money to the apostles to give him the power to baptize people in the Holy Spirit like he SAW Peter and John do (v ). C. Saul of Tarsus And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. Acts 9: Saul was approaching the city of Damascus with letters of authority giving him permission to put all Christians in prison. He was suddenly encountered by the Lord, convicted of his sins and accepted Christ as his Messiah (v. 1-6). 2. The encounter with Jesus left Paul physically blind and in a state of desperation (v. 8-9). 3. A disciple by the name of Ananias was encountered by the Lord in a vision telling him to go to a specific street to a specific house and pray for a man named Saul. God used an ordinary believer through a vision and a word of knowledge to reach out and minister to Saul. 4. Ananias ministers to Saul by laying hands on him. As a result, Saul was HEALED of his blindness and was filled with the Holy Ghost (10-18). 5. We know that Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit in Acts 9 and we also know that Paul prayed/spoke in tongues more than anyone else. Therefore we need to conclude that when he was filled with the Holy Spirit, he received speaking in tongues as well (1 Cor. 14:18). D. Cornelius and his household While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Acts 10:44-46

5 1. Ten years after Pentecost in Acts chapter 10, Cornelius a devout Roman centurion begins to seek the Lord and is encountered by an angel and told to invite Peter to his house. At the same time Peter is encountered by the Lord and shown a vision about accepting what the Lord has cleansed and not rejecting it, meaning the Gentile people (v. 1-15). 2. Peter PREACHES Christ to them, they believe it and accept Christ as Savior (v ). 3. As Peter preached to them the Holy Spirit fell upon them and they began to speak with tongues and MAGNIFY GOD (v ). E. The Disciples at Ephesus And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? So they said to him, We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit. And he said to them, Into what then were you baptized? So they said, Into John s baptism. Then Paul said, John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Acts 19: Twenty years after Pentecost a group of disciples in the city of Ephesus, Paul became aware of their faith and ministered to them the Holy Spirit (v. 1-2). 2. These disciples had believed on Jesus through the preaching of John the Baptist. Paul BAPTIZED them in water in the name of Jesus (v. 5). 3. Paul then LAID HANDS on them and the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke with tongues (v. 6). 4. These disciples not only spoke with tongues they also PROPHESIED (v. 6).

6 III. ACTS AND MANIFESTATIONS CONNECTED WITH THE SPIRIT'S BAPTISM A. Sound, Wind, Tongues of Fire, Tongues of Languages, drunk in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2) B. Preaching the gospel, demonic deliverances, Healings, Laying on of hands to impart the Holy Spirit (Acts 8) C. Visions, Word of knowledge, laying on of hands, physical healing (Acts 9) D. Angelic encounters, visions, voice of God, faith in the message of Christ, speaking with tongues and magnifying God (Acts 10.) E. Baptism in water, laying on of hands, speaking in tongues and prophesying (Acts 19).