The Baptism of

the Holy
Spirit
Where the Concept Comes From
• "Baptism" of the Spirit comes from Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; and John
1:34.

• Jesus repeats and emphasizes the baptism to His followers before He

ascended to heaven, in Acts 1:5. "you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit…"

• In Acts 11:16, Peter quotes Jesus words in Acts 1:5, relating it to the
conversion and subsequent manifestations of Cornelius and his family.

• The word means to be "immersed" either BY the Holy Spirit or WITH the Holy
Spirit. He is either the instrument of our baptism, or He is the sphere into
which we are baptized.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
Where the Concept Comes From
• Baptism is always initiation language. It represents the method by which one
is brought into community with God's people. Yet the separation of the
powerful manifestations from the conversion of people at least in one or more
occurrences, would indicate perhaps another concept of baptism, therefore an
initiation into power.

• Acts 1:5 leads to Acts 1:8, which clearly connects this baptism with the Holy
Spirit WITH power which is given FOR the mission.

• Other occurrences like the one with Cornelius can be found in Acts 2, 8, 10,
and 19.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
Our Theology Rests on Interpretation
• Interpretation is key here, as in dealing with any topic in Scripture, difficult or
simple. Understanding the author's intent in writing what he did leads us to
understand what it meant for the readers of his day. This leads to application
which is understanding what the text means for all readers from that time
onward.

• Interpreting narrative properly is key here. Since narrative is a story,

understanding the story the author is trying to tell cannot be overestimated.
His point provides the framework for the story he is telling. And the truth he is
trying to teach in that story is, therefore, important for us today.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
Our Theology Comes From Narrative
• There are various genres of the Bible, just like there are in any other
literature, as well as television, music, movies, sports, etc. Understanding what
you’re listening to, watching, or reading is essential to interpreting what’s going
on.

• Each genre has a different objective, and therefore different functions

and different rules.

• You can't bring the equipment used in one game to another, or the normal
method of understanding used in science fiction to interpret a romance, or
dance moves of a Waltz to that of R & B.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
Our Theology Comes From Narrative
Narrative is basically a story. The one telling the story has a point. Sometimes
it's difficult for us to discern what the point is. But there is always a point.

Generally speaking, the point of a story in the OT is to continue the saga of

God's redemptive plan for His people and His earth, up until the time of Christ.
Then, the point of a story in the NT is to unfold God's redemptive plan for His
people and His earth as a result of the coming of Christ. Clearly, the stories
changed significantly when Jesus actually came.

Therefore, it is to be expected that now that Jesus has come, the things we read
about in the OT stories are now fulfilled. And the things we read about in the
NT stories have begun and are continuing to take place.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
Our Theology Must Have an Application
2 Timothy 3:16 , we have the foundation for interpretation and application.
Everything in the Bible is inspired and profitable for teaching, reproof,
correction, and instruction in righteousness…including narratives.

It is possible, therefore, to obtain some type of practice and pattern for

Christians today in a NT narrative. Descriptive can provide prescriptive, and
narrative can provide normative for the church today.

In fact, it must, if the narrative portion of the Scriptures are to be useful and
profitable for not only teaching, but also for reproving, correcting, and
instructing us in righteousness.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
Helps for Interpreting Stories…Like Acts
• Read Acts as a story, not as an epistle, or a poem, or a prophetic book, or
some other genre of the Bible.

• Remember that a story has a point. That point is not to teach something
specific, but to tell a story that teaches something in general.

• Realize that the general point of the story of Acts is the coming of the long
foretold and promised Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church as the expression
of His people and His kingdom on earth, and the mission to make that happen.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
Helps for Interpreting Stories…Like Acts
• When reading Acts, be careful when trying to or tempted with creating
normatives from narratives, prescriptions from descriptions, "Thou Shalt" from
"Once upon a time". Not every shorter story in the bigger story is meant to
teach us how to do something. For example, the new 12th disciple chosen by
casting lots in Acts 1 does NOT mean that leaders today are to be chosen by
casting lots.

• When an occurrence is repeated 2-3 times or more, it is generally indicative

of a pattern of some kind.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
Helps for Interpreting Stories…Like Acts
• If something is repeated and it is not later negated or changed or revised,
stick with what it's indicating or saying. This would more than likely point to
something we need to teach today as being a normal pattern for believers. For
example, at the end of Acts 4 we are told twice that the practice of believers
was to give the money they had to the apostles so they could distribute it. This
was not later negated, revised, or changed that we see. So it is probably a good
pattern to stick with today, to give our offerings to our local leadership and
entrust them with the proper distribution of it. By way of another example,
Jesus gave the mandate to go to the world in Acts 1:8. We see this repeated
again and again throughout Acts, while we see no negation or revision or
change to that mission. Therefore, it must be our mission today also.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
Helps for Interpreting Stories…Like Acts
• If an occurrence is repeated and also referred to in other parts of the Bible, it
is probably a normal pattern for us today. For example, we see prophecy and
tongues in several places throughout Acts. And then we see it also in 1 Samuel.
So if it occurred in the OT and also the NT, it probably points to a pattern that is
normal for us today.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
Helps for Interpreting Stories…Like Acts
• If an occurrence is repeated, not all the details of that occurrence will be
repeated every time. This means you need to be very careful about assuming
too much. It may indicate that a sub-pattern of some sort is at work. And then
again it may not. For example, in the gospels we have in John the story of
Bartimaeus the blind man. Yet in another gospel we find that there were
actually two blind men whom Jesus healed. Although the story was repeated
in two different gospels, each author had a different reason for writing about it,
and John's was only to focus on one of those men.

• Make every effort to see and maintain the bigger picture of the stories in
Acts. Remember they are a part of something bigger that God is accomplishing.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
The Focus of Acts is Holy Spirit + Power = Mission
• The "table of contents" is found in Acts 1:8. Jesus told the disciples that they
would receive power. The power had two significant features about it. First, it
would come only from the Holy Spirit. Second, it was for the mission Jesus sent
them on.

• Acts follows the flow of Jesus' mandate. Acts 2-7 is about the mission to
Judea. Acts 8 is about the mission to Samaria. Acts 9-28 is about the mission
to the uttermost parts of the earth.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
The Focus of Acts is Holy Spirit + Power = Mission
• The references to the Holy Spirit's coming, filling, or reception, including
speaking in tongues, is directly parallel with these three missions. It occurs in
Acts 2 in conjunction with the mission to Judea; in Acts 8 in conjunction with
the mission to Samaria; and in Acts 10 and 19 in conjunction with the mission
to the ends of the earth. This cannot be missed. To do so is to miss a primary
function of tongues as a manifestation of God's power to the nations for the
fulfillment of the mission.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
The Focus of Acts is Holy Spirit + Power = Mission
• The fact that the occurrences are repeated + the fact that they are repeated
for three different people groups + the fact that these occurrences are not
negated, revised, or changed elsewhere later seems to = a normal practice and
pattern for the people of God today, no matter who they are or where they are.
They are all included in the mission which is accomplished by power which
comes from the Holy Spirit.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
A Summary of the Four Key Texts: Acts 2
• Those who were filled with the Spirit were the 120.
• They were already believers, because the text says they were.
• They already had the Holy Spirit, because Jesus had already given it to them
in John 20:21-22.
• There is a space of time which transpired between their conversion and the
filling of the Holy Spirit
• They received power just as Jesus predicted and promised in Acts 1:8.
• They were all "filled" with the Holy Spirit.
• The Holy Spirit came on His own.
• They all spoke in tongues, according to 2:4.
• They all experienced the power of God.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
A Summary of the Four Key Texts: Acts 8:14-17
• Those who "received" the Holy Spirit were already Christians, according to verses 4-8,
and 14.
• There is a space of time which transpired between their conversion and the receiving
of the Holy Spirit.
• They came to Jesus as a direct result of the promise and prediction of Jesus in Acts 1:8.
• But they then received the same Holy Spirit themselves, which now included them in
the mission.
• The Holy Spirit came through the laying on of the apostles' hands. This was necessary
to show that the Samaritan Christians and Jewish Christians were now unified in the
same Messiah, as recognized and prophesied in John 4.
• There is no reference to them speaking in tongues, though it is generally accepted by
many scholars and commentators that they did.
• They all experienced the power of God, because Simon saw it and wanted to buy it.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
A Summary of the Four Key Texts: Acts 10:44-46
• Those who received the Spirit were not Christians before, but they received
Him and were converted all at once.
• There was no space of time to speak of that transpired between conversion
and the receiving of the Spirit.
• Cornelius and his Gentile family came to Jesus as a direct result of the
promise and prediction of Jesus in Acts 1:8.
• They received the same Holy Spirit as the Jews and Samaritans did.
• The Holy Spirit came during Peter's preaching the gospel to them.
• Cornelius and his family spoke in tongues.
• They all experienced the power of God.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
A Summary of the Four Key Texts: Acts 19:1-6
• Those who received the Spirit were more than likely Christians already, since
they were disciples of John who clearly preached the good news of the
Messiah.
• There was therefore some space of time that transpired between conversion
and the receiving of the Spirit.
• The Ephesian group came to Jesus as a direct result of the promise and
prediction of Jesus in Acts 1:8.
• They received the same Holy Spirit as the Jews, Samaritans, and other
Gentiles did.
• The Holy Spirit came through the laying on of an apostle's hands.
• They spoke in tongues.
• They all experienced the power of God.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit

Observations Acts 2 Acts 8 Acts 10 Acts 19

Were They Already Believers? And was There Yes Yes No ??
a Space of Time Between Their Conversion
and the Holy Spirit Coming?

Did Tongues Accompany the Event? Yes ?? Yes Yes

Was it Initiated by the Apostles Laying Hands No Yes Yes Yes
on Them?
What Verb was Used to Describe the Holy Filled (v. 4) Receive (v. 15) Fell (v. 44) Came (v. 6)
Spirit? Receive (v. 38) Fallen (v. 16) Poured (v. 45)
Baptized (v. 16) Received (v. 47)
Received (v. 17)
Given (v. 18)

Did They Experience Power? Were There Yes (vv. 2-4) Yes (vv. 17, 19) Yes (v. 46) Yes (v. 6)
Signs and Wonders Performed or
Experienced?
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit In Summary
Baptism in the Spirit, while not a phrase found explicitly in the Bible, is much
like the word "Trinity" in that it is a word or phrase we have utilized to capture
and communicate the truth behind the filling, receiving, falling, or coming of
the Spirit on believers in power for the mission Jesus has called us all to.

Believers are immersed into the power of the Holy Spirit for the mission Jesus
Himself has called us to.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit In Summary
• The Spirit comes while preaching the gospel in Acts 2 and 10.
• The Spirit comes through the laying on of apostles' hands in Acts 8 and 19.
• The filling, receiving, or coming of the Spirit takes place after conversion,
according to Acts 2, 8, and 19.
• The filling, receiving, or coming of the Spirit can come simultaneously with
conversion, according to Acts 10.
• Tongues accompanies the Spirit's coming in Acts 2, 10, and 19.
• Tongues always accompanied the preaching of the gospel, as seen in Acts 2,
10, and 19.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
Final Thoughts and Conclusions
FIRST: The difference between those who believe in the continuation of the
Spirit-baptism today and those who do not, seems to be one driven by
theology, and not necessarily by interpretation.
• Those who believe the Spirit-baptism is not for today, generally argue that the events in the
four key chapters were to initiate the people groups in Acts 1:8 into the body of Christ through
the filling of the Holy Spirit. The events, power, signs and wonders were all part of a sign of
authentication. After that initial event, the power, signs and wonders were no longer
necessary since the people group had been initiated into the New Covenant of Christ.
• We believe the Spirit-baptism IS for today, and would argue for an permanent extension of
the theology of those who do not believe it is for today. In other words, we believe that not
only did it signify the initiation of these people groups, but that the general design of the
coming and the power of the Holy Spirit was to always accompany and authenticate the
message and the mission. In other words, what we see in Acts 2, 8, 10, and 19 is an initiation
into something that forms a pattern since the mission and the Spirit go together.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
Final Thoughts and Conclusions
SECOND: The biggest and most significant question and concern for those who
do NOT believe in the Spirit-baptism for today, is that this view somehow
lessens the work of the Holy Spirit at conversion. They would argue that this
view of a second work of the Spirit through a baptism in power magnifies this
work more than the first work.
• In response, we say first that it no more does this today than it did in the
early church when it happened at first.
• Second, there are many works of God the Father, God the Son, and God
the Holy Spirit. The fact that the Spirit seals one at conversion and then
fills one with power in no way lessens any of His works. It is we who
emphasize the power, signs and wonders over His regenerating and sealing
work at conversion.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
Final Thoughts and Conclusions
THIRD: Following in a train of thought, the next question or concern is what
differentiates the receiving of the Spirit at conversion for every Christian from
the filling or receiving of the Holy Spirit with power? The answer in short is,
missional manifestation.
• When He comes in regeneration and sealing, He comes in a personal way.
• When He comes with baptism in power, He comes in a missional way.
 
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
Final Thoughts and Conclusions
FOURTH: Why isn't tongues mentioned in Acts 8?
• Because, again according to good interpretive practices applied to stories,
the purpose of the story in Acts 8 was NOT to show a pattern involving
tongues, but (1) to focus on the cultural breach between Jews and
Samaritans being healed in the Spirit, and (2) to focus instead on the power
of the Holy Spirit as it related to one particular greedy and power-hungry
man named Simon Magus.
But because the other three passages connect the Holy Spirit and power
to tongues, it seems safe to understand that would have occurred in Acts 8.

Again, the fact that they are not mentioned is not indicative of the fact that
they did not occur. Rather, it is indicative that there is another point to the
story there than a focus on tongues.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
Final Thoughts and Conclusions
FIFTH: The Holy Spirit always brings power.
• Power is always needed for the mission.
• The pattern about Spirit-baptism in Acts is focused on the mission…not on
tongues.
• But it's interesting how the advancement of the mission always involved
tongues as a display of God's power.
• This seems to be directly related to a reversal of the language-confusion at
the tower of Babel (Genesis 11). There, languages were a curse for a
people in rebellion. Today, tongues are a blessing to a people in
redemption.
 The Baptism of
the Holy
Spirit
Final Thoughts and Conclusions
SIXTH: It seems safe interpretively to say that as Christians we should pray
for, ask for, seek for, and knock for the power of the Holy Spirit to come to us,
as Jesus taught us in Luke 11.

And this would include the focus on the mission, along with the expectation of
the manifestation of that power in tongues.

Paul teaches us in Ephesians 5:17 to “keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit,”
which instructs us to continue asking, seeking, and knocking for the power of
the Holy Spirit we first experience in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It’s
something we are to desire because we need it every single day…for the
mission both personally and globally.