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Articles
Holy Spirit Baptism
There is an important Bible topic that we would like to consider for a few moments, it is the subject of Holy Spirit baptism. May we look honestly into this, and let God speak on this subject as we open the word of God.
Let me begin by first affirming that there are only two historical cases of Holy Spirit baptism found in the New Testament: the apostles in Acts 2 and Cornelius and his group in Acts 10.
Acts 2
Observe what Jesus promised the apostles in Acts 1:4-5, "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." In Acts 2:1-4 we read of the fulfillment of this promise ten days after Jesus spake it Acts chapter 1, that the apostles were baptized with the Holy Ghost. "And when the day of Pentecost was 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 all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance". Notice in these verses the pronouns "they", who is the "they"? Well the antecedent of "they" is the apostles in Acts 1:26. Those who spake were Galileans Acts 2:7, the apostles were all Galileans, Acts 1:11. Notice in Acts 2:14, "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words" The passage did not say Peter standing up with the one hundred and nineteen, "but Peter, standing up with the eleven." Thus we must conclude that only the apostles were baptized with the Holy Ghost here on the day of Pentecost. One more observation, in Acts 2:2 it said of the apostles, "and it filled all the house where they were sitting". You don't read of them seeking, on their knees praying, anointing with oil, going to the altar, agonizing before God, laying on of hands in order to get baptized in the Holy Ghost; but they were sitting when they were baptized with the Holy Ghost. For Christ is the one who did the baptizing of them in the Holy Ghost.
Acts 10
Now we want to study about Cornelius and his group being baptized in the Holy Ghost in Acts 10 & 11. Cornelius and his group would be the first Gentiles converts to Jesus Christ. God sent Peter to preach to Cornelius and his group, the gospel of Jesus Christ. In vs. 34-43 we read of Peter's speech to this group. Then something very interesting happen as Peter was speaking, notice in, Acts 10:44-45, "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost". As with the apostles, there was no seeking, kneeling in prayer, anointing with oil, going to the altar, laying on of hands in order to get baptized in the Holy Ghost; God simply poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. Peter in Acts 11 was "called out on the carpet" about what took place with the Gentiles. Peter rehearsed this matter step by step of what took place. Notice in, Acts 11:14-17, "Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?". Observe that Peter calls this a baptism of the Holy Ghost, and notice also, that he has to refer all the way back to Acts 2, to what happened to the apostles on the day of Pentecost to find anything like it. Notice that statement again in verse 15, "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning." He did not say, "As I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on all the churches." Nor did he say, "As I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us since the beginning," as if this was an everyday occurrence. Beloved, we do not read of these people agonizing, on their knees praying, singing and shouting, seeking, anointing, going to the altar, laying on of hands, in order to get baptized in the Holy Ghost. Why was Cornelius and his group baptized in the Holy Spirit? In order to prove to the Jews that the Gentiles can be Christians, "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life". Acts 11:18. Holy Spirit baptism does not take place today!
