Baptism with the Holy Spirit

 John said about Jesus, ‘I baptise you in water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit’ (Mark.1.8).
 Jesus echoes this just before his ascension, "John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit", and the purpose of this will be so that "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." (Acts.1.5,8)
 So the disciples waited in Jerusalem as commanded, and on the day of Pentecost, ‘All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them’ (Acts.2.4). When Peter spoke to the crowd, 3000 of them became followers of Jesus. Just as promised he received power and witnessed about Jesus.

(Philip in Samaria)
 When they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men and women… When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon [the sorcerer] saw that the Spirit was given at the laying of hands he offered them money and said "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands will receive the Holy Spirit."  (Acts.8.12,14-19)

(Saul meets Jesus on the road to Damascus, 3 days later…)
 Then Annanias went to the house and entered it. Placing hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord - Jesus who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here - has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptised.     (Acts.8.17-8)

(Peter is sent to explain the Gospel to Cornelius the centurion)
 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said "Can anyone keep these people from being baptised in water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."…
 "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: "John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit."
 "God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them [the Gentiles] by giving the Holy Spirit them, just as he did to us."  (Acts.10.44-7, 11.15-16, 15.8)

(Apollos and Paul in Ephesus)
 A Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowled ge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the ways of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervour about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John’s baptism", they replied. Paul said, "John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.       (Acts.18.24-19.7)

Here is a summary of what baptism with the Holy Spirit is:
  "A divine act, promised by John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, whereby the  Holy Spirit initiates Christians into realised union and communion with the glorified Lord Jesus, thus equipping and enabling them for sanctity and service."

NOTES:
1) Baptism with the Holy Spirit is always a separate event to baptism with water (the baptism of John for repentance). Sometimes preceding it (as with Paul and the Gentiles at Cornelius’ house), sometimes coming afterwards (as with the apostles and the people in Ephesus).
2) Sometimes God baptises of his own accord (as at Pentecost and at Cornelius’ house), other times the baptism is given through the laying on of hands (as with Paul, the Samarians and the Ephesians).
3) In all these passages, everyone receives the baptism, it is not reserved for a special few. This is very much in line with Joel.2.28, "I will pour out my Spirit on all people".
4) A physical sign seems to accompany the baptism. At Pentecost, Cornelius’ house and Ephesus this is explicitly speaking in tongues. Though none is mentioned in Paul’s situation, we know that he spoke in tongues (1.Corinthians.14.18). In Samaria there must have been a sign, since Simon the sorcerer ‘saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of hands’ and was so amazed that he wanted to buy that ability. It is a sensible conclusion then that baptism with the Holy Spirit will usually, if not always, be accompanied with tongues.

 Some people feel affronted at the suggestion that they needed to be baptised with the Holy Spirit - does that mean that before then they aren’t real Christians. The answer is that yes, people are real Christians before being baptised with the Holy Spirit; like Apollos they may be learned in Scripture and have great fervour for Jesus - more so even than many people who have received the baptism. However, as the Bible reveals, God intends for them to receive the baptism, and through it greater power to witness and live out their Christian lives effectively.

 Seeing as the teaching on the baptism is so clear, how can so much of  the church have lost sight of it? Well clearly it can, over the centuries teaching has been distorted and forgotten. Just as the Catholic church ‘lost’ the central doctrine of salvation by faith not works for centuries until Luther noticed it in the Bible, likewise was baptism in the Holy Spirit lost until it was rediscovered at the beginning of this century by the Pentecostals, and again in the 70s in the charismatic house churches.

 If you now understand the Bible's teaching on the subject, you can ask God in faith for the gift of his Holy Spirit. There are no rules laid down for receiving the baptism, but the sensible method seems to be to follow the example of the apostles and get someone already baptised to lay hands on you. And that’s all for now, folks!

Baptism in the Holy Spirit in Church History