“And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4)
Different denominations have different beliefs and practices concerning what is called the baptism in the Holy Ghost with the manifestation of tongues. There are different teachings on this. A summary is that some believe it was only for the apostles. Others think it’s of the devil. Some churches believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit but don’t practice it in their services, although some of the members may practice tongues in their private prayer time. Others have services where the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the gifts are abounding to the point of being nearly abuse. What we will explore is what the Bible teaches about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Whether you choose to believe in all the Bible or only parts of it, is always an option of course, but each one of us will be accountable for what we learn and what we choose to believe and practice. God gives us a choice in all things. But it’s only right to warn that we cannot condemn any practice, especially where the Holy Spirit is concerned. “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” (Matthew 12:31-32)
Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit and instructed His followers to wait for Him (the Holy Spirit). “And when they came together, He gave them this order: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift I told you about, the gift My Father promised. John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." (Acts 1:4-5) The disciples obeyed, and this is the account. “When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.” (Acts 2:1-4) Note that they were believers. This gift is for believers in Jesus.
“But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for Me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8) The Holy Spirit gives the ability to witness, to testify about Jesus. And this is what happened to the believers in Jerusalem. Before the Holy Spirit they had been scared of the Romans and the Jews. They met behind closed doors. But they received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and were given boldness to witness. At that moment in Jerusalem there were people from different parts of the Middle East gathered for Pentecost. They spoke different languages. Yet when they heard the believers speaking in tongues, they understood their testimonies in their own languages. (Acts 2:5-12) Peter who had cowardly denied the Lord, now filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly preached Jesus. (Acts 2:14-40) “Many of them believed his message and were baptized, and about three thousand people were added to the group that day.” (Acts 2:41)
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is different from receiving the Holy Spirit when we believe and surrender our lives to Jesus. Paul traveled to Ephesus where he found some believers. “and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?" "We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit," they answered.” (Acts 19:2) Evidently, these believers had been baptized by John the Baptist when he was preaching repentance. Paul explains this to them. They were then baptized as the Scripture commands, believe and be baptized. But then they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit when Paul lays hands on them. “Paul placed his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came upon them; they spoke in strange tongues and also proclaimed God's message.” (Acts 19:6) Here also we notice that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is different from receiving the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is the baptism of fire and power that John the Baptist talked about. “I baptize you with water to show that you have repented, but the One who will come after me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. He is much greater than I am; and I am not good enough even to carry His sandals.” (Matthew 3:11)
We see that when we believe and surrender to Jesus, He baptizes us in the Holy Spirit Who indwells us and then with fire. This fire is the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It’s a different experience which we can receive by the laying of hands as Paul did or by asking for that gift. The teaching on the baptism of the Holy Spirit is huge. We have only studied and learned that it’s a different experience by which we receive the boldness to testify about Jesus. I guess you could say it’s an introduction. And we have barely scratched the surface of this teaching.
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