THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Text: Acts 2:1-4

Introduction: What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?  What results of it?  Should we pray for it today?  Is it the baptism that was commanded in the Great Commission?  Is it the one baptism of Ephesians 4:4?

Body:
  I. Holy Spirit Baptism was a promise, not a command.
     A. There is no record where anyone was commanded to be 
        baptized with the Holy Spirit.
        1. If it is a command, then we need to know how to 
           obey it.
        2. Where in the Bible are the instructions given?
        3. “The references to this baptism all show that it 
           was a promise and not a command.  It was 
           something…which God promised to certain people 
           and not something which God commanded them to 
           do.” James D. Bales
        4. Scriptures:
           a. Matthew 3:11 – a promise, not a command.
           b. Luke 24:49 – Jesus called it a promise of the 
              Father.
           c. Acts 1:2, 5, 8, 4-5.
        5. “Although there was no direct promise to 
           Cornelius and his household, yet they were 
           baptized in the Holy Spirit.  But they were not 
           commanded to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, 
           neither did they obey any such command…God of 
           His own will, for His own purpose, baptized them 
           in the Holy Spirit.”
     B. The Great Commission baptism was commanded.
        1. Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38
        2. And it is water baptism.

 II. Holy Spirit Baptism was administered by Christ 
     directly from Heaven without the use of a Human 
     Administrator.
     A. Holy Spirit baptism was not administered by man, 
        but by Christ.
        1. Matthew 3:11
        2. In the text, no one assisted Christ. Acts 2:1-4, 
           17, 32-33.
        3. Acts 10:44; 11:15-17; 15:7-9
     B. The baptism of the great commission was 
        administered by man.
        1. Matthew 28:19
        2. Acts 8:38
     B. John 16:12-14
        1. “Into all truth”
        2. “The Spirit guided them into truths which Christ 
           had not seen fit to reveal, or fully to reveal, 
           during his personal ministry.”
        3. “Truth was revealed and confirmed at the 
           household of Cornelius, in connection with the 
           baptism of the Spirit.” (Acts 10:34; 45; 11:1-
           18)
        4. Compare 13:2 and Matthew 26:20.
     C. John 16:13 – The Spirit showed them things to come.
     D. The apostles were so empowered by the Spirit that 
        they not only the power of inspiration, but also 
        the power of working of a wide variety of miracles. 
        (Acts 8:14-18)
     E. Miraculous manifestations on Pentecost accompanied 
        the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
        1. Acts 2:2 (Sound)
        2. Acts 2:3 (“tongues like as fire”)
        3. Acts 2:4 (speak with other tongues”)
           a. Definitions: (2) the tongue, as an organ of 
              speech…(3) (a) a language… (b) the 
              supernatural gift of speaking in another 
              language without its having been learnt.” 
              Vines
           b. Acts 2:6-8, 11.
        4. The household of Cornelius.
        5. Not all who received the miraculous gifts could 
           speak with tongues.

 IV. Who was baptized in the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
     A. The promise of the reception of the Spirit on 
        Pentecost was limited to the apostles.
        1. Acts 1:2-8
        2. “Since the promise…was limited to the apostles, 
           the reception not many days hence was limited to 
           the apostles.”
     B. Those who received the baptism of the Holy Spirit 
        were to receive power. Acts 1:5, 8
     C. The apostles were the ones chosen as “special 
        witnesses”. Acts 1:8, 22, 26; 2:32 (14, 37)
     D. The “they” of Acts 2:1 are the apostles of 1:26.
     E. Those who received the Spirit in this miraculous 
        way were all Galileans and the apostles were 
        Galileans. Acts 2:7, 4; 1:11
     F. With whom did Peter stand up? Acts 2:14
     G. Who did the audience, the mocking part, say was 
        drunk? Acts 2:13, 14, 15.