Authentic Pentecostal Church

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

The passage in Acts 19:1-7 provides a clear example of individuals who were disciples having received salvation, but had not yet been baptised in the Holy Spirit. Let’s explore the manifestations of having been baptised in the Holy Spirit and how this event demonstrates the distinction between receiving the Holy Spirit at salvation and the subsequent baptism in the Holy Spirit:

Initial Salvation and Lack of Knowledge (Acts 19:2):
- These disciples in Ephesus were already believers; they had received salvation and were disciples of some form, likely followers of John the Baptist. However, their understanding was incomplete, as they hadn’t heard about the Holy Spirit, indicating a lack of knowledge about the fullness of the Christian experience.
Clarification on Baptism (Acts 19:3-4):
- Paul’s enquiry about their (water) baptism led to the revelation that they had received John’s baptism—a baptism of repentance, anticipating the coming of Jesus. Paul clarifies that while John’s baptism was important, there was a more profound baptism associated with belief in Jesus Christ.
Receiving Water Baptism in Jesus’ Name (Acts 19:5):
- In response to Paul’s teaching, these disciples chose to align themselves with Jesus through water baptism. This act symbolised their identification with Jesus and His redemptive work.
Laying on of Hands and Manifestation of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:6):
- The distinctive moment of the Holy Spirit’s manifestation occurred when Paul laid hands on them. This laying on of hands was not for salvation but for the impartation of the Holy Spirit’s power and presence upon them.
- Speaking in Tongues and Prophesying: The primary manifestations of their baptism in the Holy Spirit were speaking in tongues and prophesying. These manifestations were consistent with previous instances of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts (Acts 2:4; Acts 10:44-46; Acts 11:15-17).
Number of Men Impacted (Acts 19:7):
- The passage specifies that there were about twelve men in all who experienced this transformative encounter through the baptism in the Holy Spirit. This event highlights the individual and communal aspects of the Holy Spirit’s work in the lives of believers.

Distinction between Initial Salvation and Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Acts 19:1-7

Initial Salvation:
- In Acts 19:2, these disciples had already received the Holy Spirit in them at salvation. They were believers but lacked knowledge about the Holy Spirit’s role in the Christian life.
Baptism in the Holy Spirit:
- The subsequent events, particularly in Acts 19:6, demonstrate that receiving the Holy Spirit is a distinct experience from salvation. It involves an additional empowering and infilling beyond the initial regeneration that takes place at salvation, as the Holy Spirit came upon them.

In summary, the manifestations of being baptised in the Holy Spirit, as exemplified in Acts 19:1-7, include a more profound understanding of baptism, water baptism in Jesus’ name, the laying on of hands, and the evident expressions of speaking in tongues and prophesying. This event underscores the importance of believers seeking the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s empowerment for a deeper, more dynamic Christian experience beyond the initial encounter of salvation.

The process is, the Holy Spirit is with the sinner to convict them of sin, righteousness and the coming Judgement to lead them to Christ. Once they believe and obey the Gospel, the believer receives the Holy Spirit within them, they are saved from the Penalty of Adams death, and to bring them to the Father. And finally the Holy Spirit comes upon the believer for empower them to witness for Christ and overcome the power of sin throughout their life.