In Acts 6, being “full of the Spirit” was one of the standards for new leaders. How did they recognize someone full of the Spirit? By some sort of fruit, as is taught in the rest of the New Testament. Stephen went on to do great signs and wonders.
Once the apostles come across a group of Samaritan believers, they have been “baptized in Jesus” but not the Spirit. What does that mean? There was obviously a distinction between water baptism and the baptism of the Spirit. They proceeded to lay hands on these people and imparted the Holy Spirit to them (Acts 8).
In Acts 9, Saul is converted and still needs to be “filled with the Spirit.”
Peter goes to Cornelius’ house in Acts 10, to speak to the Gentiles. The Holy Spirit falls, people speak in tongues, THEN they are baptized in water once it is clear to Peter that God had ordained the Gentiles. As Peter defends his speaking to the Gentiles (a major issue at the time), he remembers that there would be two separate baptisms, one of water and one of Spirit-fire (Acts 11).
In Acts 18, Apollos makes his entrance, and he is speaking of Christ and arguing that Jesus was the Messiah. But the Bible makes it clear that he only knew the “baptism of John.” And then the way had to be more clearly explained to him. What was the baptism of John? Water baptism symbolizing repentance. Its not clear in this case, but definitely implies that the ministers at the time felt he needed more than the baptism of John.
In Acts 19, Paul comes across some disciples in Ephesus who had only the “baptism of John.” He lays hands on them and baptizes them in the Holy Spirit. They proceed to speak in tongues and prophesy … all of them (about twelve, I think it says).
Despite some teaching out there, the baptism of the Holy Spirit did not occur once at Pentecost. Why did it need to continue happening? I heard one intelligent teacher suggest that different nation groups needed to be baptized to be included in the Church. First of all, that doesn’t square with the scripture. Once Gentiles, Samaritans, and Jews were baptized, why did the group in Ephesus need it? Second, if it were true, then wouldn’t every new group we preach the gospel to need the baptism of the Spirit?
At some point, the early Church clearly made a distinction between the baptism of John (water baptism at the decision of repentance) and the baptism of the Holy Spirit as two separate events. And of course they would. Most, if not all, of the early disciples would have been baptized under John or one another during Jesus’ ministry. Then they were given the Holy Spirit after the resurrection but still needed to wait for the anointing as a separate event. This is what they taught and lived.
Tomorrow I will conclude all this with some practical points to help us pull it all together.
Peace.