By Dick VanHuss

What does it mean to be baptized in the Holy Spirit?  While you won’t find that term in the Bible, the term is derived from John the Baptist speaking of Jesus, “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Matthew 3:11)  So what happens when Jesus does baptize us?  What should we expect to happen?

Biblical accounts in Acts where it indicates they were filled with the Holy Spirit as an event not a description of the person, are included in Acts 2, 8, 9,10,11, and 19. You can construct your own version of the chart below, read through the scriptures and make your own determination.

A few thoughts regarding the above scriptures.  First, the experience is always subsequent to salvation (though once immediately after.) It is not required to get into heaven and is not a salvation issue. 

What do we expect to happen physically when we have this experience? Acts 2 records several things that happened. In Acts 8, Simon the sorcerer found something so extraordinary in this gift of the Spirit that he immediately wanted the authority to impart the gift himself. He had already witnessed demon expulsions and healings, but this was markedly different. Luke simply says that Simon “saw” or witnessed that the Spirit was given; something observable took place. The consensus among biblical scholars, many of whom are not Pentecostal or charismatic, is that the Samaritans had a glossolalic* (speaking in an unknown language) experience.

While Paul’s experience in Acts 9 does not include tongues we do know Paul spoke in tongues regularly and often (1 Corinthians 14:18). Peter equates the experience in Acts 10 at Cornelius’s house with the same way they experienced the Acts 2 event (Acts 11:17 and 15:8.) And the Ephesian believers experienced speaking in an unknown language and prophesying.

Clearly, we should expect some supernatural expression to take place when we experience this Spirit baptism. One could argue the speaking in tongues, or an unknown language is the biblical norm that people experience.  However, the greatest sign in receiving power from the Holy Spirit to be a witness.  Speaking in tongues without being a witness is kind of like putting the receipt for your big screen tv on the wall and watching the receipt instead of the tv.   It is kind of a wasted experience.

Have we seen other manifestations or demonstrations of the Spirit during this experience?  Yes!  But keep in mind that they are not the biblical norm and we should base our theology on Scripture not necessarily our experience.

Prayer: Jesus, please baptize me in the Holy Spirit and fill me with the power you promised in Acts 1:8.  As I experience this unique spiritual time help me to be open to how you want to demonstrate your baptizing me into the Spirit so others will know I have received this from you. Let me have an open mind and open heart so you may be glorified.

Questions to think about.

• Based on your studying the scriptures above, how do you think the Holy Spirit demonstrates in your life?  
• Do you think we need to be in a specific place and time to receive this gift of the Holy Spirit?  Contrast the experiences from Acts.
• If you have already experienced this Baptism in the Holy Spirit, how did it impact your life?  Does it still impact you today?   What advice would you give to the person who has not yet experienced this yet?

* The Greek verb phrase for speaking in tongues (lalein glossais) does not appear in nonbiblical literature as a technical term for speaking a language one does not know. But it is used by both Luke (Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6) and Paul (1 Corinthians 12:30; 13:1; 14:5,6,18,23,39) with that meaning.

The Greek word glossa means the tongue as the organ of speech and, by extension, the product of speech—language. In Acts 2, the languages spoken by the disciples were unknown to them but were understood by others. They were human, identifiable languages. Luke says that the disciples spoke in other tongues—that is, languages not their own. However, in the other occurrences in Acts where speaking in tongues is mentioned (10:46; 19:6), there is no indication the languages were understood or identified. Paul’s writings imply that Spirit-inspired languages may not always be human, but may be spiritual, heavenly, or angelic (1 Corinthians 13:1; 14:2,14) as a means of communication between a believer and God.

Portions taken from https://ag.org/Beliefs/Position-Papers/Baptism-in-the-Holy-Spirit