Baptized, Filled, Received

Spirit-Baptism

When describing the receipt of the Spirit, Acts applies several Greek verbs, including “baptize,” “receive,” “filled,” “given,” and “came upon.” But do they refer to different experiences of aspects of the gift, or does each refer to the same event? In other words, do “baptized with” and “received” refer to the same experience common to all believers?

Spirit and Mission

Mission, Spirit-Baptism, Witness

In the second Psalm, the Messiah is the Son of God and the ideal king anointed by God to rule the nations, the one to whom the “kings of the earth” will pay homage. And in the gospel accounts, he is anointed by the Spirit at his baptism, equipping him for the proclamation of the “kingdom of God” to all of Israel.

The Promised Spirit

Abraham, Covenant, Spirit-Baptism

The promise of the Spirit is part of the blessing of Abraham for the nations and the children of Abraham. Paul refers to the “promise of the Spirit” which he identifies as the “blessing of Abraham.” Jesus came under the Law’s “curse” to redeem believers so that the “blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”

Tongues in Caesarea

Baptism, Spirit-Baptism, Tongues

In Acts, all converts repent, are baptized in water, and receive the Spirit, but not necessarily in that order. Likewise, when the disciples received the gift of the Spirit on Pentecost, they were all “filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Voice in the Wilderness

Baptism, John, Spirit-Baptism

All four gospels apply the same passage from the book of Isaiah to John the Baptist. He was sent to summon Israel to repent “for the remission of sins” in preparation for the arrival of the Messiah and the Kingdom of God. All this was in fulfillment of key messianic promises in the Hebrew Bible.

Resurrection and the Spirit

New Creation, Resurrection, Spirit-Baptism

Paul presents Abraham as the great exemplar of faith. God counted his faith as “righteousness” when he was yet uncircumcised, and that means He justified him apart from the “works of the Law.” Therefore, he became the father of all men who are also “from faith.” Circumcision was added after the promise as the “seal” of Abraham’s justifying faith.

Spirit of Life

Covenant, Life, Spirit-Baptism

In Galatia, “false brethren” were preaching “another gospel” that pressured Gentiles to get circumcised, and otherwise, to conform to the regulations of the Law. Paul would have none of it, and he responded with a series of arguments, including an appeal to the receipt of the Spirit by uncircumcised Gentile believers.

To Samaria

Baptism, Miracles, Spirit-Baptism

Acts documents how the gospel first came to Samaria. After the martyrdom of Stephen, Saul of Tarsus began persecuting the fledgling church, causing many “brethren” to be scattered “throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria.” God used this to advance the gospel as the scattered saints preached wherever they went.

When Pentecost Arrived

Pentecost, Spirit-Baptism, Tongues

The book of Acts lays stress on fulfillment. The things foreshadowed in the Hebrew scriptures are actualized when the disciples are “filled with the Spirit and spoke in other tongues” on Pentecost. This is the seminal event that marks the inauguration of the Church, the age of the Spirit, and the commencement of the final harvest.