Believe and be Baptised
(Acts 2: 41)
Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptised: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
There are many questions asked about this baptism.
Is this baptism in water or is the baptism into Christ?
If it was water baptism, did it happen immediately?
Was the baptism into Christ before water baptism or did water baptism precede the baptism into Christ?
If it is referring to baptism with the Spirit, is this experience a onetime event, or is it a subsequent experience to conversion. Does it happen at conversion. Is it a second experience. Is it a second blessing?
All these are valid questions.
Is the baptism with the Holy Spirit a subsequent experience to new birth?
Well for the disciples, it was.
The disciples were born again when Jesus breathed on them in the upper room and said “ Recieve the Holy Spirit”. John 20:22.
It was Christ Himself that gave them the power to minister. However they did not have the Holy Spirit as a permanent resident in their lives until Christ ascended and the Holy Spirit was given on the day of Pentecost, as a permanent resident.
As for every believer after Pentecost, the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is a one time event that occurs at the time of new birth.
It is not a subsequent event to salvation.
At the time that someone receives Christ as Saviour, we are told by the Apostle Paul:
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptised into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
(Ephesians 1:3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
Scripture nowhere commands believers to seek a second blessing after salvation. The Apostle Paul told the Ephesians: God has also made us complete in Christ:
(Colossians 2:9,10).For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all
principality and power
Peter wrote:
His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:3).
So, first of all let us look at what this experience that occurred on the day of Pentecost is called.
Some use the term, Baptism of the Holy Spirit/Ghost.
Some use the term Baptism in the Holy Spirit/Ghost.
The only term used in the scriptures, is Baptism with the Holy Ghost.
Matt 3:11 I indeed baptise you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptise you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
However whenever this baptism happens, the scriptures reveal what actually occurs. When one is baptised with the Holy Ghost.
The terms used are: Filled with the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Spirit being poured out.
Receiving the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Spirit falling upon.
The Holy Ghost falling on.
The Holy Ghost coming on.
The majority of the verses say: Being filled with.
So, the experience is The Baptism with the Holy Spirit. The scriptures below show the different expressions used when this happens.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Act 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Act 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
Act 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Act 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
Act 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
Act 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Act 8:15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
Act 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
Act 8:17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Act 8:18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
Act 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Act 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptised.
Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptised, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord.
Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Act 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Act 19:2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye
believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Act 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptised? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptised with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
So let us examine this experience.
First of all, who is the baptiser?
John the Baptist tells us who is the one who baptises with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Jesus is the Baptiser with the Holy Ghost.
Mat 3:11 I indeed baptise you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
When we are born again of the Spirit of God, we are all baptised (Immersed, Initiated, Joined) into the Body of Christ, we are all made to drink of that one Spirit.
1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptised into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1 Cor 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
After Jesus had risen from the dead, He instructed His apostles to “…wait for the Promise of the Father which you have heard from Me; for John truly baptised with water, but you shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:4-5).
Jesus told the disciple to tarry at Jerusalem and that they would receive power when the Holy Ghost comes.
Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Through the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came upon men for particular things. However Jesus said that He must go away but He would not leave us comfortless. If I do not go, He (the Holy Spirit) cannot come.
When Jesus ascended into heaven, God sent the Holy Spirit to be with us permanently, to indwell believers and to empower believers for the task ahead, the preaching of the Gospel. He (the Holy Spirit) is the Comforter, the one who teaches all things, the one who convicts of sin, of righteousness and of judgement.
He is the one that regenerates the hearts of men, making it possible for them to call on the name of the Lord.
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Who receives this baptism?
All those that believe in Jesus Christ as their Saviour receive this baptism. We are immersed, baptised into the Body of Christ.
When we repent of our sin and believe in Jesus Christ, He fills us with the Holy Spirit.
There is one baptism but many fillings.
Ephesians 4:5-6 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
This promise was first fulfilled on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), and the baptism with the Spirit joins every believer to the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
Jesus comes to dwell in us by the Holy Spirit.
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
What about the baptism with fire?
Some interpret the baptism of fire as referring to the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was sent from heaven. “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them
divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them” (Acts 2:2-3). It is important to note that these were tongues as of fire, not literal fire.
Some believe that the baptism with fire refers to the Holy Spirit’s office as the energiser of the believer’s service, and the purifier of evil within, because of the exhortation “Do not quench the Spirit” found in 1Thessalonians 5:19. The command to the believer is to not put out the Spirit’s fire by suppressing His ministry.
The Apostle Paul exhorts us to be filled with the Spirit.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
In the original Greek, (Playroo) "be filled" means "keep on being filled constantly and continually." Living a godly life is a vital part of this process.
Peter earlier in the upper room had already been baptised with the Holy Spirit but when he stood up in front of the Jews the scripture says:
Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
Stephen in Acts 7:
Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
We are exhorted to walk in the Spirit, to live a Spirit filled life.
How do we do this, when we are constantly bombarded with temptation and sin. When we contend against the world, the flesh and the Devil?
Well! It is all about keeping short accounts with God.
The Spirit-Filled Life is an obedient and abiding life. It can be experienced daily as you:
· Love God with all of your heart.
· Practice Spiritual Breathing. (Breathe out the impurities in confession and repentance) (Breathe in the forgiveness of God). Then ask for God’s infilling and overflowing of the Holy Spirit.
· Spend time daily in prayer and Bible study.
· Obey God's commands.
Be a witness for Christ.
The first manifestations of the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
It is very easy to follow the manifestation of the baptism with the Holy Spirit if we look at the event when the Holy Spirit descended in the days of Pentecost, when people were baptised with the Holy Spirit for the first time, an event that is described in the Holy Scripture so:
(Acts 2:1–11)When the day of Pentecost had come, they (the disciples) were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs–we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.”
The manifestations of the baptism with the Holy Spirit of the disciples that were together in one place and that are described in this passage, are the following:
A noise, like a violent rushing wind that came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Tongues as of fire were seen distributed among them and they rested on each one of them.
The disciples began to speak with other tongues, (known languages) which they hadn’t learnt before, but which were known by the people that were witnesses of that event, these were human tongues spoken in those times. They were intelligible languages, words that could be understood.
All disciples were speaking the mighty deeds of God, as a result of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. I think that this was the main manifestation.
As soon as people came and asked for explanations regarding what had happened to the disciples on the day of Pentecost, (Obviously, referring to the baptism with the Holy Spirit). The Apostle Peter answered by preaching the Gospel about the Lord Jesus, a message that pierced to the heart.
Acts 2:37–40 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”
What the people saw here was the result of “the baptism with the Holy Spirit”, they wanted to know what they should do to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and Apostle Peter told them to repent and be baptised. The people received the words of Apostle Peter, repented and were baptized, that means that they were baptised with the Holy Spirit as well, they received the gift of the Holy Spirit as Peter said they would.
So what happened to those hearing the words of Peter?
So then, those who had received his word were baptised; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptised: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Act 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Act 2:43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
Act 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things
common;
Act 2:45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
Act 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with
gladness and singleness of heart,
Act 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Notice, that none of these believers, who received the baptism with the Holy Spirit, on that day, heard any sound of a mighty rushing wind, nor did tongues like fire, rest on each of them, none were heard speaking in tongues but it is evident that something happened to them that changed their lives and actions.
Everyone could see the difference, because those who were baptised with the Holy Spirit were taking care of other Christians, and that was a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, to take care of the needs of your brothers and sisters.
The manifestation of filling with the Holy Spirit.
The baptism with the Holy Spirit is a onetime experience for the believer, when he repents and believes the Gospel. He is baptised into the Body of Christ and at that point is filled with the Spirit.
However, this is not the end of the matter, for a Christian can fall into temptation and needs to constantly repent of sin and
wrongdoing. There is a need to be, being filled, to empty ourselves of sin and to be continually being filled.
So there is one baptism but many fillings.
Have you been baptised with the Holy Spirit? If not, you cannot be filled with the Holy Spirit. You have to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and to enter the covenant with Him, to be born again and so you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit, you will be baptised into the Body of Christ and become one with all those who have entered into this covenant relationship with God through Christ. The Holy Spirit will come to live in you. You will have the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead and the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8: 10,11 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet the Spirit gives you life because of righteousness.
11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who dwells in you.
Then, we are to be always filled with the Holy Spirit and speak the Word of the Gospel with boldness.
What about the 3000 souls that were added to the church on that day?
Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptised: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
A question arises here about baptism.
What was this baptism? Was it baptism by immersion in water? Or is this referring to being baptised into Christ?
Ephesians 1:13 (the phrasing of this translation illustrates very well how baptism into Christ happens)
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptised into one body whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptised will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Acts 8:12 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptised.
Acts 19 5 When they heard this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.
The question is this: is this passage talking about the metaphysical / mystical baptism in the realm of the spirit which happens
immediately upon one’s hearing of faith?
This is what is meant in Ephesians, when Paul says by the washing by the Word.
The Strongs Concordance explains the meaning of washing. G3067 λουτρόν loutrón, loo-tron'; from G3068; a bath, i.e. (figuratively), baptism:—washing.
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing
G3067 of water by the word,
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing G3067 of
regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
These verses can be read literally as:
Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the Baptism by the word,
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the baptism of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
When we repent and believe we are washed (baptised) by the Word.
We receive the baptism of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
It appears that belief and this baptism (Washing) go together and this happens at the same time.
You simply can’t believe and not be baptised into Christ right when you do. The two always go together.
Placing trust in Christ is what gets you into Christ, and the baptism into Christ happens immediately.
If you read the rest of the passages concerned with baptism, you will see the same pattern: hearing and believing, being immediately
baptised / immersed / placed into Christ upon belief.
So – did the 3000 get baptised in water? Well, I would assume they did at some point, to follow the established practice. But Acts 2:41 doesn’t specifically speak of that.
There is one more point to take notice of in this passage.
It is not clear that the ones that received the word that Peter preached on that
day were, in number, 3000.
It does not say that. What it does say is: Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptised.
Those that gladly received the word could have been any number of souls.
All we know is that by the end of that day, about 3000 souls were added to the church.
Whether or not they were all baptised in literal water is not clear but we can say for sure that all those that received the word and repented of their sin, were included into the church.
They were baptised into the body of Christ and received the same Holy Spirit experience as the 120 did in the upper room.
Is this saying there is no need for baptism in water? Of course not.
Total immersion in water is the outward sign of what has taken place.
Baptism is identifying with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It is the sign of dying to self and rising to newness of life, it is a witness of what has occurred in your life.
Notice: that baptism in water occurs after the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
We see this in Acts 10:47 After Cornelius believed the Gospel, Peter said,
Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptised, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Notice also that Peter commanded them to be baptised, this is not an option.
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptised in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Also in Acts 19: 1—6 We see that water baptism was experienced together on the belief in Jesus Christ.
V5,6 They were baptised in the name of Jesus and were baptised with the Holy Ghost.
Just as the Lord’s table signifies the death of Christ, His body and blood, we remember the Lord’s death till He comes.
There is no merit in the actual elements. Salvation does not come through taking the bread and wine but through faith in what Jesus Christ did at Calvary.
So with baptism in water, there is no merit in the water itself, baptism does not save but belief and trust in what Jesus did on the cross.
Both of these are done out of obedience to Christ.
