Question 169: Kindly explain Acts 2:38 and 8:15, 16. E. C. D.
Answer: In Acts 1:4, 5 the Lord Jesus commanded His disciples to wait for the promise of the Father to send the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). About one hundred and twenty waited in prayer for about ten days. In chapter 2, the Holy Spirit comes, and those become the Church, or assembly on earth.
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. The crowd came together and were amazed, for though they were out of every nation, each could hear in his own tongue, the wonderful works of God. In verse 5 we are told they were pious men; men who already were born again, they were godly Jews. There were also mockers present to oppose. God, through the preaching of Peter, convinced many of their guilt in crucifying the Lord, whom God had raised up and made both Lord and Christ, these ask, “What shall we do?” Peter answers, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” “Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” Three thousand gladly received his word and were baptized. The apostles administer this blessing. (Compare John 20:23.)
In Acts 8 we see another special dealing of God. The Church is scattered from Jerusalem except the apostles, and they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. The blessing here widens out to “the streets and lanes of the city” (Luke 14:21), but not yet to “the highways and hedges” or Gentiles (Luke 14:23). Philip goes to Samaria, and many there received Christ whom he preached, “There was great joy in that city.” They were also baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, that is, by His authority, yet none of them had so far received the Holy Spirit. When the apostle at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent Peter and John, who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit, then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. It seemed the wisdom of God to withhold the Spirit till the Samaritans were identified with Jerusalem, so that they would know that they are all one Church. Before this the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans. In this chapter the Eunuch (a Jewish proselyte) is brought in. In Acts 10, we have a godly company of Gentiles. God accepted their prayers and alms (Acts 10:4). God prepares Peter, and prepares them, by a vision to receive what Peter is to tell them. Peter tells them of Christ’s life, death and resurrection and that He is the appointed Judge and Savior; that all the prophets bear witness, that “through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the word. The disciples who came with Peter were astonished, that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit, for they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Peter sees plainly that God has accepted them, and so answered, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?” They could not refuse them their place in the Church or assembly; nay, more, “In the name of the Lord,” he commanded them to be baptized. This authority was given to Peter (Matt. 16:19). Notice in the three cases of Speaking with tongues in the Acts, it is connected with intelligent ministry: preaching, magnifying God, and prophesying. Notice again, that baptism with water is not obedience on the part of the ones baptized, but the act of the professed servant of God, who by it, gives them the privilege that places them in the new position as the Church, the house of God. To this they gladly submit. The Holy Spirit is given to those who believe on Christ, and know his finished work has cleansed them from their sins (John 7:39; Eph. 1:13). He sheds abroad in our hearts the love of God (Rom. 5:5). He enables us to cry, “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15). He bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God (verse 16). He helps our infirmities in prayer (verse 26).
We do not hear of any individual in Scripture being baptized with the Holy Spirit. Baptism of the Spirit is the forming of believers, both Jews and Gentiles, into one body (1 Cor. 12:13). This cannot be repeated. Individual believers are sealed with the Spirit (Eph. 1:13).