...Baptism of the Holy Spirit...

“1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the inland regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. 2 He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ 3 Then he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ They answered, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ 4 Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.’ 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied — 7 altogether there were about twelve of them” ACTS 19:1-7.

Paul leaves Greece and heads to Ephesus, which is preset-day Turkey. 

There Paul meets some disciples who were “Baptized in the way commanded by John”. This confession shows that the men were followers of John the Baptist but knew only a little about Jesus. Somehow knowledge of Jesus, separate from the Christian message about His resurrection and the outpouring of the Spirit, seems to have spread to Ephesus and probably elsewhere.

Paul therefore reminded the group of what John the Baptist himself had said. His own baptism had been associated with repentance: it provided a divine opportunity of repentance (cf. 5:31; 11:18) and at the same time had to be accompanied by a changed heart and a changed way of life. But John himself had told the people of the coming of the “stronger One”, with the implication that they should believe in him (John 1: 26-3: 25). John promised them that the coming “Stronger One” would baptize with the Holy Spirit. 

Paul makes it clear to his hearers that the “coming One” was Jesus, and then he tells them the news that the “coming One” had now poured out the Spirit. Their response to the message was to be baptized in the name of Jesus. This is the only case recorded in the New Testament of people receiving a second baptism, and it took place only because their previous baptism was not Christian baptism in the name of Jesus. As part of the Baptism Paul also laid his hands upon the men, and at that moment the Spirit came on them, His presence being signified by the gifts of tongues and prophecy. Laying on of hands is also associated with the gift of the Spirit in Acts 8: 17. 

It seems that the laying on of hands was a special act of fellowship, incorporating the baptized into the church. This was necessary to make it clear to these members of a semi-Christian group that they were now becoming part of the universal church. This story demonstrates that Paul had the same authority as Peter and John to convey the gift of the Spirit.

The effect of the baptism was to produce “charismatic” — or outward —  manifestations of the Spirit. It is clear from the other stories of conversion in Acts that such manifestations were not the general rule. It seems that some unusual gift was perhaps needed to convince this group of “semi-Christians”

that they were now fully members of Christ's church.

Today, we can find groups and churches where such displays of the Holy Spirit are normal, common occurrences. So we can all expect to continue to see the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, present itself is remarkable ways. Remember that you have been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit! 

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy in me a sinner.