I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Mark 1:8 NET
All four gospels record John the Baptist telling the crowds that, while he was baptizing with water, another one was coming who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit. Then, in Acts 1:5, Jesus told his disciples that while John had baptized with water, they would soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
This baptism of the Holy Spirit came just a few days after Jesus’ announcement. Acts 2:1-4 describes this baptism in a dramatic fashion—a blowing wind, tongues of fire, and speaking in tongues. As the rest of Acts shows, the disciples were transformed by this experience.
Acts records three other times when people dramatically received the Holy Spirit. The first was when Peter and John laid hands on the Samaritan believers (Acts 8:14-17). Then, after Peter had shared with Cornelius (Acts 10:44-48; 11:15-17). And finally, with a small group of men in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-7).
What Is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
So what is this baptism of the Holy Spirit? And when does it occur? Two expressions were used to describe this event—receiving the Spirit and being baptized by the Spirit. This is most clearly seen in the story of Cornelius. In Acts 10:47, Peter noted that Cornelius and company had received the Holy Spirit. But in Acts 11:16, as he is recounting what took place, he refers back to Jesus’ words recorded in Acts 1:5, that the Holy Spirit would baptize them.
One last mention of being baptized by the Holy Spirit comes in 1 Corinthians 12:13, where Paul said, “We were all baptized by one Spirit to form one body.” Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the common experience of all believers. It is this baptism of the Spirit that immerses us into the body of Christ.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit does not usually manifest itself with visible signs like speaking in tongues. But all believers, when they believe in the Lord Jesus, receive this gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). It is the Holy Spirit living in us that enables us to live a life pleasing to God (Rom. 8:1-17). Apart from his presence, we do not belong to Christ (Rom. 8:9-11).
