When did the disciples receive the Holy Spirit?John 20:22?Acts 2:1-4?

Being saved versus the Baptism of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands. Are they one event, or two separate events. Is there a difference between the two?

What does the Bible have to say about these two events?

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit versus Salvation

I. Question #1: Is every Christian, those who are "born-again", also baptized in the Holy Spirit, that is, is the baptism in the Holy Spirit automatically received with Salvation?

A. Read John 20:22
"And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and *said to them, "22. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:"
The context of this passage is the time between the resurrection and the ascension of Jesus. Here Jesus breathes on His apostles, they RECEIVE the Holy Spirit (that is, they are "born-again", i.e. "saved") and the Holy Spirit come to live in the heart of the believer. However, the “baptism in the Holy Spirit” , where the Holy Spirit comes upon the believer, occurs on Pentecost, 50 days later.
B. Read Luke 24:49
"And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed (endued) with POWER from on high."

C. Read Acts 1:5
"for John baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many many days from now."
Again the same promise, and we realize that this baptism will come upon the believer (Luke 24:49) and the apostles are ordered not to leave the city of Jerusalem (by Jesus, before He was taken up into heaven, before His ascension).

D. Read Acts 2:3 “3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. Then, in 2:4 we read : "And they were ALL filled with the HOLY GHOST and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance."

This is the point where the apostles received the baptism IN the Holy Spirit, when the Holy Spirit comes UPON the believer. However as we have seen there existed a period of time between where they RECEIVED the Holy Spirit and were BAPTIZED IN the Holy Spirit. These were separate acts and each have a different reason. Salvation comes with receiving the Holy Spirit, that is we are saved from the penalty of sin. We become sons of God, that is we receive the authority to act as the sons of God. [u]With the baptism in the Holy Spirit we receive the power to act as the sons of God [/u](incidentally, there is a third level where we receive the direction to act as a son of God).

II. Question #2: Ok, I can see that the apostles were first saved and THEN baptized in the Holy Spirit later, but what about ordinary people like me?

A. Read Acts 8:5
"And Philip went down to the city of Samaria and began proclaiming CHRIST to them."
B. Read Acts 8:8
"And there was much JOY in that city."
C. Read Acts 8:12
"But when they BELIEVED Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike."
They were preaching the message of Jesus and His offer of Salvation. They also accepted the message and signs which Philip brought, thus they were "born-again".
D. This is just what Jesus said in Mark 16:15 and 16 "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
He who has BELIEF and has been BAPTIZED shall be SAVED; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned."
At this point the people of Samaria are born-again, but nothing has been said, one way or the other, about BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
E. Read Acts 8:14 through 17
"Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they SENT them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them, that they might RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST.

For He (The Holy Ghost) had not yet FALLEN UPON ANY of them; they had simply been baptized in the NAME of the Lord Jesus.
Then they began laying their hands on them , and they RECEIVED the Holy Spirit."

Thus, we see that the people of Samaria first were born-again, then baptized in the Holy Spirit later; this is just what we saw with the apostles themselves.

[b]III. Question #3: Are there other examples of people first being born-again?[/b]
A Read Acts 19:1 through 6
"And it came about that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found some disciples, and he said to them, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you BELIEVED ?' And they said to him, 'No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit'. And he said, 'Into what then were you baptized? And they said, 'Into John's baptism', And Paul said, 'John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling people to believe in Him who was coming after Him, that is Jesus.' And when they heard this, they were baptized in the NAME of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul LAID HIS HANDS UPON THEM, the HOLY SPIRIT came on them , and they began speaking with tongues and they were prophesying.

The people had believed the message preached by John about Jesus, they were believers, THEY WERE "SAVED" OR "BORN AGAIN". However they were never taught to be water baptized as the completion of righteousness (enter the death and resurrection as a symbolic act)-they were baptized only for repentence. Also, they were NOT BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.[b] When Paul told them of these things, first they were water baptized in the NAME of Jesus and second he LAID HANDS on them and they were baptized in the Holy Spirit.[/b]

[color=990000][b]Thus, these examples from God's Word explain what really happens to the average believer. The BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST is an entirely separate event that takes place by the LAYING ON OF HANDS. Each of us can see from the above that we do receive the Holy Spirit at the new birth, when we are saved, but CAN STILL NOT BE BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, where the believer receives the overflow, where the believer receives power.[/color][/b]

[b]IV. Question #4: Does this mean that some large period of time must pass between the new birth and the baptism in the Holy Spirit?[/b]

A. Read Acts 10:44 through 48

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the Word (Gospel).
And all the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 'Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he? And he ordered them to be baptized in the NAME of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay for a few days.

These people were Gentiles who were not raised knowing God, they were God fearing people, they were good people. They asked Peter to come deliver the message of salvation because God told them to do so in a vision. These people were not Christians, that is, they were not "saved" or "born-again". Peter delivered the salvation message as stated in verses 34 to 43, in verse 43 he specifically defined the requirement to be "saved", "Of Him all prophets bear witness that through HIS NAME everyone who BELIEVES in Him receives forgiveness of sins". After this they were all baptized in the Holy Spirit. Here the group is preached to, they believed and thus were "born-again". Immediately after the new birth they were baptized in the Holy Spirit, even before the water baptism. This is the only case in the New Testament where this is seen, the normal case is first salvation, then later the baptism in the Holy Spirit.

[b]V. Question #5: Is there a Scripture which lists the sequence of steps toward the baptism in the Holy Spirit?[/b]

A. Read Ephesian 1:13
"In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of PROMISE,"
The steps to the baptism in the Holy Spirit are 1) listen to the message of truth (the gospel), 2) believe the message (become saved), and 3) then be baptized in the Holy Spirit.

[b]VI. Question #6: How does God decide who to baptize in the Holy Spirit?[/b]
A. Read Luke 11:13
"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your[b] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ASK Him?"[/b]

First off, God is not the Father of the evil people, Satan is their father! Secondly, if God is your Father you are His child. If you are a child or a son of God then you are born again, i.e. saved. Read John 7:38 and 39, "'He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.' But this He spoke of the spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive, for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified." Thus, first we must be a child of God, then last and most important we must ask for the gift of the baptism IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.Thus first we must be a child of God, then last and most important we must ASK FOR THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

[b]God does not make the decision as to who He baptizes, we must as children of God request the baptism from our heart. Christ’s word tells us “yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” (James 4:2)[/b]

Acts 8:17-19
17.\t[b]Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.[/b] 18. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19. Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

Acts 9:
17.\tAnd Ananias went his way, and entered into the house;[b] 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.[/b]

Acts 13

1. Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
3. And when they had fasted and prayed, [b]and laid their hands on them, [/b]they sent them away.
4. [b] So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia;[/b] and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

Acts 19
5. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6. [b] And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.[/b]

Acts 19
11.\t[b]And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:[/b]

Acts 28
8.\tAnd it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in,[b] and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.[/b]

1 Timothy 4: 14. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, [b]with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.[/b]
15. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

1 Timothy 5: 22. [b] Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.[/b[

2 Timothy 1:2-7
2. To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3. I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;
4. Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;
5. When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
6. Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God,[b] which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.[/b]
7. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Hebrews 6
1. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of[b]aying on of hands, [/b]of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3. And this will we do, if God permit.

[color=990000][b]The Laying on of Hands is something that most of the modern Church has rejected![/color][/b]

Sincerley,

Walter

anonymity wrote:
Good question. Some say that they received the Holy Spirit after Jesus rose and then that on the day of Pentecost they received the Holy Spirit in power. In other words the Holy Spirit came into them and the upon them. Some call the second anointing as the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

When did the disciples receive the Holy Spirit?John 20:22?Acts 2:1-4?

To DeepThinker

I prefer to dwell in the Bible Camp. All of my "Doctrine" is derived from the Bible. I think if we all stayed deep in the Bible Camp, we wouldn't need so many different Denominations.

Sincerely,

Walter

It all depends on what camp you dwell in. If your a Baptist then John 20:22, if your Pentecostal then Acts 2:1-4. This sounds ridiculous I know, but you'd be surprised how these camps derive their doctrine.

What an awesome Testimony, Anonymity!

I was saved for many years and then I asked God for a closer, more personal, deeper walk. Six months later both my wife and myself received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (the over-flow) by the laying on of hands at a Bible Study. This Baptism has revolutionized our Christian walk.

Sincerely,

Walter

anonymity wrote:
Walter,

I think from this post and other that you may be a Calvary Chapel attendee or something.

Anyways, I wanted to share something about my conversion in context to this. I was not yet saved but started to go to a bible study to get saved. I had been going for a few months and trying to participate. I prayed the sinners prayer and nothing really happened. The Holy Spirit had been doing a lot of work on me in these meetings. I knew that there was something different in Christians and I wanted it. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was being preached on. I knew that Christians had this of the Holy Spirit and this message of not being only words but in power appealed to me. My aunt who was a Christian and was with me asked me if I would like to go forward and pray. I had been feeling the urge to go forward. However, I said I have already prayed and nothing happened I want to get baptized in the Holy Spirit. I think I may have thought I was already saved in some light contradictive way. I went forward and knowing I would receive not even trying to believe just unconsciously of efforted faith knew. I went up to the pastors and asked them to lay hands on me so that I could receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They asked are you saved and I said yes. So they laid hands on me and immediately the Holy Spirit fell on me in real power and I began to weep under conviction for in reality I was not yet saved. I continued to weep and was embarrased so I rushed to the restroom. Jesus encountered me there revelationally spiritually and sins were brought up to my mind I knew I would go to hell for and so I cried to Jesus to forgive my sins and then I was forgiven and filled with the Holy Spirit and born again.

All of my "Doctrine" is derived from the Bible