One day, while Apollos was in Corinth and Paul was traveling the coastal regions of what is now Turkey, he arrived at Ephesus on the Aegean Sea. Finding certain disciples, he asked, "Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?"
"No," came the reply. "We've never even heard of the Holy Spirit."
Paul said, "What was the point of your baptism?"
"We accepted John's baptism," came the answer.
Paul explained, "What John was doing when he baptized was to call people to repent so that they would put their trust in the one who came after John: Jesus Christ."
On hearing that, the students were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
As Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit fell on them, and they spoke in tongues and their words became powerful. About twelve disciples were present.
"No," came the reply. "We've never even heard of the Holy Spirit."
Paul said, "What was the point of your baptism?"
"We accepted John's baptism," came the answer.
Paul explained, "What John was doing when he baptized was to call people to repent so that they would put their trust in the one who came after John: Jesus Christ."
On hearing that, the students were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
As Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit fell on them, and they spoke in tongues and their words became powerful. About twelve disciples were present.
Paul's missions began about two decades after Christ's death and resurrection. Thus, these students had probably been taught by Jews who received John's baptism before they left Jerusalem. At this point, they may have been viewed by locals as "Christians," even though they were not quite. These ideas of course are speculations.
What is important here is that the manifestations of power passed on by Paul show that he had a special gift of the Spirit for such transfers of God's energy. Important also is the fact that these rudimentary believers did not need a second water baptism. One might characterize the incident at Ephesus as a second blessing. Evidently the Ephesus synagogue had no real Christian sub-congregation, which is why Paul was directed to those men. So in that case external signs of power would help inspire belief in the congregation and in Ephesus.
This incident also shows the necessity of a second blessing for those who have declared faith in Christ, but only in a hollow way. That is, now they need to become really born again by receiving God's Spirit. (They don't need water baptism because they've had that, though receiving it again won't hurt.)
Most adult born-again experiences these days happen before being baptized -- unless you count child baptism. In quite a few cases though, nearly simultaneous water and spirit baptism occurs, especially among people who have barely heard of Jesus.
Notice that Peter and the other disciples received the "baptism of John" before Jesus died and rose again, though it is quite possible they also received water baptism from Jesus before the resurrection. Either way, only some weeks after did they receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
So when they were launching "a nation born in a day," they would never have been satisfied with not passing along the baptism in fire they had just received. But God controlled their tongues and their faith and it was impossible to fail. There may have been some outbursts of demonstrative power among the new believers, but they are not recorded, as far as I know. The people had already seen and heard that "fire." These people needed was to be born again, which for many would showing over time profound changes in character. That's why God gives the Spirit: so Christians become passionate, dedicated lovers of God and their fellow human beings. The Spirit spreads the joy of "just a closer walk with Jesus."
Notice also that the nearly simultaneous baptisms in water and the Spirit agree with Jesus' baptism in water and the Spirit. Personally, being sinless and Spirit-filled, Jesus needed neither the sign of obedience nor the gift. But this was God's way of showing the Jews, and then the Gentiles, that Jesus was the anointed head of God's kingdom and his anointed servant ("son of God").
Also, following the Apostle Paul (Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12), we may see baptism as representing the sinner's death and burial with Christ, who then raises the newly born person from a spiritual grave up into the light of life with God.
Romans 6:4 (KJV)
What is important here is that the manifestations of power passed on by Paul show that he had a special gift of the Spirit for such transfers of God's energy. Important also is the fact that these rudimentary believers did not need a second water baptism. One might characterize the incident at Ephesus as a second blessing. Evidently the Ephesus synagogue had no real Christian sub-congregation, which is why Paul was directed to those men. So in that case external signs of power would help inspire belief in the congregation and in Ephesus.
This incident also shows the necessity of a second blessing for those who have declared faith in Christ, but only in a hollow way. That is, now they need to become really born again by receiving God's Spirit. (They don't need water baptism because they've had that, though receiving it again won't hurt.)
Most adult born-again experiences these days happen before being baptized -- unless you count child baptism. In quite a few cases though, nearly simultaneous water and spirit baptism occurs, especially among people who have barely heard of Jesus.
Notice that Peter and the other disciples received the "baptism of John" before Jesus died and rose again, though it is quite possible they also received water baptism from Jesus before the resurrection. Either way, only some weeks after did they receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
So when they were launching "a nation born in a day," they would never have been satisfied with not passing along the baptism in fire they had just received. But God controlled their tongues and their faith and it was impossible to fail. There may have been some outbursts of demonstrative power among the new believers, but they are not recorded, as far as I know. The people had already seen and heard that "fire." These people needed was to be born again, which for many would showing over time profound changes in character. That's why God gives the Spirit: so Christians become passionate, dedicated lovers of God and their fellow human beings. The Spirit spreads the joy of "just a closer walk with Jesus."
Notice also that the nearly simultaneous baptisms in water and the Spirit agree with Jesus' baptism in water and the Spirit. Personally, being sinless and Spirit-filled, Jesus needed neither the sign of obedience nor the gift. But this was God's way of showing the Jews, and then the Gentiles, that Jesus was the anointed head of God's kingdom and his anointed servant ("son of God").
Also, following the Apostle Paul (Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12), we may see baptism as representing the sinner's death and burial with Christ, who then raises the newly born person from a spiritual grave up into the light of life with God.
Romans 6:4 (KJV)
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.Colossians 2:12 (KJV)
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
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