“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” – Acts 19:2
It has been observed in the Church that sometimes people have so many doctrinal points they become like doctrinal porcupines, that is, they have so many points they cannot get close to anyone, and no one can get close to them. When that happens it defeats the purpose of the Church because it is by our love that we will be known as followers of Jesus.[1]
Doctrine is important. At the end of his magnum opus on the doctrine of the Church, the Apostle Paul was inspired to write, “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them” (Romans 16:17). “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,” and is given to a great extent, to be “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). But when we speak the truth, we are to speak it in love (Ephesians 4:15). And, as Paul teaches in two of the inspired chapters of Romans, we are to avoid disputing. We are to relate to each other in the Church with the understanding that “we are the Lord’s.” Jesus is our Master. We are to love each other and walk in our convictions by faith. When there are differences in nonessential doctrines, we are to lovingly agree to disagree (cf. Romans 14-15).
This is not to imply the doctrine of the baptism with the Holy Spirit is unimportant. Quite the contrary, trying to serve the Lord in one’s own strength and understanding is a recipe for discouragement, depression, and quite possibly defeat. If we want to live victoriously for the glory of God, we need the help and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. How and when that empowerment occurs is where people differ. Some believe the Holy Spirit empowers a believer at their conversion. Others (me included), believe the empowering of the Holy Spirit comes subsequent to or after conversion. But even in this there are differences of opinion. The bottom line in this topic is that whatever we do we do in the power of the Spirit for the glory of God.
The doctrine of the baptism with the Holy Spirit, a doctrine which by definition overflows the believer with the love of Christ, can at times become a source of division. “Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). When a doctrine about being overflowed with God’s love is reduced to a doctrinal rugby ball to be kicked around and scrummed over, it is very unfortunate. A doctrine meant to overflow the love of the Spirit[2] becoming divisive among those who should be overflowed with that love is so sad, so carnal, Spiritless. Arguing about the empowering love of the Spirit is an oxymoron of the worst kind. I pray whatever side of the issue we fall on, that we would be charitable, gracious, loving, and if necessary, agree to disagree, agreeably. As far as I am concerned, whether you disagree or agree with my teaching here, I am still going to love you.
By offering this series I do not do so to rile up or incite division and doctrinal differences. I present this teaching because I believe it is a great need if not the greatest need of the Church today. I do so because I believe it is true. I believe I have experienced it. If you believe differently I pray we can still come together in fellowship. Whether you believe in the baptism with the Holy Spirit is not necessarily going to prevent the Spirit from empowering you for service. I have learned through many years of ministry that God often works in spite of us. I pray He does that here if need be, no matter what side of the issue we fall on in the case of the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
The Baptismal Connection – Symbol of Death to Self and Surrender to Christ
Acts 19:5 – “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
As seen in Acts 19, water baptism and the baptism with the Holy Spirit are inextricably linked. Baptism is an outward sign of an inner work of the Holy Spirit that the Spirit has regenerated the sinner’s heart and come to indwell the one who puts their faith in Jesus (Titus 3:5). But the coming upon of the Holy Spirit to empower the believer is also closely connected to this symbol.
We see this close connection in the life of our Lord Jesus. The Spirit in the form of a dove descended upon Jesus as he came up from the water at His baptism (Matthew 3:13-17).
In Peter’s message at Pentecost we see the closeness of the link between water baptism and the coming upon of the Holy Spirit on a believer.
Acts 2:38-39 – “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39“For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
Water baptism signifies death to self and surrender to or rising to newness of life in Christ. It signifies giving the entirety of your being to the LORD. Therefore, water baptism is the perfect symbol of the baptism with the Holy Spirit. The person baptized with the Spirit is totally surrendered to being immersed in the Spirit.
The baptism with the Holy Spirit can occur simultaneously with conversion. Sometimes the person who accepts Jesus Christ as Savior is concurrently empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is very possibly what happened when the Gentiles were converted in Acts 10 (Acts 10:44-48). But this is not always the case.
Sometimes the baptism with the Holy Spirit comes after a prolonged period of time during which the Spirit is working on the heart of the believer to show them the necessity and need for His empowerment. We must be open to the diversity of ways in which God works in our lives. The Holy Spirit enters our hearts at conversion (John 3:3-6; 20:22; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). After our conversion, the Holy Spirit comes upon us to empower us for service (John 7:37-39; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4). And the Holy Spirit refreshes us in an ongoing way (Acts 4:31; Ephesians 5:18). But sometimes the first two works of the Spirit mentioned here occur near simultaneously yet remain distinctive from each other.
Did You Receive the Holy Spirit?
The New King James Version of the Bible translates Acts 19:2, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” The King James Version of the Bible translates this verse, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit since you believed?” How the verse is translated can impact how you interpret this verse. If you translate the verse using “when” then you will lean to Paul referring to the initial conversion of these disciples. If you use “since,” then it allows for the idea that a subsequent work of the Spirit is possibly being referred to by Paul. But either “when” or “since,” the point not to be missed here is that Paul observed something lacking in these disciples and was questioning them about it.
I agree with what Pastor Chuck Smith taught on this verse saying:
Paul asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit since (in the old King James translation) they believed. The Greek language will support either translation. Now on the King James translators they had the best Greek scholars in the world at that time who were translating. They choose the translation, “since you believed.” There are those who deny the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a separate experience from salvation. And so to support that position it is necessary that they translate, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” Basically that is the reason why they have chosen that particular translation because it then is in keeping with their theological position. However, the Scripture does teach that there is an experience of empowering by the Holy Spirit that is separate from conversion and subsequent to conversion. [3]
These disciples had been born again of the Spirit, but there was apparently something lacking in terms of the Spirit filled Spirit gifted life. That is what Paul was speaking about. Paul saw something lacking and he wanted what was best for these disciples. That “best” would be the baptism with the Holy Spirit. [4]
Two Baptisms
“Wait a minute, doesn’t the Bible say there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism”? (Ephesians 4:5). Yes it does. But the context in which this statement is made is emphasizing “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). The “one baptism” Paul is speaking about is to emphasize there is “one Lord” in whose name we are to be baptized. The emphasis is that this baptism is not a work or based on open ended doctrinal beliefs, but “one faith” much the same as what Jude meant when he was inspired to write of, “to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). There is only one name in which we are to be baptized. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). No one is contesting these truths here. But what is being said is that, in the name of Jesus, there is a baptism with the Holy Spirit which is an empowerment to serve and forward the “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” And such an empowerment often comes subsequent to the conversion and indwelling of the repentant believer who trusts in Jesus as their Savior.
At conversion baptism is a sign that a person is by the gospel of Jesus Christ burying their sins and old sinful ways (immersed in water) and being resurrected to newness of life (raised out of the water) (e.g., 2 Corinthians 5:17). But baptism can have further meaning for the believer. Baptism is a symbol of dying to self and our sinful life (immersed under the water) and being resurrected to a new selfless servanthood life in Christ (raised out of the water). Baptism is a witness to the world that we are dying to ourselves (self-rule and life of sin) and being raised to a new way of life in the Lord. Jesus was baptized (Mt. 3:13-17). He commanded disciples to be baptized (Mt. 28:19-20). Obedience is evidence of our love of Jesus (John 14:21). It’s the Lord increasing and we decreasing (John 3:30). All of this being a work of the Spirit in and through us for His glory. Therefore, we should obey and be baptized.
The Bible Speaks of Two Baptisms
First, the Bible speaks of being, “Baptized into Christ.” This refers to the believer’s salvation experience and the beginning of the inner working of the Holy Spirit in their lives (John 3:5; Acts 2:38; 10:48; 22:16). We see reference to this baptism in the following passages:
Acts 8:16b – “They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Acts 19:6 – “they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Romans 6:3 – “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?”
Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Also Col. 2:12)
At the baptism of Jesus we are born again, born of the Spirit (John 3:5). The Spirit’s work of sanctification and conforming us to the likeness of Jesus begins at our conversion and spiritual birth (Rom. 8:29).[5] Baptism is an outward sign of God’s inner work of the Spirit in us.
Second, the Bible speaks of being, “Baptized with the Holy Spirit.” This refers to the subsequent empowerment of the believer for service by the Holy Spirit. Jesus referred to this in Acts 1:4-5 saying:
Acts 1:4-5,8 – “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;5 “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” . . . 8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
This is a second work of God, received by grace through faith just as the first work of conversion is (see Acts 15:8-9). At Pentecost, the saved disciples (who are converted and receive the Holy Spirit in them in John 20:20-21), are baptized with the Holy Spirit after their initial saving experience. Another example of this is seen in Acts 8 where the disciples were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, then hands are laid on them and the Spirit comes “upon” them. (8:16). Two works are pictured in these portions of scripture.
Baptism does not save anyone, and it doesn’t necessarily mean a person has been baptized with the Holy Spirit. It is not the outward work but the inward surrender in faith to Jesus, which opens the door to us experiencing the work of the Holy Spirit in and upon us.
The question remains, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2). Or “Did you receive Holy Spirit fruit of live, spiritual giftings and power that accompanies the baptism with the Holy Spirit?” [6]
Laying On of Hands and the Holy Spirit
Acts 19:6 – “And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”
It was when Paul laid hands on these already saved disciples that the Holy Spirit came upon them, empowering them. Indications that they had experienced the Spirit’s empowering are seen in their spiritual gifting to speak in tongues and prophecy.
In the Old Testament we see the laying on of hands associated with blessing (Genesis 48:18), installation to office (Deuteronomy 34:9) and being set apart for service (Numbers 8:10). On the Day of Atonement we see the use of laying on of hands by the worshipper who brings their sacrifice to the Temple. They would lay their hands on the sacrifice as a way of symbolizing the putting of their sins on the sacrifice as it was killed. Laying on of hands in this fashion communicated the seriousness of sin and the need to deal with it through a sacrificial substitute (Leviticus 16:21). The lay on of hands in the Old Testament was for the purpose of identifying oneself with the sacrifice.
In the New Testament Jesus laid His hands on children and prayed for them (Matthew 19:13, 15) and laid His hands on the sick when He healed them (Matthew 9:18). The apostles also laid their hands on those being set apart for ministry (Acts 6:6) and people during healing (Acts 9:17). When people were commissioned for a task hands were laid on them by the leaders (Acts 13:3; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6). Here the laying on of hands communicated connection between the one laying on their hands and the one upon who the hands were laid.
You don’t have to have hands laid on you to receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit as evidenced in Acts 10:44. The laying on of hands is a symbol of unity, acceptance in Christ. It’s an act that communicates, “We’re with you on this.” What better way to symbolize the coming together to life of those who had before been like dry bones spiritually?! There was no magical force in the hands of Paul in Acts 19:6. The laying on of hands communicated to these disciples showed the approval from the apostolic representatives of God.
One word further on the laying on of hands. In Hebrews we are warned to grow beyond elemental things of which “laying on of hands” is listed.
Hebrews 6:1-3 – “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3And this we will do if God permits.”
Don’t get sidetracked by whether you will receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit if someone lays hands on you. Be spiritually mature in your understanding and seek for whatever God has for you and in whatever way He chooses to give it, simply receive it in faith.
Receiving the Baptism with the Holy Spirit
In the gospel of Luke Jesus states:
Luke 11:13 – “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
This tells us a very important truth about being baptized with the Holy Spirit. You don’t have to wait or go through spiritual contortions to receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Receive by faith the empowering for service. Just ask God. Just receive what He has for you IN FAITH.
Perhaps the following illustration will clarify this important truth.
William Randolph Hearst, one of the wealthiest people to have ever lived, in his later years became an obsessive-compulsive collector of art. He bought everything he could and accumulated a tremendous collection. On one occasion he desired a particular sculpture and he dispatched his aides to locate and purchase this rare piece of art. They searched the world looking for this piece of art. They came back and reported the piece could not be found. Randolph Hearst was furious and sent them back out with the command, “Do whatever it takes to get it, but just get it!” He was obsessed with the piece. He sent ten aides out and five months later they returned with news that they had found the art piece. “Where did you find it” Mr. Hearst asked. The head aide said, “Sir, it was in your warehouse, it was there all the time.” (Author unknown)
The same is true of the Holy Spirit. He is there, always has been, always will be. He’s there for the asking. To be baptized with the Holy Spirit doesn’t mean you get more of Him; it means He gets all of you! Since it is a question of your surrendering, how about it, will you give yourself to God for His empowerment and His use? Will you do it now?
The Holy Spirit Doesn’t Make Couch Potatoes
It is true that the Bible states, “Not by might, nor by power but by My Spirit says the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). But that truth should never be manipulated in a way that relegates a person to that of a Christian couch potato! Listen, we need to WALK by faith in the Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Spiritual gifts relate to the baptism with the Holy Spirit (19:6b). Spiritual gifts are given to serve in love, to be used to edify the body of Christ. God wants to involve us in His plans and work. The baptism with the Holy Spirit is an empowerment TO SERVE. THE POWER FROM THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT IS RELEASED WHEN WE STEP OUT IN FAITH AND SERVE. LISTEN, WITHOUT HIM I CAN’T, WITHOUT US, HE WON’T!
If you are dry and feel as though there is something lacking in your walk with the LORD, why not go before the LORD and ask Him to search your heart. Why not go before the LORD and ask Him to send His Holy Spirit upon you? He’s there, just ask Him. Receive and walk in the Spirit. Put out your arm and let the Spirit take you on the divine appointments God has scheduled for you this day, tomorrow and for eternity! Amen.
The Effect When the Spirit Acts
Acts 19:6-10 – “And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all. And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”
When the Apostle Paul laid his hands on these disciples (19:1), “the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.” Speaking in tongues and prophesying are spiritual gifts, supernatural enablements given by the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 2:3 and 4; 10:46; 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28, and 30; 14:1, 5-6, 18-23, 39). Spiritual gifts are the supernatural tools the Holy Spirit gives believers to do the work of ministry. These spiritual giftings are given when He empowers believers. [7]
Ministering 3 months in a synagogue without a major disturbance was a bit of a record for Paul. Paul left when opposition did arise and turned to minister to the Gentiles in Ephesus. Here it says Paul ministered two more years, but in Acts 20:31 it says he was in Ephesus 3 years. This is not really a discrepancy since parts of the year were often counted as years and therefore Paul was in Ephesus between 2 and 3 years ministering.
“The Way.” “The Way” was simply how the early Church was referred to. This way of referring to the Church is found eight times in Acts (Acts 9:2; 16:17; 18:25 and 26; 19:9 and 23; 24:14 and 22). Jesus is “the way” (cf. John 14:6). But what is significant about the “The Way” is that it encompassed all of the Christian teaching, all of what Christianity and the gospel means.
The Baptism with the Holy Spirit doesn’t guarantee people will accept “the Way.” Paul spoke boldly no doubt in the power of the Holy Spirit for three months. He reasoned and persuaded in the Spirit about the kingdom of God. But some rejected the teaching of God’s truth about “the Way.” Some rejected the message. The baptism with and empowering by the Holy Spirit doesn’t circumvent a person’s free will decision to accept or reject the message presented.
Some were hardened and didn’t believe. The phrase “some were hardened” translates a single Greek term esklerunonto (Imperfect/Passive/Indicative of skleruno – to make hard, stubborn, resistant to movement or change). Those hardened “did not believe” (Greek epeithoun – Imperfect/Active/Indicative of the apetheo- disobey, be unpersuaded, be disobedient of disloyal). The idea conveyed by these words is that those who persistently rejected Paul’s message (esklerunonto Imperfect tense) were hardened (esklerunonto Passive Voice). These persistently actively did not believe (epeithoun Imperfect Tense). This was their decision. They chose to reject the message powerfully preached to them by Paul in the Spirit.
You reap what you sow. A person reaps what they sow (Galatians 6:7-9). If you receive the things taught by the Spirit you will be saved from your sins and grow in your faith. If you reject the things taught by the Spirit you will be “hardened.”
Our responsibility is to speak forth in the power of the Spirit, the gospel message. People then must make a decision about whether to accept or reject that message. These words indicate that when someone persists in rejecting the message of the gospel, they are digressively hardened to it. The more you reject the gospel, the less likely you are to ever accept it. The Holy Spirit empowers us to speak God’s truth boldly. The Holy Spirit will work to convict the sinner of their sins (John 16:8-11). The Holy Spirit will work to draw a carnal Christian into a deeper Spirit filled life. But when God’s truth is rejected, hardening always happens.
Sometimes it’s time to move on. When Paul’s message was rejected and some went so far as to “speak evil of the Way” (“evil” – Greek kakologountes – Present/Active/participle of kakologeo – curse, speak evil of, revile, insult), he didn’t force the issue. “He departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning in the school of Tyrannus” (Acts 19:9). Sometimes it’s time to move on. Jesus told us not to cast our pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6). If we obsess and focus on winning an argument, it may result in us neglecting those who will be receptive to the gospel message. We need to follow the leading of the Spirit as Paul did here.
The Holy Spirit doesn’t bypass human free will. The Holy Spirit doesn’t superimpose His will against the will of people. The Holy Spirit empowers His servants to proclaim the truth of “the Way.” The Holy Spirit convicts of sin, He reveals the truth. He reasons with the heart. But then it is up to the individual to receive or reject what He offers.
The Holy Spirit brings people to a point of decision. Then they must decide how they are going to respond to the Spirit’s overtures. Indecision is decision. If you put off a decision either way in an effort to straddle the fence and please everyone, you run the risk of finding yourself left out of heaven and occupying Hell. Again, indecision is a decision. Jesus said, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” (Matthew 12:30).
Power to teach enduringly. Of the school of Tyrannus one commentator adds the following word:
“Apparently Tyrannus made his lecture hall available to traveling teachers. One Greek manuscript adds that the school was available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., when most people would have their noon meal and an afternoon “siesta.” This tradition is probably correct. The rest of each day Paul worked with his own hands (20:34).” [8]
Certainly, Paul took advantage of such an opportunity provided by the Holy Spirit to teach and reason from the scripture. And it was the Holy Spirit Who empowered Paul to share God’s truth with people during this 11 am to 4 pm period each day. The Holy Spirit can invigorate us, opens doors of opportunity, and empower us to teach beyond our own human resources.
Paul was not discouraged by those who rejected his teaching. Paul’s ministry in the Spirit was effective enough to spread the gospel throughout Asia (19:10). Paul didn’t sulk when some rejected his message. He simply moved on to greener pastures where people hadn’t yet heard of “the Way” and where the message would be received.
How you respond to the baptism with the Holy Spirit is something that is between you and Him. But the way you respond will show up in your life. If you reject the empowerment of the Spirit, you will end up a carnal Christian. Without the empowerment of the Spirit any attempts to serve Him will end up frustrating, futile, failure. That doesn’t mean that people will fall down in repentance because you are ministering in the power of the Spirit. That may happen. I hope it does happen to the glory of God. It is not likely to happen without the Spirit. But then again, God is able to work in spite of us. His will, will get done. Join me in praying for the empowerment with the Holy Spirit. Let’s pray to be gushing and overflowing with God’s love for Him and for the lost around us. Let’s pray the Holy Spirit empowers us, and makes us what we need to be, to do what God calls us to do, for His glory, until Jesus returns. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
[1] John 13:35; 15:13
[2] See Paul’s argument that anything not done in love, including the use of spiritual gifts, is worthless – 1 Corinthians 13.
[3] Pastor Chuck Smith Word For Today tape #8018 – Acts 19. 3000 Series
[4] See my discussion in previous parts regarding the meaning of “disciples” and the nature of the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
[5] Note: The Bible does not teach infant baptism, (an infant is unaware and incapable of any experience with God – infants are under God’s grace, and should they die in infancy or in the womb, they would go to be with the Lord.
[6] See my discussion of the anarthrous noun Holy Spirit emphasizing a quality rather than the Person of the Spirit discussed in Part 3 of this series.
[7] Spiritual gifts are discussed in the New Testament in Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4.
[8]Walvoord, John F., and Zuck, Roy B., The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.) 1983, 1985.