A New Baptism

Acts 1:1–12 NCV

To Theophilus. The first book I wrote was about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up into heaven. Before this, with the help of the Holy Spirit, Jesus told the apostles he had chosen what they should do. After his death, he showed himself to them and proved in many ways that he was alive. The apostles saw Jesus during the forty days after he was raised from the dead, and he spoke to them about the kingdom of God. Once when he was eating with them, he told them not to leave Jerusalem. He said, “Wait here to receive the promise from the Father which I told you about. John baptized people with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” When the apostles were all together, they asked Jesus, “Lord, are you now going to give the kingdom back to Israel?” Jesus said to them, “The Father is the only One who has the authority to decide dates and times. These things are not for you to know. But when the Holy Spirit comes to you, you will receive power. You will be my witnesses—in Jerusalem, in all of Judea, in Samaria, and in every part of the world.” After he said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud hid him from their sight. As he was going, they were looking into the sky. Suddenly, two men wearing white clothes stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking into the sky? Jesus, whom you saw taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go.” Then they went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. (This mountain is about half a mile from Jerusalem.)

The Book of Acts, also known as The Acts of the Apostles, was written by Luke. In fact, Luke and Acts used to be one book, but it got separated because the first part fit in more with the other gospels, and then you have this history of the early church after Jesus goes back to heaven.

When this book starts, Jesus has already died and risen from the dead, and he has been hanging out with the apostles for 40 days. Finally, it’s time to go back with the Father, but he has some instructions for his apostles first.

Acts 1:4–5 NCV

Once when he was eating with them, he told them not to leave Jerusalem. He said, “Wait here to receive the promise from the Father which I told you about. John baptized people with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Baptized with the Holy Spirit

What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit? Is it the same thing as water baptism?

No. Jesus makes a difference between water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism. And Jesus his disciples had all been water baptized already. So baptism with the Holy Spirit is something different and unique.

To help us understand what it means to be baptized with the Holy Spirit, let’s first think about what regular baptism is and why we do it.

What is the purpose of getting baptized? Can we be saved if we are not baptized? Why do we get baptized?

Now, what do you think it means to be baptized with the Holy Spirit? Why would we want or need to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. What does being baptized with the Holy Spirit do for us?

Acts 1:8 MEV

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

This is why we want the baptism with the Holy Spirit. When you get baptized with the Holy Spirit, he empowers you. He gives you courage to speak to others about Jesus. He also gives you the ability to do miraculous things to show that Jesus really is the Son of God.

Are miracles still real?

Can people be demon-possessed? Can they be set free?

Are you ready to do these things?

How about witnessing? Who have you recently told about Jesus?