Correspondence: Acts 2:38, 10:44,19:6 in Connection with the Holy Spirit
• 2 min. read • grade level: 7
Spirit? A. S.
Ans. In Acts 2:3838Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38) we find Peter's answer to the question of the Jews who were pricked in their hearts, and anxious to know what to do. They had to separate from that untoward generation that crucified the Lord. They show their repentance by doing so, and owning the Name of the crucified One. They are baptized unto Him, then God, through the apostles, gives them the Holy Spirit, and the forgiveness of their sins. This is administrative, as in John 20:2323Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. (John 20:23).
In Acts 8:14-1714Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:14‑17), we see that the Samaritans were not sealed, though they were truly saved believers, till Peter and John came down from Jerusalem, and with prayer, laid their hands on them. This was evidently God's way of securing the unity of the Spirit, and thus healing the schism between the Jew and the Samaritan, and manifesting that the Church is one in Jerusalem and Samaria. Laying on of hands expresses this unity.
In Acts 10:43, 4443To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (Acts 10:43‑44), it is Gentiles, and God, in this way. compelled Peter and the Jews to receive them. He teaches Peter to say, "Whosoever," and the Gentiles heard and believed, and God sealed them. Then Peter demanded, who could forbid their reception into the House of God on earth, seeing God had made them members of the body of Christ? (1 Cor. 12:1313For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:13).) So Peter, in the name of the Lord, commanded their baptism.
In Acts 19:66And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. (Acts 19:6), we have believers, who did not know the Holy Spirit had come. They were disciples according to John's baptism. Paul instructs them in the truth of Christ glorified, and that the Holy Spirit had come. (John 7:3939(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:39).) John's baptism did not put them under the name of the Lord Jesus; this had to be done, and Paul, as an apostle, identified them thus with the Church by laying his hands upon them. It was a complete change in their position from Jew to Church of God. Then the Holy Spirit came upon them.
Now, Jew and Gentile are concluded in unbelief. (Rom. 11:3232For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. (Romans 11:32).) We treat them both alike; we would baptize either Jew or Gentile, on seeing them happy in the Lord. We could not now baptize them to get the forgiveness of sins, and the Holy Ghost.