Acts 19:1-7 “And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples (2) he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So, they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." (3) And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So, they said, "Into John's baptism." (4) Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." (5) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (6) And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. (7) Now the men were about twelve in all.”
In this final account, we see the apostle Paul laying hands on new converts that he has just witnessed to. For although he initially thought that they were saved, he found out that they were only John’s disciples, and had not yet been saved. Notice the very important question that Paul asks them when he initially speaks to them, thinking that they are already saved, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" Obviously, Paul asks this question because he clearly understands that being filled with the Holy Spirit is an event that takes place subsequent to salvation. Paul then leads them to salvation in Christ, and afterwards he lays hands on them so that they can receive the Holy Spirit. In this instance, when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, they not only speak in tongues, but they also prophesy. The phenomenon of the disciples prophesying when filled with the Holy Spirit is unique to this occurrence. Nevertheless it does reinforce the fact that when the saints are filled with the Holy Spirit that in some instances, the Spirit imparts gifts other than just tongues, but notice that the gift of tongues is still manifested first. And so, we see in this account that every one of the believers that Paul laid hands on received the Holy Spirit. Every disciple was filled with the Holy Spirit, after they were saved. And every disciple filled, spoke with other tongues. And so, in summarising what we have seen in these five accounts of being filled with the Holy Spirit; we see that the saints can be filled either directly from heaven or through the laying on of hands. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a subsequent experience to being born again. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is available to all the saints. All saints can expect to speak in tongues when they are filled. While some may also receive certain spiritual gifts, e.g. prophecy, some may experience the tangible power of God, some may tremble under that power, some may fall under that power, some may weep and some may laugh.
Michael E.B. Maher
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