Holy Ghost Baptism
Jesus Christ administered the baptism of the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost, when He poured out the Holy Ghost in superabundance upon the 120, inundating and immersing them in His glorious Presence.
1. John the Baptist specifically prophesied the baptism with the Holy Ghost (Matt 3:11; Luke 3:16; John 1:33).
2. Jesus specifically prophesied the baptism with the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:5). It was to be an event taking place a few days after our Lord’s ascension.
3. The baptism occurred on the Day of Pentecost, just as Jesus had prophesied ten days earlier (Acts 2:1-4). The Person of the Holy Ghost filled the place where they were assembled, and they were immersed, buried, and covered with His glorious Presence.
4. Peter understood that the giving of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost and to Cornelius fulfilled the prophecy of the baptism with the Holy Ghost (Acts 11:15-18).
5. The baptism of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost fulfilled the prophecy of Joel about the pouring out of God’s Spirit in the last days (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:16-21).
6. The visible evidence of the baptism with the Holy Ghost were miraculous signs and wonders, which were to last the prophesied period of forty years from Pentecost to the destruction of Jerusalem (Micah 7:15; I Cor 13:8-13; Acts 2:20-21; I Tim 5:23).
7. During the time of reformation (Heb 9:10; Luke 16:16), which corresponds precisely to the forty years of miracles, the baptism with the Holy Ghost was sometimes not associated with water baptism (Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-20; 10:44-47; 19:5-7) in order to reveal the will of God and exalt apostolic authority.
8. But sincere and true baptism is the general condition for receiving the New Testament Presence of the Holy Ghost (John 7:39; Acts 2:38-39; Eph 1:13-14; Gal 3:14).