Remember: baptism means to be fully immersed, submerged, fully covered over, or fully overwhelmed. At baptism, the Holy Spirit comes fully upon and into a person, overwhelming them, immersing them with Himself. It is a baptism of fire and spiritual power (Matt 3:11; Lu 3:16; Acts 1:8).

Jesus was the first person to be baptized by the Holy Spirit (Matt 3:13-17; Mk 1:9-11; Lu 3:21- 22; Jn 1:32-34). The second time the Holy Spirit baptized people was in Jerusalem, ten days after Jesus had ascended to heaven. Jesus had instructed His disciples to gather in Jerusalem and wait for the Promise of the Father: the Holy Spirit, and over those ten days, one-hundred and twenty of them gathered in an upper room, hiding away from the religious leaders, yet also excited, expectant, waiting, and praying (Act 1:4-5, 8, 14-15).

Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

This was no small commotion. The Holy Spirit’s arrival was loud and the people who had been baptized were loud also. If you can imagine one-hundred and twenty people lifting their voices in loud praise and worship, with no restraint, no holding back, wild and passionate singing, declaring the goodness of God. It drew a crowd.

Acts 2:5-13 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at the sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

This describes the disciples singing in tongues, the supernatural gift of tongues, loudly and spontaneously! Many of the onlookers heard the disciples singing in their native languages. Languages the disciples did not know. Yet they were declaring the goodness of God in unknown languages by the supernatural miracle power of the Holy Spirit.

Some onlookers were amazed. Others were skeptical and mocked. This happens every time the Holy Spirit moves. Some, in faith, are amazed, step in, and want more. Others, hard of heart (this is doubt), reject the Holy Spirit. Some even go so far as to mock… God save us from similar, faithless responses!!

Then Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, got up to explain from the scriptures what was happening:

Acts 2:14-18, 21  Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on My male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out My Spirit, and they shall prophesy ….” 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Dreams, visions, prophecy, supernatural tongues, these are all ours through the Holy Spirit. Young. Old. Men. Women. No person is left out.

There are many in the Church today who reject the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is a rejection of the Holy Spirit, though they deny such a rejection. They futher reject His gifts and have made false teachings to defend their lack of faith and excuse their rejection. The following verses from Acts 2 make it very clear the Holy Spirit baptism and His gifts were given to beleivers in Christ Jesus for all time:

Acts 2:37-39  Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the Promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.”

It’s worth repeating verse 39: the Promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself. This is for all believers, for all time, until Jesus returns.

The effect of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is radical life transformation and a filling with power so potent that the people who received it that day went on to turn the world upside down; and the world has never been the same.

Those in the crowd who responded to Peter’s preaching were immediately brought into salvation and baptized that very day: Acts 2:41 “Those who received [Peter’s] word were baptized, and they were added that day about three thousand souls.”