Acts 2:1-4

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

John the Baptist foretold that Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. God told John the one who would administer that baptism was the one "Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him". No mere apostle could baptize someone with the Holy Spirit. It had to be the Son of God. Of course, that same Son must one day baptize some with the fire of judgment (Matthew 3:1012; John 1:31-34; Revelation 20:1415; 21:8).

It should be remembered that baptism involves an immersion or overwhelming. Paul helps one understand the meaning of baptism in Colossians 2:12. "Buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." The apostle to the Gentiles viewed baptism as a burial.

The mother of James and John asked for her sons to be seated on Jesus' right hand. He asked if they were able to be baptized as he would be (Matthew 20:2023). The context makes it plain he was speaking of a baptism of suffering. As Nichols says, "It was an overwhelming of suffering, and a submersion, as it were in what is figuratively referred to as an 'element' of suffering" (1 Peter 3:18). Similarly, when the word baptism is used in connection with the Holy Spirit, it "carries with it the idea (although figuratively expressed) of the amount of the Holy Spirit given and received in the case" (Nichols, p. 89).

Pentecost

The first feast of the Jewish year was Passover. Passover was always on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month of Abib, which was the first month (Exodus 12:2; Exodus 13:4). The second feast followed fifty days later. In the New Testament it is called Pentecost (Acts 2:1; Acts 20:16; 1 Corinthians 16:8). "This feast has three names in the Old Testament; they are 'feast of weeks' (Exodus 34:22; Deuteronomy 16:10), 'feast of harvest' (Exodus 23:16), and 'day of firstfruits' (Numbers 28:26)," according to Boles.

He went on to explain that "it came at the end of the reaping season, when all the wheat and barley had been cut and gathered. It was held at the central sanctuary. (Deuteronomy 16:11.) The people were expected to assemble at the place of the altar and hold their celebration." Pentecost was a happy celebration of God's great provision. Freewill offerings were made with a special emphasis placed upon doing good for the Levites, strangers, orphans and widows (Deuteronomy 16:10-14).

The Promise of the Father

Remember, just before his ascension to the throne in heaven, Jesus told his apostles to wait in Jerusalem "for the Promise of the Father, 'which,' He said, 'you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.'" He also promised they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. In Luke 24:49, Jesus said, "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." In contrast to the baptism of the great commission, which was a command, the baptism of the Holy Spirit was a promise.

The ones who first received the promise were to go into all the world preaching the gospel (Acts 1:18; compare Luke 24:46 49). Since a pronoun always refers to its antecedent, one must go back all the way to Acts 1:2 to discover the "you" of verse 8 refers to the apostles. The Holy Spirit played a significant role in the fulfillment of the command to go into all the world. As the Lord said, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you" (John 14:26).

The first physical evidence the Promise had come was a sound like a rushing, mighty wind which filled the house in which the apostles were sitting. We know the "they" of 2:1 refers to the apostles because 1:26 tells us Matthias was numbered with the eleven. As a second evidence, divided tongues which looked like fire appeared to them and sat on each of them. Finally, each spoke in a language he had never studied. In these ways, the Holy Spirit's presence was made known (Acts 2:1-4).