What Is Baptism Of The Holy Spirit?
By Allan E. McNabb

The phrase "baptism of the Holy Spirit" does not appear in the Bible.

Religion Today
In the religious community today, "baptism of the Holy Spirit" is a popular phrase used to denote immersion in the Holy Spirit, resulting in the ability to perform miracles. The most frequently cited example of baptism of the Holy Spirit is on Pentecost when the apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5), whereby they received power from the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) to speak in tongues (Acts 2:1-11).

The Apostles
The tongues spoken by the apostles were known human languages (Acts 2:4-11). They did not speak the gibberish spoken by people today, who claim to have received baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is, therefore, obvious that people today do not receive baptism of the Holy Spirit. Or else they, like the apostles, could speak in known human languages which they had never previously spoken.

Cornelius
On only one other occasion, people received baptism of the Holy Spirit. When Peter was directed by the Holy Spirit to preach to the Gentile household of Cornelius (Acts 10),those Gentiles were baptized with the Holy Sprit just as Peter and the other apostles had been baptized. That day, baptism of the Holy Spirit was a sign that God had also granted the Gentiles repentance leading to life (Acts 10:45-48; 11:15-18).

Christians in the Bible, Given Miraculous Power
Other Christians, but not all Christians in the Bible, were given miraculous power to perform miracles. But, they were not immersed in the Holy Spirit as were the apostles and Cornelius. They received the Holy Spirit and the power to do miracles by an apostle praying and laying hands on them (Acts 8:14-19; 19:5-6).

Conclusion
" Baptism of the Holy Spirit" is a term used by men to denote immersion in the Holy Spirit resulting in the ability to perform miracles (Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-11). From the Bible, we must conclude that:

Men only received "baptism of the Holy Spirit" (i.e., immersion in the Spirit to perform miracles) on two occasions - once to the Jews (the apostles on Pentecost) and once to the Gentiles (Cornelius and his household).

People today do not receive "baptism of the Holy Spirit" (i.e., immersion in the Spirit to perform miracles).