Holy Spirit Baptism and Tongues

Holy Spirit Baptism and Tongues

Collin Leong 

May 24, 2024

The reason I wrote this article is due to some controversies among individuals and churches about when the Holy Spirit comes into us, and how it is related to the speaking in tongues. There may be many opinions, but I'm focusing on those I have heard or read often, in order to make this document simpler. 

There are those that says Holy Spirit baptism does not come immediately after acceptance of Jesus. It will come later after people (or yourself) pray for the Holy Spirit to dwell in you. Some say the tongues are the evidence that the Holy Spirit had baptised you. As said, there are different variation and combination of these statements from different people/churches. The passages they based on are in Acts.  

Holy Spirit Baptism was first mentioned by Jesus Christ in Acts 1:4-5 - "And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

A. Is It True That We Receive the Holy Spirit Later Than Salvation? 

The first question is whether the Holy Spirit comes into your soul later than the moment you receive Christ as your savior. 

An example where the Holy Spirit comes into the believers later than their salvation was the Samarians believers in Acts 8:14-17 -  "Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit."

The Samaritans became Christians from the preaching of evangelist Philip, and was baptized by him in the name of the Lord Jesus. However, they did not receive the Holy Spirit. Peter and John laid their hands on them, and only then they received the Holy Spirit.  

Another event that people assume the Holy Spirit came late is in Acts 19:1-7 - "And he (Paul) said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them..."

This event happened in Ephesus, when Paul visited that city. These were people who followed John the Baptists, and went through his water baptism to repent. However, they did not receive the Holy Spirit then. 

So why these two groups of people did not receive the Holy Spirit the moment they believe? 

For John the Baptist's disciples, it's simple to explain. It's that they haven't really accepted the Lord Jesus yet. They went through the water baptism by John for repentance only.  For these group of people, Paul had to explain that John was pointing to Jesus, and the Holy Spirit came into them when they accepted Christ as their savior. 

What about the Samaritans? They believe in Jesus after Philip preached to them. This is definitely after the Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was given to automatically come into new believers. I believe the delay has something to do with bringing the Jewish apostles to the Samaritans. 

These Samaritans intermarried with foreigners planted by the Assyrians, resulting in a mixed population of half-Jewish, half-Gentile people. They developed their own religious practices centered around Mount Gerizim, which they considered the true place of worship. The Jews, on the other hand, regarded the temple in Jerusalem as the sole legitimate place of worship. (John 4:1–42). The relationship between Jews and Samaritans was marked by deep-seated animosity and tension.

When Peter and John laid their hands on them, it symbolized the unity of Jews and Samaritans in the Kingdom of God. It proves to the apostles that God accepted the Samaritans as His child. This changes the enable the Jewish Christians to break their cultural mode and accept the Samaritans Christians. 

Other than the Samaritan event, there are no other verses that indicate any delays in the Holy Spirit baptism on believers. For the case of the gentile believers in Acts 10:44-47, they immediately receive the Holy Spirit the moment they were saved, even before Peter finished his preaching and before anyone who prayed for them to receive the Holy Ghost. 

If it is true that there delays, we would expect to hear more of these "delayed" cases, and not just one. We can conclude that the Holy Spirit comes into us the moment we sincerely accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior. This is what Holy Spirit Baptism means - and cannot be prayed for re-enter you, if you have been saved.  However, we can continually pray for others and ourself to be filled by the Holy Spirit, to enable us to serve God effectively. 

B. What About The Disciples - wasn't there a delay? 

In the case of the 11 disciples, they would have believed in Christ when they were following him. However, they did not receive any Holy Spirit, until the resurrected Jesus breath in the Spirit into them.  John 20:22 says, “.... He (Jesus) breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’”  This is a unique event, and only Jesus had the special authority to give the Holy Spirit to the apostles before the Pentecost. 

However, some people say they also receive the Holy Spirit during Pentecost: “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:1-4)

If this is the case, then they would have received the Holy Spirit twice. This would be ridiculous!  However, this is not the case. There was no "Holy Spirit baptism" or "receiving the Holy Spirit" here. It only said that they were "filled with the Holy Spirit", which was already in them. The words used here are different from those used in the case of the Samaritans and John the Baptist's disciples - there were explicit description that the Holy Spirit came to them or that they received the Holy Spirit. 

It was the "tongues of fire" that activated the filling of the indwelling spirit, as it came to rest on each of them. We need to understand what is this "tongue of fire." The word "fire" when applied to God or Jesus symbolize several things:

1. God's Glory and Holiness - Hebrews 12:29 said "For our God is a consuming fire." when asking believers to offer to God acceptable worship, implying His purity and holiness. Eg, Moses saw the burning bush, representing God's presence. (Exo 3) Similarly, His glory was symbolized by fire at night in the Tabernacle. (Exo 40). 

2. God's Judgement and Wrath - Isaiah 66:15 said: “For behold, the LORD will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to render his anger in fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.”  We see the reality of punishment by fire in Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19), Aaron's sons (Levi 10); and the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:14-15). 

3. Purification and Transformation - Zechariah 13:9 said: “And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”  This speaks of God's process of testing us and transforming us to be like Jesus. 1 Peter 1:7 said that "“So that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

The "tongue of fire" that came to rest on the disciples is for the purpose of giving them the power to speak in other languages, through the filling of the indwelling Spirit.  Even those who thinks that the tongue of fire was the Holy Spirit, note that the tongue of fire did not enter them. They only "rested" on them. 

This is similar to the Old Testament, when the Spirit came "upon" them (not into them), it gave them special empowerment to do what God wants them to do, such as prophesying and doing what is impossible for humans to do (i.e. miracles). For example, Moses (Num 11:14-29); King Saul (1 Sam 10:5-11); "not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit" (Zech 4:6); 

In the same way, we read that the Spirit of God descend on Jesus after his water baptism. Jesus, the son of God, already have the Spirit in his human soul. The Spirit "descend and alighted" on Him was to show everyone who He is, and to enable and empower him to start his ministry. (Matthew 3:16-17)

In conclusion, Acts 2:1-4 has nothing to do with Holy Spirit baptism. You cannot receive the Holy Spirit multiple times - it only happens once and forever. 

C. Transitioning from Old Covenant to New Covenant

Note that Acts is the book that describe a transitioning of Old Covenant to New Covenant. Before Pentecost, and throughout the Old Testament, no one who had faith in God or in Jesus receives the Holy Spirit's coming in to dwell with them.   

An example, the Spirit came upon King Saul in 1 Samuel 10:10. but left him in 1 Samuel 16:14. It came to Saul was to equip him to be a King. But when David was anointed as Israel's king by Samuel, the Holy Spirit came upon David, and left Saul.  David knew that the Spirit may come and may go according to God's decisions. He prayed to God “Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:11).  All the Old Testament prophets, including Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, and even Samson who had the Spirit temporary only and for specific tasks. 

However, in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit will stay in us permanently. Paul said that "the Spirit of God lives in you"  (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20). Jesus himself said "I will never leave you nor forsake you" and if so, the Holy Spirit will also do the same. (Hebrews 13:5) 

However, God has give a day and hour for the "transition" to happen. When Jesus said: "you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:5), He meant that the transition will happen on the coming Pentecost day. The Holy Spirit will then indwell permanently in those who believe. This day was considered the time when the Church was born.

D. Why did the people speak in tongues when they receive the Holy Spirit?

Some churches read Acts and conclude that those who receive the Holy Spirit baptism will speak in tongues. Some said if you cannot speak in tongues, you are not saved. Others tone down a bit, and say the main evidence that you are baptized by the Holy Spirit is the ability to speak in tongues. 

Regardless, they put a very important emphasis on the ability to speak in tongues for Christians. If you cannot speak in tongues, you are either unsaved, or you are not holy enough. As such you need to change your life, you need to repent, and/or be prayed for to receive the baptism, so that you can speak in tongues. 

Let's examine the verses in Acts that said people spoke in tongues after receiving the Holy Spirit, to see if they were right. There are only three events were people spoke in tongues: 

a) Acts 2:4: We have already read this earlier. On the day of Pentecost, the apostles spoke in other languages, after the Holy Spirit baptized them. As discuss, the Holy Spirit did not go inside them again, but they were "filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."  This Holy Spirit is already in them, when Jesus "breath" on them in  John 20:22. 

What is the purpose of the speaking in tongues? They spoke in different languages (tongues) that they did not know, in order that they could share the Gospel with people in their own languages, who came from many nations to celebrate Pentecost. 

b) Acts: 10:44-48 - Cornelius, a gentile, was asked by an angel to invite Peter to his house.  Cornelius had invited his family and friends to listen to Peter.  Peter admitted that it was unlawful for a Jew to associate with gentiles, but he came because God had changed his mind not to call any person common or unclean.  As described earlier, they received the gift of the Holy Spirit when they believe, and they spoke in tongues and extoll God. 

What is the purpose of the Gentiles speaking in tongues?  God enabled them to speak in tongues to demonstrate to the apostles and the Jewish believers that the Gentiles had been included in His redemption plan. It is very critical that the apostles understand this, as they have been thought that Gentiles are "unclean" when measured by the Jewish Laws. The apostles would never had preached to the Gentiles if this didn't happen. 

The Jewish believers themselves were amazed that the Holy Spirit was given to Gentiles as well.  Acts 10:44-46 : “While Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles too. They heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God."  

When Peter went back to Jerusalem, he was criticized by the circumcision party (Jewish believers who still hold on to Jewish traditions) for speaking and eating with "uncircumcised men."  Peter said: "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning....If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.” (Acts 11:15-18)

c) Acts 19:6 - In Ephesus, Paul encountered disciples who had been baptized with John’s baptism but had not yet received the Holy Spirit. After Paul laid hands on them, "the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying."  As discussed earlier, this is the first time they received Jesus Christ. 

What is the purpose of speaking in tongues? We did not get any indication about the purpose; but we know that they don't just speak in tongues, but they were enabled to prophesy. Perhaps the purpose if to enable them to tell the good news in the local language. 

d) Acts 8:17 - The speaking in tongues were not mentioned when the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit.  However, I heard one church leader in Youtube said that because Simon - the sorcerer - was able to see them receiving the Spirit, it means he saw or heard something visible, which he believe is the speaking in tongues. 

Even if this is so, there is a purpose for them to speak in tongues - most likely for the apostles to recognize that even Samaritans, who were despised by the Jews, were also included in the Kingdom of God. 

These groups spoke in tongues for a specific reason, not just because the Holy Spirit comes into them or when the Holy Spirit re-enter them (which is  doctrinally wrong). Remember that this is the transitioning period. If there were no speaking in tongues, or prophesying, then how will the pre-believers know about the Holy Spirit and the New Covenant? Not only it was a visible miracle to unbelievers, it was also to prove to Jewish believers to accept the Gentiles and the Samaritans as their "brothers and sisters in Christ." 

If the churches that believe that speaking in tongues are important sign of Holy Spirit baptism, then we would expect more mention of speaking in tongues, than the 3 events. There are thousands of other new believers in Acts, where tongues were not mentioned. Those who say there are others speaking in tongues, which Luke purposely omitted it, is adding to the scripture. We based our doctrine only on what the scripture had said, not on what was not said. 

E. But Jesus Did Say They Will Speak In Tongues!

Did Jesus say those who believe will speak in tongues? Well, yes and no. In Mark 16:17, Jesus said: “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Firstly, because some of the early believers spoke in tongues, validates Jesus prophecy. It strengthen the theory that the speaking in tongues are to confirm they have believed. However, will this the sign forever? I don't think so. 

In Acts, the apostles did a lot of miracles, included those mentioned in this passage: cast out demons, serpents and poison did not hurt them, and they healed many people. But how many of us can do these things today? We know most of us can cast out demons (using the name of Jesus and/or the blood of the lamb), we know extremely few of us can lay hands on the sick and heal them. And who among us can survive if we get bitten by venomous snakes or drink poison?

Again, it is obvious that the purpose of these signs are only for the transitional period only. A lot of miracles happened when the Church is new, so that they know things are different with the new Covenant. When Christendom has been understood by Europe and Central Asia, they are no longer needed frequently anymore. I don't mean that they ceased (like some churches claimed), but they became necessary when there is a purpose, according to God's will. 

F. Conclusion

The first thing we must understand is that it is God's original plan to give us the Holy Spirit, when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  In Ephesians 1:13b-14 says: "And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him."

In Acts 2:38, Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” In other words, if you believe if Christ, the Holy Spirit - one of the triune God - will enter into your heart (not the physical heart, but the heart of your life or your soul.) 

His role is to seal you as God's child and He will never leave you until the day of redemption, i.e until you arrive in heaven. (Eph 4:30)   Once he is in you, he will "regenerate and renew" you (Titus 3:5), making you into a "new creature." (2 Cor 5:17).  The Spirit sanctify you and leads you toward righteousness (Galatians 5:16–18).  From the Spirit comes the spiritual gifts that enable you to serve God, believers and pre-believers (I Cor 12:4). 

Speaking in tongues are not related to Holy Spirit Baptism. Those three tongues events mentioned in Acts are for specific purposes during the transitional period.

Tongues can be given to anyone when God wills it, to help strengthen them, to intercede for ourselves or others when we don't know how to pray (Rom 8:26). It enables you to speak in other human languages to testify to those familiar to the language, and enables you to speak to God using angelic language. (1 Cor 13:1)

We are told that every believer in Christ has the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13-14), but not every believer speaks in tongues (1 Corinthians 12:29-31). In fact, most people who accepted Christ did not immediately speak in tongues and may never speak in tongues. 

Speaking in tongues is just one of the eighteen spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit. You will know that someone has the Holy Spirit when he start to exercise the other spiritual gifts such as prophecy, serving, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and showing mercy. etc. Also, you can see the change in his character, when the Spirit transform him into someone that show spiritual fruits - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Paul spoke a lot about spiritual gifts and tongues in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, 13, and 14. It is good that you read and understand them. I will except a few relevant verses:

1. 1 Cor 12:4-11 = Many gifts, but the same Spirit. "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 

For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills."

2. 1 Cor 12:29-31 - "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts."  Paul said to earnestly desire the higher gifts - these refers to the gifts that edify the church, than those edifying ourselves. 

3. 1 Cor 13:1-3 - Love, a spiritual fruit, is foremost among all the gifts. "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,  but have not love, I gain nothing."

4. 1 Cor 14:2-4 - Speaking in tongues are good, but prophesy is better.   "For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up."  

5. 1 Cor 14:13-19 - Tongues should be interpret. "Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret...Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? ...Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

6. 1 Cor 14:22-24 = Tongues are for unbelievers (as were used in Acts when they were interpreted). "Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?"

7. 1 Cor 14:27-28 - If it cannot be interpreted, then speak to God and to yourself. "If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God."

But many churches speak in tongues in front of a microphone, amplifying their toungues to the whole congregation. Are they trying to show that they are more spiritual than those who cannot speak in tongues?

They should remember that Jesus said: "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." (Matthew 6:5-6)

This is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, where He teaches about sincere prayer rather than praying for show.

I believe that those who really have a need or purpose to speak in tongues, or those that God willed to speak in tongues, will be able to speak in tongues. He/she must speak in tongues according to the guide given by Paul. 

I don't think it is wrong for people to pray to receive the gift of tongues, if his/her motivation is correct. However, as Paul said, they can also pray for other gifts that edify the church. 

We should not pray for "Holy Spirit Baptism" for believers, for that is automatically given when you accepted Christ. However, we pray for each other and ourself to be filled with the indwelling spirit.

To do this, we must surrender every part of their life to God, and give everything to the Holy Spirit so that He can purify and transform us in our sanctification journey. The ultimate outcome is to grow the spiritual fruits, and to be more like Christ.*

*Note: Jesus was never recorded to speak in tongues.