Do you believe baptism of the Holy Spirit is available to us today? Or was it just for those at Pentecost? I am unaware of a verse that definitively and directly states baptism of the Holy Spirit is or is not still available to us today. But what can we infer from the text? I make the case that baptism of the Holy Spirit is still available to us today, based on the broad dissemination of the topic in John the Baptist’s message as well as Cornelius’ story.
What is Baptism of the Holy Spirit?
After His crucifixion, death and resurrection, Jesus meets with His disciples. In Luke He says:
I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.
Luke 24:49
The story in Luke’s gospel continues into the book of Acts (see Acts 1:1), where Jesus says:
You heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
Acts 1:4
The 12 apostles are then baptized in the Holy Spirit (and with fire):
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:1-4
Baptism of the Holy Spirit is distinctive because it is a change from the Old Testament in which the Spirit of the Lord came upon someone (as in Samson’s case, Judges 15:14).
Jesus Baptizes in the Holy Spirit
The first and most direct approach is that Jesus is one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit:
John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
Luke 3:16
John states that it is Jesus who baptizes in the Holy Spirit. To rephrase this, Jesus gets to choose who is baptizes in the Holy Spirit. But Jesus also does the will of the Father:
So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise."
John 5:19
Moreover, the Holy Spirit is sent from the Father in Jesus’ name:
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 that I have said to you.
John 14:26
From these verses we see that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all engaged in this act. To say that baptism of the Holy Spirit no longer occurs requires the belief that Lord has chosen to not to baptize anyone either since the day of pentecost or since the book of Acts ended.
John Preaches To Crowds
Who was in the audience when John Baptist speak of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? Who was he speaking to? Luke 3 sets the scene:
... the word of God came to John [the Baptist] the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Luke 3:2-3
He said therefore to the crowds ...
Luke 3:7
And the crowds asked him ...
Luke 3:10
From these verses we can see there is a broad audience geographically but also at least one gathering of crowds of people to which John the Baptist spoke. We know have to ask the questions:
When John the Baptist spoke all around Judea, did he speak of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to everyone? If he spoke about it, can we infer that it was also available to them in the future (after Pentecost), just as it was for those present at the day of Pentecost? If he spoke about baptism of the Holy Spirit to crowds but it was never available to them, either at the time or after Pentecost, what was the value in mentioning it?
It is reasonable to assume John the Baptist makes it available, or gives an invitation, to those all around Judea and to the crowds that Jesus is coming to baptize them with the Holy Spirit. It is a broader invitation beyond than only who was present on the day of Pentecost. Which presents the question: who else is it available to?
What about Cornelius?
Was Cornelius baptized in the Holy Spirit? Peter goes to visit him:
The next day [Peter] rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.
Acts 10:23-24
While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
Acts 10:44-47
Within the passage there are two similarities to pentecost: multiple people receive the Holy Spirit and they started speaking in tongues. If this is not baptism of the Holy Spirit, then what is it? If we accept this as baptism in the Holy Spirit after the day of Pentecost, then what rules it out for happening today? Cornelius’ story occurs about 10 years after the apostles were baptized in the Holy Spirit.
There is also a connection with John the Baptist and baptism of the Holy Spirit:
You yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.
Acts 10:37-38
Paul in Ephesus
Later Paul travels to Ephesus and speaks of John the Baptist:
And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he 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, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
Acts 19:2-6
Again we see similarities to both Pentecost and to Cornelius: the Holy Spirit comes upon them and they begin speaking on tongues. In this case, they start prophesying. Was Peter speaking prophetically at the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36)? It does not appear to be a planned speech given the unexpected nature of their baptism. It would seem to be that Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking directly on behalf of the Lord which I would call prophecy. This story takes place about 20 years after Pentecost.
There’s a new element here which is the laying on of hands, but that is a topic for another day.
Conclusion
I hope I have made the case that baptism of the Holy Spirit was available after Pentecost and therefore is still available today. If I have not convinced you, or there is an error in my logic or analysis, please drop a comment below.