When Jesus was about to ascend to heaven, He told the disciples, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 ESV)

Obviously, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, together with the Holy Spirit, was not meant to be “for” the Jews only, but it was for the whole world. Act 8 begins to go beyond Jerusalem and Judea when Philip conducts what we might call an evangelistic crusade in Samaria. As a result, ordinary people were saved as he preached Christ to them. (Acts 8:5)

THE SAMARITAN PENTECOST

But when the Apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God (i.e., became Christians), they sent Peter and John down there as they did, and they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. They laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Now, it is obvious that there were two distinct events. Firstly, they responded to the Word of God, and secondly, they later received the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands. It was expected that they should receive the Holy Spirit.

So they received the Holy Spirit, but did they consequently speak in tongues?

One commentary put it this way: “Luke does not directly describe the accompanying phenomena. But as F.F. Bruce comments, “The context leaves us in no doubt that their reception of the Spirit was attended by external manifestations such as had marked His descent on the earliest disciples at Pentecost” (The Book of Acts, p.181). A large number of Bible commentators agree that what Simon the Sorcerer “saw” or observed was the new converts speaking in tongues when hands were laid on them. This ability or authority to impart the Holy Spirit with such evidence, Simon wanted to buy, for he knew he could not match it with his repertoire of magic arts. All of Philip’s miracles of healing and exorcism had not impressed him like this sign!

A clue in the Greek text that tongues indeed were in evidence at Samaria may be found in v.21. In rebuking Simon for his wicked thought that he could obtain the gift of God with money.”

It clearly does not specifically include speaking in tongues in the record. But Simon, who practices sorcery, saw something he could not do with his magic tricks. One can argue that what he observed with these new disciples was speaking in tongues.

So with the Samaritans, salvation is separated from receiving the Spirit, and it is also probable that this included “speaking in tongues.”

PAUL’S EXPERIENCE

So far we have looked at the Day of Pentecost and the Samaritan Pentecost. Now we turn to an individual not a group as we look at Saul. His story is told in Acts 9.

Saul was on his way to Damascus with letters to the synagogue concerning people who were part of “the way” who were to be taken and bound to Jerusalem. At this point, Saul was obviously not a Christian.

As he was approaching Damascus, a light suddenly appeared from heaven around him. He fell to the ground, hearing a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

A couple of points to note:The Lord called him by his name. The Lord also knows us by name too. Paul is told he is persecuting the Lord. In actual fact he was persecuting the Church, because Christ identified with His body, the Church.

Saul replies with a question, “Who are you Lord?” Note that Paul identifies the speaker as “the Lord.” The Lord then replies, making it absolutely clear to Paul “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” (A goad is a pointed stick that is used on a team of oxen to keep them moving). Paul’s conscience was goaded or pricked about the terrible things he was doing to the Church, the body of Christ.

Saul, who was eventually called Paul, is trembling and astonished and surrenders himself to the One who is calling him. He simply begins “Lord,” which is an acknowledgement of who Jesus is – “He is Lord.” Then he asked, “Lord what do you want me to do?” In turn Jesus told him, “Arise, go into the city and you will be told what you must do.”

So Paul, in the midst of this divine encounter became blind and was led by hand into the city by the men with him, who were speechless as they heard a voice but did not see anyone.

In the city was a disciple called Ananias. Even though the Lord appeared to him, he was reluctant to get involved with Paul because he had heard about the harm he was doing in Jerusalem and how he had the authority of the chief priest to act against those who were Christians or called upon His name. But the Lord told Ananias, “Go for he is a chosen vessel of mine.” So Ananias went to the house where Paul was staying, a house on the street called Straight. Ananias laid his hands on Paul and said, “Brother.” It was significant that he declared him “brother,” as he was acknowledging that now Paul was part of the family of God. Ananias didnt preach Christ and the gospel to Saul, as he assumed that he was already saved when he met Jesus on the road. “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized” (Acts 9:17-18 ESV). Paul remained with these disciples many days.

Concerning the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Paul’s case. It is usually acknowledged that Paul was converted on the road to Damascus when he encountered the risen Lord. He was a new born Christian when Ananias came and ministered to him. He was at that time considered a brother, part of the family of God. So Ananias prayed for him to be filled with the Holy Spirit. In this case it was not a specific act of God, or else all that could have happened on the Damascus road. Rather, it came through a human agent when Ananias laid his hands on him and prayed for him to be filled with the Sprit.

Acts does not record him speaking in tongues, but we know that he later writes about that in his epistles.

Some other points to be noted: Ananias was a “disciple” and not an “Apostle” from Jerusalem. This ministry was available to all believers. Also, Paul received a Word from the Lord about his future calling at this time. “He (Paul) is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15 ESV)

So, it all started with the Jews in Jerusalem and Judea, spread to the Samaritans, and by the time it came to Paul, it had a future assignment to reach out to the Gentiles.

It also makes it clear that praying for people to receive the Holy Spirit is not limited to Apostles (or even leaders); disciples can also pray for people.

HOW DID THEY RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT?

It is interesting to note that there was two ways people received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Firstly, it sometimes came as a direct act of the Lord with no human involved. This was certainly the case of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost when God took the initiative; it was a sovereign act of God. As we will see next time this is also what happened at Cornelius’s home.

Secondly, it comes as a result of the ministry of the Holy Spirit through human agents. This is clearly what happened in the case of the Samaritans and that also happened with Paul when Ananias prayed for him to receive the Holy Spirit. As we will see later, the disciples at Ephesus received the gift of the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands by Paul.

I am not so much concerned with how it happens but rather the fact that people receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is the promise of the Father promised by Jesus. Sometimes they get water baptized first then they receive the Holy Spirit or vice versa – i.e. they receive the Holy Spirit and then get water baptized.

Receive the Holy Spirit.

REFERENCES

“Layman’s commentary on the Holy Spirit”: A Logos Strong Guide. The commentary is written by a group of writers, most of whom are highly qualified theologians and teachers.