There are two instances in the Bible of Holy Spirit baptism.  Once for the Jews on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2.  Once the Holy Spirit fell upon those assembled, Peter started preaching in verse 14.  The arrival of the Holy Ghost came before anybody started preaching.  This is significant in that there was no way anybody could have had anything to believe prior to anything being said.  Those in the denominational world teach that at the moment of our belief in Jesus, we are baptized by the Holy Spirit.  The baptism of the Holy Spirit with the Jews on the day of Pentecost happened prior to any spoken word whatsoever.

Peter was chosen to usher the gospel to the gentiles with the conversion of Cornelius.  The Holy Spirit fell on those present exactly the same way it did with the Jews on the day of Pentecost, (Acts 10).  After this event, Peter was rehearsing the event to his brethren as recorded in Acts 11.  In Acts 11:15, we see Peter saying, "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning."  Once again, the baptism of the Holy Spirit happened before Peter had a chance to say anything.  There had not been anything said to "believe in" prior to this event, exactly as it happened on the day of Pentecost. 

The baptism of the Holy Spirit only happened twice and in both instances, it occurred before any preaching had been done.  In both instances this baptism preceded any belief or obedience, (Acts 5:32).  This is in stark contrast with denominational teaching today which states that baptism of the Holy Spirit occurs at the moment one believes.  Additionally, in both instances of Holy Spirit baptism, it happened to a group of people with plenty of witnesses and was accompanied with miraculous signs and wonders to magnify God and confirm the truth of what was being taught. 

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit was something no man had any control over.  In both instances it was completely unexpected.  In both instances it was the first thing to happen in the chain of events leading to the conversion of both Jews and Gentiles.  Baptism of the Holy Spirit is not something we can administer today.  We are commanded in the great commission to baptize all nations.  Ephesians 4:5 teaches us that there is only one baptism.  The only one left is water, and Peter teaches us in Acts 2:38 that it is for the remission of sin and later in 1 Peter 3:21 he teaches us that it "doth also now save us".  Baptism in water is the only one we can obey today.

Paul teaches in Ephesians 4:5 that there is one baptism.  We know from Matthew 3:11 that Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit, and later on in Matthew 28:19  we are commanded by Jesus to baptize all people on earth.   Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit, (Luke 3:16), so that leaves only one choice left.  The "one baptism" of scripture must therefore be the baptism of the Great Commission. 

Series of studies on Baptism

Baptism Defined | New Testament Baptism | Which Baptism is it?  | Baptism of The Holy Spirit

Related Studies

Is Baptism defined as work in scripture?   |  Examples of Christian Converts