Then here in Acts chapter 19, we see that Paul came to Ephesus and told these disciples that
Jesus the Promised One, had come and that Jesus had died on the Cross and had risen
again.
Paul explained to these believers in Ephesus that the One whom John said would come after
him had come, and that now they should believe on Jesus, and be saved. So when Paul came
to these Ephesian disciples, he then baptized them in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and they
were born again (Acts 19:5; Gal. 3:27).
But Paul didn't stop there. He also wanted them to be filled with the Holy Spirit, so he laid
hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit. When he did this, the Holy Ghost came upon them, ".
. . and they spake with tongues . . ."(Acts 19:6).
These Ephesians, who were brand-new converts, received the Holy Spirit when Paul laid
hands on them. All of them received the Holy Spirit without
exception. Again, there is not one suggestion of tarrying or waiting to receive the Holy Spirit.
In conclusion, let us sum up two important thoughts. First, as we have seen, salvation and the
baptism in the Holy Spirit are two separate experiences, although the Holy Spirit is involved in
both supernatural events.
Second, in all of these scriptures we have examined, there is no suggestion that the people in
the Early Church were ever taught to tarry or to wait before they could be filled with the Holy
Ghost.
Let's find out what the Bible says about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Bible should be our
example in everything we do; not tradition, nor the opinion of men. Believers can receive this
wonderful experience of the infilling of the Holy Spirit the Bible way!
Chapter 4 The Holy Spirit Within: His Indwelling Presence
In this lesson we will deal with the subject of the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit in the
life of the believer in the new birth.
JOHN 14:16,17
16 And I will pray the Father, and HE SHALL GIVE YOU ANOTHER COMFORTER, that he
may abide with you for ever
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not,
neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and SHALL BE IN YOU.
In this lesson I want to focus our attention on that last phrase of John 14:17: ". . . for he
dwelleth with you, and shall be IN you." Being born again is not just an experience; rather, it is
receiving the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit, a Divine Personality, who comes to make
His home in us.
There is no need for any believer ever to feel comfortless, bereaved, or forlorn. Christ's
purpose in sending the Holy Spirit was so that the Holy Spirit, a Divine Personality, might come
to live in us and be in us.