Was Paul Baptized in the Holy Spirit?

Was Paul Baptized in the Holy Spirit?

Acts 9 & 22

1) IT WAS JESUS WHO MADE HIS CHOICE OF PAUL. *The Lord appeared to him on Damascus Road (ACTS 9:1-9). *Ananias was sent (Acts 9:10-17): “Go, for this man is a vessel of choice to me!” (9:15).

2) JESUS MADE HIM QUALIFIED FOR THE JOB. *One requisite for becoming an apostle is that he must have seen the risen Lord (ACTS 1:22). *PAUL: “And last of all, as by one whose birth was out of the right time, He appeared to me also” (1 COR. 15:8).

“And last of all, as (ωσπερει, HOSTEREI, “just as if) by one whose birth was out of the right time (τω εκτρωματι, TO EKTRÓMATI, “the miscar-riage,” “the aborted foetus,” “the still-born embryo”), He appeared

to me also” (1 COR. 15:8).

3) HIS CALL INVOLVED AN APPOINTED PLACE AND AN APPOINTED TIME.

“Arise,” the Lord said, “and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told

thee of all things which are appointed (τετακται, T ÉTAKTAÍ, perfect indica-

tive passive, have been commanded, appointed, arranged) for thee to do”

(22:10; cf. 9:6).

4) IN JESUS’ OWN CHOOSING, IT IS NOT NECESSARY THAT AN APOSTLE SHOULD CONFER POWER TO AN APOSTLE! *Ananias was an ordinary disciple at Damascus (9:10), but he too was a man of piety (22:12).*He was commissioned to lay hands on Paul (9:11-12, 17).

*Lay hands: (1) That he may be healed (9:17).(2) That he may receive the Holy Spirit

(9:17).*And Paul was healed: “And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized” (9:18).

Was Paul filled with the Spirit also when Ananias

laid hands on him? I think so, since that too was the other reason for

Ananias’ coming.

THE IMPLICATION THEN IS THAT PAUL RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT

BEFORE BAPTISM. Is it wrong to say that Paul received

the Holy Spirit before he was baptized in water?

The Spirit too fell on the Gentiles before they were baptized (10:44-

45).

DID PAUL RECEIVE THE BAPTISMAL MEASURE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT?

1) Nothing in the narrative says he received the baptismal measure.2) It is not the presence of anyone who possessed the baptismal measure that could provide the environment for the baptismal measure of any other. There is no evidence that Ananias was baptized in the Holy Spirit!

3) Paul was “filled with the Spirit” but it is not necessary to conclude that he had been baptized in the Holy Spirit. 4) What is clearly taught in the NT is that he received the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands!

These people too were said to have been “filled with the Spirit” but they had not

undergone Holy Spirit baptism: The wise-hearted (EXO. 28:3);

Bezaleel (EXO. 31:3); John the Baptist (LUK 1:15);

Elizabeth (LUK 1:41); Zacharias (LUK 1:67)

From my study of the cases of Spirit-filled persons laying hands on people, I

have discovered the following:1) Apostles laid hands on disciples (Acts 8).2) A disciple laid hands on an apostle (Acts

9).3) An apostle who received the Spirit

through a disciple laid hands on disciples (Acts 19).

Finally,Notice here the absence of the rushing of mighty wind and cloven tongues

like as of fire, details that are noticeable in the

Pentecost Holy Spirit Baptism Event!

(Acts 2:1-4)

GODhead

12 APOSTLES GENTILES

Spirit was poured.Spirit fell on them. Received

Holy Spirit

Good NewsPreached

Water baptismcommanded

Spirit fell on them

Baptized inHoly SpiritSet into theChurch

ANANIAS

Commissioned

12 DISCIPLES

Laid hands

Filled withthe Spirit

PAUL

Samaria

Laidhands

ReceivedHoly Spirit

THE CHURCH, GOD’S NEW

TEMPLE ON EARTH

CONCLUSION• There is no denying the fact that

Paul received the Spirit, and was filled with the Spirit. Our discussion on his case mainly centers on the HOW. It is not on whether or not he had done many miracles or less; it is not on whether he too had the privilege to impart power or not.

• Paul’s case did not follow any pattern. He is an abortion in the family of apostles. Jerusalem apostles laid hands on disciples (Acts 8), but a Damascus disciple laid hands on him (Acts 9).

• It does not follow that just because he only received the Spirit by the laying on of hands, he had less power and inspiration. For in fact he had written many books, had spoken many tongues and done many wonders.

• We may never know why the Lord made an exemption on Paul. But here I see Jesus as a God of choice, and His choice is not what I would always predict.

GODhead

The Apostles, the 3000, the Samaritans, the Gentiles, Paul,

the Ephesians, etc.

Holy Spirit was poured on all flesh.Holy Spirit came upon them.

Holy Spirit fell on them.

Gift of theHoly Spirit

πληρόω withthe Spirit

Baptized in Holy Spirit

Laying on of hands

Gifts of theHoly Spirit

The whole church, being God’s temple on earth, is indwelt by the Holy Spirit even NOW!

These are all “manners” of receiving the Holy Spirit’s power or influence!

The Church Through the Ages