Estimated Read Time: 5 min

Supporting Text: Matt. 3:16–17, Matt. 28:18–20, Luke 24:52–53, Acts 1:12–14, Acts 1:24–26, Heb. 10:25, Acts 2:1–4, Acts 2:16–21, Joel 2:28–32, Num. 11:24–29, Isa. 46:9–10, John 16:13, Acts 2:11, Acts 2:41–42.

The opening chapter of the book of Acts contains a command from Jesus to His disciples that they were to be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Once they received this Spirit baptism (just as Christ had at His own baptism, Matt. 3:16–17), their witness for Jesus could begin.

In the last article "The Baptism of the Holy Spirit,"  I discussed the purpose of Spirit baptism. Its purpose is that you, the disciple of Jesus Christ, might become an empowered witness of the Gospel of which you have become a partaker.

Jesus knew that we would need both boldness and power in order to carry out this mission. The Great Commission would, at times, be perilous (Matt. 28:18–20). Therefore, He told His disciples to wait until they had been fully immersed in the Spirit of God, just as they had already been immersed into Christ.

From the Ascension until the Day of Pentecost, the disciples waited for the Promise of the Father—for them to be filled with the Holy Spirit. During that time, they were:

• Attending Temple services (Luke 24:52–53)
• Praying (Acts 1:12–14)
• Practicing apostolic governance (Acts 1:24–26)

These are the same things we should be doing today: attending church (Heb. 10:25), continuing in the Apostles' doctrine (biblical teaching), fellowshipping with other believers, and praying (Acts 2:42).

Finally, the Day of Pentecost arrived. While they were gathered in the Upper Room, the Holy Spirit came from heaven and filled the house where they were sitting.

Acts 2:1 - When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

Acts 2:2 - And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

Acts 2:3 - And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.

Acts 2:4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The text tells us that when the Holy Spirit came into the house, the following occurred:

• A sound from heaven, like a mighty rushing wind
• The sound filled the entire house where the disciples were gathered
• Divided tongues of fire appeared and rested upon each of them
• They were filled with the Holy Spirit
• They began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance

As you continue reading through the account of Pentecost, you will come to Acts 2:16–21, where the Holy Spirit brings to Peter's remembrance the prophecy of Joel (Joel 2:28–32), which foretold this very event.

This prophecy also marks the beginning of the period commonly referred to as "the Last Days"—the time between the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

In Joel's prophecy, we are told that when the Spirit is poured out upon all flesh—male and female, Jew and Gentile, slave and free—certain manifestations will occur. Those filled with the Spirit will:

• Prophesy
• Experience visions
• Dream dreams

The gifts of the Holy Spirit will be given to God's people (a subject we will discuss in a future lesson on the Gifts of the Spirit), and those filled with the Spirit will prophesy.
We can go back even further into the Old Testament and find a similar example in Numbers 11:24–29. In that passage, when the Spirit of God came upon the seventy elders, they began to prophesy.

But what does it mean to prophesy?

Prophecy has two primary aspects:

• Foretelling: The Spirit reveals knowledge concerning future events (Isa. 46:9–10; John 16:13).
• Forth-telling: The Spirit enables a person to proclaim the Word of God to a present audience (e.g., Acts 2:14-41). In its simplest form, this includes preaching and teaching the truth of Scripture.

Ultimately, this is what we see taking place on the Day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:11 - "...we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God."

We will discuss specific evidences in greater detail in the next article, but the primary evidence we see here is believers operating in prophetic witness. Combined with the supernatural gift of tongues, these men and women began declaring the mighty works of God in languages they had never learned.

Peter then stood up in boldness and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As a result, three thousand people gave their lives to Christ because of what they both saw and heard (Acts 2:41).

Therefore, the greatest evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit is a bold and confident witness of Jesus Christ that flows from both your mouth and your life. Those who are filled with the Spirit possess a bold faith, and they are not ashamed to proclaim it.

In the next article, we will begin a more detailed discussion concerning the specific evidences associated with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.