What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
You believe in Jesus. But you sense there’s more, more power, more closeness to God, more boldness. Jesus promised exactly that.
The baptism of the Holy Spirit is God filling a believer with His power, a filling that comes after salvation. Jesus promised it: “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8). When you are saved, the Spirit comes to live in you (Romans 8:9). The baptism of the Spirit is when He fills you and overflows, giving you power to live and speak for Jesus. Our doctrine is that its first evidence is speaking in tongues, as in Acts 2, 10 and 19. In plain words: salvation puts the Spirit in you; the baptism of the Spirit pours Him all over you.
Want to pray with someone right now? The Watch is open. Pray with them →
Believers who hadn’t heard
When Paul came to Ephesus, he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Paul baptized them in the name of the Lord Jesus, laid his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied (Acts 19:1–6). They were already believers. God had more for them.
Salvation and the baptism of the Spirit
In Samaria, people believed and were baptized in water, but the Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them. Peter and John came, prayed and laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:12–17). The order in Scripture is clear: believe first, then be filled.
What it does
Power to tell others about Jesus (Acts 1:8; Acts 4:31). Boldness: Peter, who denied Jesus to a servant girl, preached to thousands. A deeper prayer life and a prayer language. The gifts of the Spirit at work in you (1 Corinthians 12:7–11).
How to receive it
1. Make sure you belong to Jesus: repent and believe.
2. Ask. “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13).
3. Expect Him. Pray, worship and give God your voice. Let others who are filled pray with you (Acts 8:17).
4. Don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t happen the first time. Keep asking, seeking and knocking (Luke 11:9).
What the Bible says
- 01
The promise of power.
“And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. ” So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””
Acts 1:4–8 - 02
Pentecost.
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”
Acts 2:1–4 - 03
Samaria.
“When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. On their arrival, they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. For the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 8:14–17 - 04
Ephesus.
“While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” “No,” they answered, “we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” “Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked. “The baptism of John,” they replied. Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.”
Acts 19:1–6 - 05
Ask.
“So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!””
Luke 11:9–13 - 06
Be filled with the Spirit.
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
Ephesians 5:18
Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.
Set aside fifteen minutes tonight. Worship, then ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit. Ask a Spirit-filled believer to pray with you this week.
Common questions
Is the baptism of the Holy Spirit the same as being saved?
No. At salvation the Spirit comes to live in you. The baptism of the Spirit is a filling with power that follows.
Is it the same as water baptism?
No. Water baptism is an act of obedience after you believe. The baptism of the Spirit is God pouring out His Spirit on you.
Can you be filled more than once?
You are baptized in the Spirit once, and you can be filled again and again (Acts 4:31; Ephesians 5:18).
Pray with people, not alone.
Become’s prayer house walks you through prayer one step at a time, and the Watch is a prayer room that never closes. Start tonight.