Those who believe that miraculous gifts are in evidence today contend that people other than the apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Some say this included the 120 (Acts 1:15). Others say that all who were converted on that day received Holy Spirit baptism. Some even contend that the new birth today includes Holy Spirit baptism.

The Bible teaches that only the apostles received the baptismal measure of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

In the first place, the Lord promised the Holy Spirit to the apostles only. Read John chapters 14, 15 and 16. Speaking to the apostles (Acts 1:2) just before his ascension, Jesus said, “…but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence” (Acts 1:5). They were sent to Jerusalem (Acts 1:4) to wait for that promise which was fulfilled on Pentecost.

In addition, the language of Acts 1 and 2 proves that to be true. We are told in Acts 2:1, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” Who were the “they”? When chapter one closes, the subjects are Matthias and the eleven apostles. We know that a personal pronoun refers to the antecedent noun. The “they” of Acts 2:1 refers to the apostles. Note the following: The sound filled the house where “they” were; there appeared unto “them” tongues; “they” were all filled with the Holy Spirit; the multitude heard “them” speak. They said “these men,” but there were women among the 120 (Acts 1:14). “But Peter, standing up with the eleven” (Acts 2:14), not the 120 or the thousands who gathered. When the people wanted to know what to do for the remission of sins, they addressed their question to “Peter and to the rest of the apostles” (Acts 2:37). Evidently they believed that the apostles only had received power and knowledge through the Holy Spirit, and, therefore, could answer their question.

When the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, they were able to “speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4). The result was: “Every man heard them speak in his own language” (v. 6). The people discussed what this could mean, and asked, “How hear we, every man in our own language, wherein we were born?” (v. 8).

The crowd was composed of “Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven” (v. 5). There would have been many different languages represented (Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, etc.). But what amazed the people was that they could hear and recognize the languages spoken by the apostles as “their own language” yet they knew that the apostles were all Galileans (Acts 2:7) and therefore, unaided by miraculous power, could speak only the same language - their native tongue.

The people today who claim to speak in tongues will not give honest consideration to these facts. They know that they cannot speak in foreign languages which they have never learned. So, to deceive people (and perhaps themselves on some cases), they speak gibberish; a meaningless jargon which is not a recognized language of any people, and unknown to both God and man!

The Spirit enabled the apostles to speak in languages which were known to the hearers but which had not been learned by the speakers. No man or woman living today can do that!

I now invite your consideration to a clear lesson from Acts chapter eight.

Because of persecution in Jerusalem, the disciples were scattered. Philip went to Samaria and preached Christ. He confirmed his message by miracles (verses 7 and 8). As a result, those who believed “were baptized, both men and women” (v. 12). Thus the church was established in Samaria. But then we read, “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost” (verses 14-17).

Now some questions and conclusions are in order. Since Philip could perform miracles, why didn’t he impart the Holy Spirit to the new disciples through his hands? Answer: Only an apostle could do this. Where did Philip get his power? Answer: From the apostles. Why did the apostles in Jerusalem send Peter and John to Samaria to lay hands on some? Answer: Only apostles, who had received Holy Spirit baptism, could lay hands on others and thus enable them to perform miracles. But those who had received such power from the apostles could not pass it on to others (as we see in the case of Philip). Therefore, the conclusion must be: When the apostles and those upon whom they had laid their hands all died, miracles ceased!

edited, The Sower, Sept. 1980