Why Did The Twelve Men Need To Get Re-Baptized?

Baptism & the Holy Spirit – The Twelve Men

Written by Kevin A. Hall  (07.16.2016)

Consider the situation in Acts 19:1-7 (NASB)

It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. ² He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” ³ And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” ⁴ Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” ⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. ⁷ There were in all about twelve men.

 What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit and baptism?

I’ll begin first with an early start to baptism. John the Baptist comes on the scene and says to the people “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is near” (Mat. 3:2). His base was the region around Jordan and his sole focus was to prepare the way for the Messiah. He preached the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Under the Law of Moses, forgiveness of sins was obtained through sacrifices. Under John, baptism dealt with “sin rather than conformity to religious ritual” (Moore, 70). The Jews believed that their “heritage assured them a position with God”. John’s position was a justification through a relationship with God.  As a result, there was a shift – the people “were baptized by him {John} in the Jordan, confessing their sins” (Mat. 3:6). He declared that this baptism with repentance produces a “fruit” – a change in lifestyle motivated by something on the inside. That motivation was in the person of Christ.    

“The Jews had to repent because their lives were full of sin, and because they did not have the right ideas about the kingdom of God, nor did they believe in Jesus Christ. The Gentiles too needed repentance” (Reese, 746)    

 Jesus comes on the scene declaring “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36). Then “No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit” (John 3:5). There was now a new path. One had to be “born again to obtain salvation. John’s baptism of repentance eventually became Christian baptism as mandated by the Great Commission.

The path to salvation now required Baptism in water (as modeled by Jesus - Mt.3:13-17) and the receipt of the Holy Spirit. Immersion in water as occurs in Baptism now represent the putting on of Christ. A person consciously makes a decision to believe in the person of Jesus Christ, accepts Him as their personal Savior, baptizes in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins. Before baptism, the sinner could not help themselves, they were dead in trespasses and sins. Baptism then declares a person “not guilty of sin, freeing the believer from condemnation, making him/her acceptable in the sight of God (by taking on Jesus name), essentially making them righteous and holy in Christ, a member of the Body of Christ.

At the point of conversion, the believer is then filled with the Person and Work of The Holy Spirit. He (the Spirit) “possesses the mind, the affection, knowledge and will. With the infilling of the Holy Spirit, the believer benefits from “Inspiration (Acts 2:1-4) and Revelation” (John 14:26)” {Reese, 94). The Holy Spirit then becomes a comforter and guide; endowing us with spiritual gifts. Essentially confirming our salvation and through submission to Him. His presence (the Holy Spirit) helps us “put to death the deeds of the body” (Romans 8:13). To be “partakers of promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel” (Eph. 3:6), one must then be Baptized into Christ and be filled with the Holy Spirit to do God’s will. There is no such thing as "Once Saved, Always Saved". The believer must continue to abide in Christ (Jn. 5:1-6). These men were converts from the ministry of John. They had yet to hear about all Jesus had accomplished on the cross. Providence dictates that their path will cross with the Apostle Paul. When you meet the real thing, the situation demands a response. In the case of these 12 men, they needed to be "complete". Are you complete?

References:

Moore, Mark (2011). The Chronological Life Of Christ . Joplin, MI: College Press Publishing. (Part 4-5)

Reese, Gareth (2008). Acts. Moberly, MI: College Press Publishing