The Records of Speaking in Tongues – Part 5

The last record of people receiving the holy spirit and speaking in tongues is in Acts chapter 19.
But, to get the full understanding of this record we start in Acts 18:24.
Acts 18:24-25 (KJV)
24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the
scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and
taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
When it says “the baptism of John” what does it mean? To understand this let’s start in Mark 1:4.
Mark 1:4 (KJV)
4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Repentance unto the remission of sins is NOT confessing Jesus as lord. It is a change of heart and life
practices and because of this their sins are remitted. John lived under the Law of Moses. It was and is
the law of works. Confessing your sins is works!
Acts 13:24 (KJV)
24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
Mark 1:7-8 (KJV)
7 And (John) preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I
am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Acts 1:5 (KJV)
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many
days hence.
Understanding the mathematical axiom that if A=C and B=C then A=B we see that John’s
baptism is water baptism which is the baptism unto repentance for the remission of sins. All of
which are in the works category. Romans 3:20-28 explains the difference between the old
baptism, the baptism of John and a new baptism.
Romans 3:20-28 (KJV)
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his (God’s) sight: for by the law is
the knowledge of sin.
John’s baptism, is it in the category of deeds of the law? Yes!
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the
prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:
for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness
for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which
believeth in Jesus.
Because of what Jesus Christ did there is a new way into remission of sins. That way is Romans 10:9,10.
It is by believing on the lord Jesus Christ and comes by grace, God’s unmerited divine favor. We cannot
work for it. It is not by works!
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Hallelujah! If this weren’t the case then the Gentiles would be excluded from being a Christian because
each and every Christian would have to do the works of the Law of Moses. What do you think the
“repentance” part of John’s baptism is? It is changing their ways and coming back to doing the Law of
Moses. You can read, in the Bible, how time and time again the Jews strayed away from God and served
other god’s. John was calling them back to walking in the Law of Moses. However, there is a NEW
baptism.
Again, let’s look at Mark 1:8 and Acts 1:5, but, let’s focus on the back half of the verses.
Mark 1:8 (KJV)
8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Acts 1:5 (KJV)
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many
days hence.
The baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins, the baptism of water, John’s baptism was
done away with! Why? Because a better baptism came! That is why Peter, in Acts chapter ten,
was going to baptize the new Christians with water, BUT, but, but, but, didn’t because he came
to his senses and realized the baptism into God’s GRACE and POWER was greater than the
baptism in water unto repentance!
Acts 11:15-16 (KJV)
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell (the baptism into God’s grace and power) on them, as on
us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye
shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
So, all Apollos knew was the John’s baptism, the baptism of works and the Law of Moses.
Acts 18:26-28 (KJV)
26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard,
they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.What is the “way of God more perfectly?” It is the baptism of holy spirit and that Jesus is the
Christ that Apollos hadn’t heard of. If he hadn’t heard of it could he have been teaching the
Gentiles? Nope! He must have been teaching the Jews!
Now, what Apollos did borders on the miraculous. He actually listened to two simple disciples
and learned about the baptism into God’s grace and mercy! How many ministers today are
willing to listen and learn?
27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to
receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
Holy smokes! Look at that! Apollos, the silver tongued orator changed from preaching John’s
baptism to the teaching of the New Birth, the baptism of believing through grace!
28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus
was Christ.
Before we go on let me explain that in Acts 18:25 it says that Apollos was instructed in the “way of the
lord” and that he “taught diligently the things of the lord.” What things was he teaching? He was
teaching the things of GOD just like John did! Apollos did not know that Jesus was the Christ until Acts
19:26 when Aquilla and Pricilla took him home for dinner. THEN, in Acts 19:28, the Bible says that he
shewed by the scriptures “that Jesus was Christ!”
So, now Paul comes to Ephesus and meets the disciples taught by Apollos when all Apollos knew was the
baptism of John. What do you think they knew? The baptism of John! People, you can only go as far as
you have been taught.
Acts 19:1-7 (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper
coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
Apollos, after his meeting with Aquilla and Pricilla, moved on. He left Ephesus and went to help
the believers in Achaia.
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him,
We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people,
that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
What had Israel been looking forward to? The coming of Christ! His coming had been foretold
since Genesis chapter three! All the prophets of Old foretold of the coming Messiah! Apollos
wasn’t teaching something new it was the same message that echoed down through the centuries CHRIST IS COMING! However, what Paul taught WAS NEW because the baptism of holy
spirit had been hid from before the foundations of the World!
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 Ghost came on them; and they spake
with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
These “about twelve” people had been baptized in John’s baptism, but, it didn’t do a thing to help them
enjoy the benefits that Jesus Christ made available, not to the Jews, only, but, to the Gentiles as well.
The baptism of holy spirit is the baptism into God’s grace and power.
By speaking in tongues these believers, these Christians, showed forth the power of the baptism of holy
spirit for they spoke the wonderful works of God.
No wonder it was expected of the first century believers to speak in tongues. What a privilege. What an
honor. What an opportunity.