God set the Apostles in the church first (See Matthew 16:18-19, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 2:20 & Hebrews 3:1).  He continued to teach and work with them through His Spirit (See John 14:26, Mark 16:20 & Acts 1:2). 

Acts 1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

The Apostles were commanded to teach the world what was commanded to them by the Lord.  The Apostles, operating with divinely established authority, reiterated God's commandments (See Acts 2:38, Acts 10:48 & Acts 20:28).

Matthew 28:19-20  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The Apostles were commanded by the Lord to wait until they were endued with power of the Spirit of God, the promise of eternal inheritance (See Acts 1:4 & Hebrews 5:9):

Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

When anointed with the Spirit, confirmed by speaking in tongues (the Spirit gives evidence), they testified that this is what Joel prophesied about (Jesus manifesting Himself: what was seen and heard [See John 14:21-23 & Acts 19:6]):

Acts 2:16-17  But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

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

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

1 John 3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Acts 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

Peter bear witness that speaking in tongues as the Spirit of God gave utterance was the Lord pouring His Spirit (See Acts 2:4, Acts 2:16-17 & Acts 2:33).  The Spirit also proved when He abode with certain disciples at Ephesus.  (See Acts 19:1 & Acts 19:6)

They [of the circumcision] testified that the Gentiles received the Promise.  They knew they received the Promise because the Spirit bare witness (confirmed the anointing) as the Gentiles spoke with tongues and magnified God (See also Mark 16:17). 

The Spirit being poured out was not a one-time event reserved for the day of Pentecost.  Acts 11:15 records that He fell on them (Gentiles) as at the day of Pentecost (Jerusalem).

Acts 10:44-47 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

Acts 11:15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

Making a pretentious or insincere claim of repentance through a "profession of faith" (a.k.a. "the sinner's prayer") does not impart eternal life to the articulator.  Faith without works is dead (See James 2:17).  We are justified by faith, which is manifested perfectly and fully (entirely) when joined as one, working as one, with actions of obedience (See James 1:4, James 2:22-24 & Acts 5:32).  Faith proven by walking faithfully in obedience is not an act of earning a gift or receiving by debt (This does not constitute earning benefit by works, deeds or actions, but on the contrary, it is showing faith by actions).

If the Holy Spirit is imparted immediately upon "profession of faith" or during baptism, the apostle Paul wouldn't have asked "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed" as recorded in Acts 19:2.  If all receive Him upon belief, why would an apostle ask if you have received Him "since ye believed"?  (Also see Acts 8:15-17).

Apostle Paul stated in Acts 26:20 [That he shewed...] that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance (prove by appropriate deeds).  (See also Matthew 3:8-11 & Luke 3:8)

The apostle Peter standing up with the eleven affirmed:  "This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel" (This confirmation is what was prophesized about the Gift of Life).  Acts 2:21 records the words of Joel:   "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved [delivered]".  He was speaking of people filled with the Spirit, speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.

This is that: The promise of salvation, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows by faith in Jesus Christ, and confirms that He is upon us [abiding with us] (See John 1:8, Luke 3:16, Acts 11:16).

content revised:  06/18/04