THE HOLY SPIRIT

What does being “filled with” the Holy Spirit connote? Is it the same as being “baptized with” the Spirit?
Figurative expressions
The Holy Spirit is a Divine person. Therefore, we know that phrases like “filled with” (Ac. 2:4), “pour forth” (Ac. 2:17), “fell upon” (Ac. 10:44; 11:15), and “baptized with” (Ac. 1:5) should not be taken literally, but are figurative expressions to connote someone receiving some influence of the Holy Spirit.
Ac. 2:17 and 10:44; 11:15 will be discussed later. For now let’s consider what “filled with” the Holy Spirit connotes and whether it implies one is “baptized with” the Holy Spirit.
“filled with”
This idiom was used in Scripture to connote being influenced, affected, or controlled, in either mind or body, by something.
What are people said to be “filled” with in the following passages? Make a note as to the result.
• Lk. 4:28-29
Lk. 5:26 (compare Mt. 9:8)
• Ac. 5:3
• Ac. 5:17-18
• Col. 1:9-10
“filled with” does NOT equal “baptized with”
Ac. 1:4-5 - When did Jesus say the apostles would be “baptized with” in Holy Spirit?
Lk. 1:15,41,67 - Were people “filled with” the Holy Spirit before this?
Literally, “filled with” and “baptized in” denote different actions, and while different imagery may be used to picture the same thing, we cannot assume arbitrarily that they do, and it is clear from the comparison of these two references one does NOT imply the other.
“filled with the Spirit”
Ac. 4:8,31 - If being “filled with the Holy Spirit” means being “baptized with the Holy Spirit,” then who was baptized with the Holy Spirit on these occasions … again, and again? What was the result of their being “filled with” the Spirit?
Therefore, does the phrase, “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” in Acts 2:4 of itself imply they were baptized with the Holy Spirit on this occasion?
If we allow Col. 3:16 to interpret Eph. 5:18, what does “filled with the Spirit” mean in Eph. 5:18? (These are twin epistles: both by same author, both written during his two years in prison in Rome, containing similar admonitions—compare Ephesians, chapters 4-6 with Colossians, chapters 2-4.). This shows that “filled with the Spirit” does not necessarily refer to any supernatural powers (e.g., tongues, miracles) being given to the person.
What we learn from the above is that “filled with the Spirit” must be interpreted contextually. We cannot arbitrarily assign a meaning to it.
In Ac. 11:24 it is said that Barnabas was “full of the Holy Spirit and faith.” This is given as a reason (“for”), along with being a “good man,” as to why he was selected to encourage the new Christians to remain true to the Lord through teaching (vv19-23…26).
Is anything said about him working miracles in this context?
If the Holy Spirit is put for His word as in Eph 5:18, this would accord with the context as to why Barnabas was chosen for the particular mission and the work of teaching he is said to have engaged himself in.
Ac. 13:52 - according to the context, why were the disciples “filled with joy” (vv. 44-49, esp. vv46-48)?
For two Sabbaths they had heard “the word of the Lord” promising salvation to all men, including the Gentiles, and this word continued to be spread. If the Holy Spirit is put for His word of salvation as spoken of by the Old Testament prophets and now by New Testament prophets, it accords with the context and explains why they were filled with joy.
Note: Is there any indication in any of these scriptures (or any other in the New Testament) of emotional outbursts as a result of being “filled with the Spirit”?
“Baptized with” — Measure of influence
Isa. 21:4 says, “horror overwhelms me,” NASB (KJV, “fearfulness affrighted me”; NKJV, “fearfulness frightened me”; NRSV, “horror has appalled me”; NIV, “fear makes me tremble”). The Hebrew word from which “overwhelms” is translated is Strong’s #1204, baath, “a prim. root; to fall upon, startle, terrify.” The Greek word the Septuagint used to translate this is baptizO, the same word translated “baptize” in the New Testament. The NASB translates, “overwhelms.” Observe the idea conveyed by, “baptized in horror.”
Reception of the baptism of the Holy Spirit was a “promise” of the Father the apostles had heard from Jesus Christ, Acts 1:4,5. When Jesus spoke of this promise to them, how did he describe what they would receive, Lk. 24:49? See also Ac. 1:8.
Jesus was both God and man. They did not have the power he had. Early Christians were given power to speak in tongues, work miracles, or exercise one or more of the other gifts of the Spirit. Cornelius exercised but one—tongues. The apostles were in a class by themselves in so far as the power they had. Read the scriptures below and list what the power they were given enabled them to do.
? Jn. 14:26; 15:27; 16:12-15; 2Pt. 1:3
? Mk. 16:17-20; Ac. 4:33; 14:3; Heb. 2:3-4
? Ac. 8:14-19; 19:6
? 2Co. 12:12
The Holy Spirit is a person, and they were not literally immersed in a person. Evidently the Holy Spirit is by metonymy put for the power He would give the apostles to do their work. Truly, they were “baptized” or “immersed” in that power!

Quick Quiz
Choose all correct answers in the following.