Does the Bible Really Teach Tarrying for the Holy Spirit with the Evidence of Speaking in Tongues?

The question that Paul asked some of the disciples by saying, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" have been greatly misunderstood by the Church today especially among many evangelical Charismatic and Pentecostal movement. They have taken what Paul says by convincing many believers by teaching a second work of grace or second blessings (Gal. 1:8-9).  What does it mean by a subsequential work of salvation? The subsequential work of salvation is when a saved person is to "tarry" for the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues. Does the Bible teach that of a second work of grace or second blessings according to Acts chapter 19 verse 2b where Paul says, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" by asking some of the disciples this particular question. Well, as we begin to look at this particular portion of the passage of scripture by studying it within its proper context is comparing scripture with scripture (1 Cor. 2:13). The basic of Bible interpretation is to compare scripture with scripture in light of a biblical passage or passages of the Bible especially those difficult passages that are hard to understand. So as we begin to study the first part of Acts 19:2a where Paul says by asking some of the disciples the question, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" is very important to understand this verse in light of its immediate context. Context, context, rules.  We must read and study previous as well as preceding passages of the Bible to understand the immediate context of the passage of scripture that is under study (2 Tim. 2:15).

  First, let's read together but slowly Acts 19:2 says, And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy when you believed?" And they said, "No, "we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." But within the first part of this particular portion of the passage of scripture (Ac. 19:2a) we will begin to study this verse in conjunction with other passages of the Bible that will shed light upon Acts chapter 19:2a.  The apostle Paul begin to asked some of the disciples the question by saying, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" The comparison passages of the Bible is Acts chapter 11:16, 17.  This particular passage of the Bible (Acts 11:16, 17) will shed light upon Acts chapter 11 verses 16 and 17.

  Well let's read once again together and slowly Acts 11:16, 17 where it says, "And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, "John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. But, in verse 17 of Acts chapter 11 where it also says, "If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?" So according to Acts 19:2a when Paul asked some of John's disciples the question by saying, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? is that even though they were baptized into John's baptism, but, Paul's question to the disciples was were you baptized with the Holy Spirit? The baptism of the Holy Spirit by which the disciples were to be baptized is different from the baptism of the Spirit by which many believers are placed into Christ's body at the moment of their salvation. The Holy Spirit is an habitation of the Church by which the Spirit dwells (1 Cor. 12:12-13; [1 Cor. 6:19]). The baptism of the Spirit by which John's disciples were going to experience later on in Acts 19:6 is when Paul laid his hands upon them and the Holy Spirit came on them was that they were to began to speak in tongues and prophesying (v. 6). Even though many Charismatics will say, "See, when Paul laid his hands upon the disciples that receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues." There is no where within this particular passage that even suggest nor support the Charismatic doctrine of "literal" speaking in tongues as the initial evidence of having the Holy Spirit. John's disciples experienced what happen on the day of Pentecost according to Acts chapter 2 verse 4 where it says, "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in [other] tongues [Or, language] as the Spirit gave them utterance." When the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples of John as they began to speak in tongues is the gift of tongues by which they spoke in such native language; not the gibberish of tongues perpetuated by many Charismatics today. Not only did the disciples of John began to speak in tongues by which they were baptized by the Holy Spirit, but, also they prophesied. The Church is edified through the edification of God's Word; not the "twisted" tongues within the professing church today (Rom. 12:4-8). 

   The gift of tongues was in fact distributed to the apostles, and the 120 disciples of Christ along with the disciples of John by the Holy Spirit so as to speak in different native language or ""diverse" language so as to preach the gospel throughout the whole world (Acts 1:8).  Had it not been for the Spirit's enablement it would have been difficult for them to speak in the native language of the people (Acts 2:5-11).  The Church cannot claim the Holy Spirit's enablement to speak in the native language of the people simply because of the fact they were not apart of the historical narrative and event of what happened on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1, 2-4). In so many words many Charismatic and Pentecostals were not there to witness nor experience what many of Christ's disciples experienced on the day of the Pentecost. What happened on the day of Pentecost was an actual event by which it is a past historical event. The Church cannot "duplicate" what happened on the day of Pentecost. Whenever there is ignorance of church history and doctrine is that distorted beliefs and practice will abound.

   Many of the believers were saved by which the Holy Spirit came upon each of them to speak in different native language (Acts 2:3). They were all "filled" with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in [other] tongues as they were enabled by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). Many of the believers who were filled with the Holy Spirit and a result they were enabled by the Spirit to speak in different languages so as to proclaim the gospel throughout the whole world (Acts 1:8).  They spoke in he native language of the people by which those who heard them speak in their own language understood what they were saying (Acts 2:5-11).  It was the wonderful works of God by which the Galileans spoke in the native language of the people (Acts 2:11).  Belief in the Lord Jesus Christ is not prerequisite to the believer having the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of "literally" speaking in tongues. The person who is saved at that moment are baptized by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:12-13). A truly saved person are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19), filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18), seal with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13), and are anointed by the Holy Spirit (1 Jn. 2:27). 

Rev. Darryl L. Miller is Lead pastor of Contending for the Faith Reformed Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Darryl is the author of his book, "The Prosperity Gospel: Where Did It Come From? Gnostic Source? Or Spiritual Revelation?" He is also the Podcast Host, "Ask Darryl" which airs 24/7 @ www.spreaker.com/user/bishopoflyons. As a apologist, pastor, conference speaker, and lecturer he is in great demand both in the United States and around the world. Darryl lives with his wife Vivian outside metro Atlanta with their puppy "Little Baby."