ONLY CHRIST WOULD BAPTIZE WITH THE HOLY GHOST:

(John 1:32-34) And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. [33] And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. [34] And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

Matthew 3:11 has already been quoted, where John said that Christ would baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire. No one else has the authority to baptize with the Holy Ghost but Christ.

(Mat 28:19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

We do, however, have the authority to baptize in the name of the Holy Ghost, as well as the Father and the Son. At this point, we have already learned that all who are baptized into Christ have been baptized by the Holy Ghost, whether by immersion in the sound as the apostles were, or immersion in water. We must remember that the baptism that we are baptized with is, the baptism of Christ: Christ did not baptize during his ministry, neither does he baptize now. Why the difference in the baptism of the apostles as opposed to everyone else after them who are baptized in water?

The scripture does not offer an outright explanation, but there are some reasonable conclusions that we might draw:

• Only Christ preached to the apostles the plan of salvation.

• As opposed to John and the apostles physically baptizing, no man baptized them but the Lord himself.

• The miraculous hand of God parted the waters of the Red Sea and established his new nation on the other side of the sea. Also by the miraculous hand of God, did he establish the kingdom of his dear Son on the day of Pentecost. In both cases, after deliverance from sin and oppression, the kingdoms were established.

• After the baptism of Christ, the Holy Ghost descended upon Jesus as he did upon the apostles after their baptism.

• God set some in the church; first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, and diversities of tongues (1 Cor. 12:28).

THE PROMISE OF THE COMFORTER TO THE APOSTLES:

(John 14:25-26) These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. [26] But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

(John 15:26) But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

(John 16:12-15) I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. [13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. [15] All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.

There was no way on this earth for the apostles to understand very much of what Jesus said unto them. Therefore, it was incumbent that Jesus send them help to revive their memory of his teachings and to cause them to teach in the manner that God desired. The Holy Spirit took the place of Jesus in order for the apostles to maintain their confidence in God and themselves. Not only did the Holy Spirit bring to their remembrance the New Testament that Christ gave to them, but Jesus said that all things that belonged to God were his, and the Holy Spirit would show it unto them. Jesus earnestly prayed for the disciples that God gave him (Jn. 17:1-26). This same comforter whom God sent to the apostles, he has given to all who obey him (Acts 5:32), not to reveal the doctrine of Christ, but to give the same hope of confidence that we are the children of God (Rom. 8:16).

THE LAST ASSURANCE:

(Acts 1:4-8) And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. [5] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. [6] When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? [7] And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. [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.

After his resurrection and immediately before his ascension, the Lord gave his final instructions to his disciples. I'm quite sure that they had no knowledge that their baptism of the Holy Spirit would be so much different from what they had experienced. The power that they received from the Holy Ghost did turn the world upside down. Amen.