Chapter 3: Two Separate Experiences: Salvation and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit In Acts chapter 8, the ministry of Philip in Samaria is recorded. As we study this account, it becomes evident that salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit are two separate experiences. ACTS 8:5-8,12-17 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and PREACHED CHRIST unto them. 6 And the people with ONE ACCORD GAVE HEED UNTO THOSE THINGS which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city... 12 But when they BELIEVED Philip preaching THE THINGS CONCERNING THE KINGDOM OF GOD, and THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, behold-ing the miracles and signs which were done. 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD [con-cerning salvation], they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST. Philip (who was later called Philip the evangelist in Acts 21:8) had a marvelous ministry in Samaria, as stated in verses 7 and 8: "For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city." Mighty miracles were constantly being manifested in Philip's ministry and many people were being saved. Yet notice that in Acts chapter 8, not one person received the Holy Spirit under Philip's ministry. Evidently, that was not a part of Philip's ministry, but getting folks saved and healed was. However, the Bible says that when the apostles at Jerusalem heard about the wonderful things God had done through Philip's ministry in Samaria, they sent Peter and John to lay hands on the new Samaritan converts so that they might receive the Holy Ghost. There is no record that any upon whom Peter and John laid their hands failed to receive the Holy Ghost because Peter and John had more of a ministry along this line. The Bible says, "Then laid they [Peter and John] their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost" (Acts 8:17). These verses of Scripture helped me as a young minister in a denominational church to see that there is an experience subsequent to or following salvation, called the infilling or the baptism of the Holy Spirit. I had been taught that when you are saved, you have the Holy Spirit. That is true in one sense because the Bible says that in the new birth we are born of the Spirit of God (John 3:3-8). But my denomination taught that when you are born again, you have all the Holy Ghost there is to have. However, these Samaritans in Acts chapter 8 were saved or born again by the Spirit of God (vv. 12,14), as we will plainly see from the scriptures in a moment. But the apostles didn't seem to think they had all of the Holy Ghost there was to have because they sent Peter and John to them so the Samaritans could receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Therefore, salvation and receiving the infilling or the baptism of the Holy Spirit are two separate experiences. The Samaritans Born Again Under Philip's Ministry Now let's go back and look at the scriptures which prove conclusively that these Samaritans were born again under Philip's ministry, so we can see that being born again and receiving the Holy Spirit are two separate experiences. We remember that Jesus told us in the Great Commission that salvation comes through the preaching of the gospel, the Word of God. MARK 16:15,16 15 ... Go ye into all the world, and PREACH THE GOSPEL to every creature. 16 He that BELIEVETH and is baptized shall be SAVED; but he that believeth not shall be damned. First Scriptural Witness ACTS 8:5 5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and PREACHED CHRIST unto them. The Bible says that Philip preached Christ to the Samaritans. Preaching Christ is preaching the good news of the gospel of salvation through Jesus. Preaching Christ is obeying the Great Commission that Jesus gave to the Church. These Samaritans believed the gospel message Philip preached: "And the people with one accord GAVE HEED UNTO THOSE THINGS WHICH PHILIP SPAKE ..." (Acts 8:6). So according to what Jesus said in Mark 16:16, the Samaritans were saved. The Bible says to let every truth be established in the mouth of two or three witnesses (2 Cor. 13:1), so let's look at another scriptural witness which proves these Samaritans were born again. Second Scriptural Witness The Bible says we are born again by the Word of God. The Book of Peter says we are born "... not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, BY THE WORD OF GOD, which liveth and abideth for ever" 1 Peter 1:23). Our scripture in Acts 8:14 says, "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD. ..." Therefore, as our second scriptural witness, we have proof that the Samaritans were genuinely saved because they had received the incorruptible Word of God preached by Philip. Third Scriptural Witness The third scriptural witness is that the apostles recognized that the Samaritans were saved: "Now when the apostles . heard that Samaria had RECEIVED THE WORD OF GOD" (Acts 8:14). So we see that the Samaritans were saved under Philip's ministry. These Samaritans had received the Word of God concerning salvation, but the Bible says they had yet to be filled with or baptized in the Holy Spirit: "For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 8:16). There is a work of the Holy Spirit that takes place in the new birth, but that is not called the baptism in the Holy Spirit or receiving the Holy Spirit. That is called being born again, being born of the Spirit of God, receiving salvation, or receiving eternal life (John 3:3-8). Then there is an experience following salvation called the baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5). It is also referred to as receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:15), or being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4), or being endued with power from on High (Luke 24:49). The Samaritans Received the Holy Spirit Peter and John were sent down to Samaria for the specific purpose of praying for the Samaritan believers to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. ACTS 8:14-17 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God [ that they w ere born again l, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST. Some might ask why Peter and John had to go pray for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Ghost? Why couldn't Philip have prayed for them just as well? But we must remember that we each have our place in God's plan. We must each find that place and do what God wants us to do. God has special ministries. He didn't call all of us to minister the same, and He didn't give all of us the same gifts or ministry. Philip had a mighty ministry, but it was in the Lord's plan to send Peter and John to lay hands on the new converts so they could receive the Holy Ghost. As I said previously, while it is true any Christian can lay hands on another believer in faith to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, it is also true that some members of the Body of Christ have more of a ministry and more of an anointing along this line Philip, for example, had more of a ministry of bringing people into salvation and of ministering healing. As we saw in Acts 8:12, when Philip preached the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, people were saved. And there were also many healings under Philip's ministry (Acts 8:6,7). Peter and John, on the other hand, had a ministry more along the line of bringing believers into the baptism of the Holy Spirit; when they laid their hands upon the Samaritans, these new converts received the Holy Ghost. ACTS 8:17-19 17 Then laid they [Peter and John] their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18 And when Simon SAW that through laying on of the apos tles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.