Luke the physician wrote, “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach. 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. To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, said he, you have heard of me”, and in chapter one and verse five of the book of Acts Luke wrote how Jesus said, “John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost” where we read:
For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days from now.
The verse begins, “For John truly baptized with water;” Luke began with the words, “for John truly baptized” which means “because, since and on account that John the Baptist, whose name means Jehovah is a gracious giver, immersed and submerged people” “with water” or “using water from the river”. Luke shared how Jesus referred to the way “John the Baptist” “immersed and submerged” people in “water” from the river as an outward declaration of their inward repentance from sins.
The verse goes on to say, “but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days from now.” Luke continued with the words, “but you shall be baptized” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover you, disciples of Jesus, will be immersed and submerged” “with the Holy Ghost” which means “ by way of the sacred, pure, morally blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit who is coequal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son” “not many days from now” or “not after a lot or large amount of days from the current time and moment”. Luke shared how Jesus told His “disciples” they would be “immersed and engulfed” with God the Father's “Holy Spirit” not very long from their present time .
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus referred to the way “John the Baptist” “immersed” people in water as an outward expression of their inward repentance, but Jesus said His “disciples” were to be “engulfed” by the “Holy Spirit” of God not very long after He told them. We shall see the benefit of the “baptism of the Holy Ghost” in the next few verses, but for now let us realize Jesus knew His “disciples” needed the “ability” to carry out their activities in His Kingdom. God loves people, and He desires to have a personal relationship with them through His Son Jesus. When they receive Him, He will empower them to live the life of a “Christian” through His Holy Spirit, and anyone who believes and trusts in Him will receive forgiveness of sins, granted everlasting life and be endowed with the ability to live and share His “gospel” throughout the world.
Next time Luke shares how the disciples of Jesus ask Him, “will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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