Acts 1:5

"For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”"

Key Reflection

In Acts 1:5, Jesus references the baptism performed by John the Baptist, emphasizing that while John's ministry involved physical baptism with water, a new and more profound form of baptism was about to begin. This new baptism would be in the Holy Spirit, signifying the coming of the divine presence promised through the prophetic words of Elijah and John himself (cf. Malachi 3:1; Matthew 11:14). This transition highlights the shift from an earthly preparatory phase to the full revelation of God's kingdom, marked by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit among believers.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 5. For John truly baptized, etc. These are the words of Jesus to his apostles; and he evidently has reference to what was said of John's baptism compared with his own in Mt 3:11; Joh 1:33. In those verses John is represented as baptizing with water, but the Messiah who was to come as baptizing with the Holy Ghost and with fire. This promise respecting the Messiah was now about to be fulfilled in a remarkable manner. See Ac 2. Not many days hence. This was probably spoken not long before his ascension, and of course not many days before the day of Pentecost.

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