Acts 1:4-5
What is written? (ESV)
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
What does it say?
While Jesus was still with them [the eleven], He told them to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the promise from God. Jesus had already told them about this and further told them that while John baptized with water, they would soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
What is its immediate context?
Luke’s “part 2” account to Theophilus, where he opens with a brief summary (vss 1-11) that recaps/overlaps with the ending of the “part 1” (Luke 24:36-53). Jesus, with His apostles (vs 2), is reminding them of the “promise of the Father” (“the Helper”) that He first told them about in the upper room before His crucifixion (John 14:15-17, 16:7-14). He is also referring back to the same thing John the Baptist had originally proclaimed, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Luke 3:16)This is just before He ascends into heaven (vs 9) and the day of Pentecost (chapter 2).
How Acts 1:4-5 is applied across Bible answers
What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit?
Jesus reiterates what He had already shared with them[no repeater]. Notably, He also pinpoints the "when" ("not many days from now") and the "where" (in Jerusalem).
Importantly, it is after this (vs 48) that they were baptized with water. Two different baptisms with Cornelius. The first (baptism of the Holy Spirit) was for the benefit of Peter and his colleagues to demonstrate the Gentiles were accepted into the kingdom. The second (baptism with water) was for the benefit of Cornelius and his household, putting on Christ.
What is the baptism of John the Baptist?
Jesus tells the apostles that in a few days, they would be "baptized with the Holy Spirit" - a baptism that was both distinguished from the baptism of John's water baptism and something that was "the promise of the Father".8
What is the promise of the Holy Spirit?
Jesus (after the resurrection; just before ascension) reminds them of the promise he told them about7 and also connects it to baptism with the Holy Spirit that they will experience "not many days" from then.
