The baptism with the Holy Spirit began on the Day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts chapter 2.
Les Feldick states plainly that Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, because it was a Jewish feast day and the nation of Israel was gathered there. The promise in Acts 1:5 that they would be baptized with the Holy Ghost "not many days hence" was fulfilled when the Spirit came down with power on the believers in Jerusalem.
Acts 1:5 — Jesus directly sets the timing for the Spirit baptism: 'not many days hence.'
Acts 2:1-4 — This is the account of the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon them.
Joel 2:28 — Peter identified the Pentecost event as the fulfillment of this prophecy.
In Acts 1, before His ascension, Jesus gathered with His followers and told them to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. He said, "For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" (Acts 1:5). The same chapter records Jesus saying, "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" (Acts 1:8). When the day of Pentecost came, the disciples were all together in one place. Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house. Cloven tongues like as of fire appeared and sat upon each of them, "and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance" (Acts 2:1-4). Peter then said, "this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel" (Acts 2:16), and he told the crowd, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38).
Les Feldick teaches that the baptism with the Holy Spirit began at Pentecost. He points out that in Acts 1 Jesus told the disciples to wait for the promise, and that John the Baptist had referred to a future baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire. When Pentecost came, it was a Jewish feast day; the nation of Israel was gathered, and the Holy Spirit came down with power. Les says this gave believing Jews the prospect of continuing the miracles, signs, and wonders Jesus had done. Les also emphasizes that this event was the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy about the Spirit being poured out on Israel. He explains that at Pentecost, Jesus was the baptizer and He was baptizing Jews into the Holy Spirit. Later, in Paul's letters, the operation reverses: the Holy Spirit baptizes believers, predominantly Gentiles, into Christ. But the beginning point, according to Les, is clearly Pentecost.
In Acts chapter 1, Jesus told His followers to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. He reminded them that John baptized with water, but they would be baptized with the Holy Ghost "not many days hence." Les notes that John's announcement about baptizing with the Holy Spirit was future — John said that He will do it at a future time.
Les Feldick explains that Pentecost was a Jewish feast day and the nation of Israel was gathered in Jerusalem. It was then that the Holy Spirit came down with power. The purpose was to enable believing Jews to do the same miracles, signs, and wonders that Jesus had done. Les also connects this to Joel's prophecy, saying that the Spirit was poured out on the nation of Israel at Pentecost.
When the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost, Peter addressed the crowd and said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Les points out that in this verse, repentance and baptism were the prerequisite listed before receiving the Holy Spirit. Peter then said the event itself was what the prophet Joel had spoken about.
Les teaches that as revelation moved into Paul's letters, there was a complete change of operation. Back in the Jewish economy, Jesus was the baptizer, baptizing Jews into the Holy Spirit. By the time of Paul, the Holy Spirit is the baptizer and baptizes believers, predominantly Gentiles, into Christ. This is a complete reversal from what began at Pentecost.
Why Israel Failed to Evangelize the World — Isaiah to Acts
I think in one of our previous programs I put the two lines on the board. You remember it? I said in all the way up through the Old Testament you've got two parallel thoughts, the king and the kingdom, a suffering Savior. And you remember I emphasized every Jew wanted the king and the kingdom, but they did not want to deal with the Savior, and that was their problem. But here it is.
Pentecost as the Starting Point
Les says the baptism with the Holy Spirit was carried out by Jesus at Pentecost, a Jewish feast day when the Spirit came down with power upon the gathered nation.
John's Future Promise
Les explains that John the Baptist spoke of a future baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire, giving two alternatives: the Spirit or the lake of fire.
Prerequisite at Pentecost
Les highlights that in Acts 2:38, Peter tells the Jews to repent and be baptized before receiving the Holy Spirit, showing the pattern at the beginning of Spirit baptism.
Reversal in Paul's Letters
Les contrasts the beginning of Spirit baptism with what came later: Jesus baptizing Jews into the Spirit gives way to the Spirit baptizing predominantly Gentiles into Christ.
Joel's Prophecy Fulfilled
Les identifies the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost as the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy that the Spirit would be poured out on Israel.
What Must I Do to Be Saved? Acts 2 vs. Acts 16 Explained
And they'd killed Him, but God had raised Him from the dead. All right. Now they were to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins, and then they would receive the Holy Spirit. Now don't lose that. Come over now with me to Acts chapter 10. And here we have Peter at the house of Cornelius, a Gentile.
Peter Identifies the Event
Les unpacks Peter's statement 'this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel,' showing that the Spirit came at Pentecost in a role completely different from before.
Acts 1:5: For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Jesus gives the time frame for when Spirit baptism would begin.
Acts 1:8: 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.
Les connects this 'power' to the Pentecost coming of the Spirit.
Acts 2:1-4: And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
This records the moment the baptism with the Holy Spirit began.
Acts 2:38: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Peter explains the condition for receiving the Spirit on that same day.
Joel 2:28: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.
Les says this prophecy was fulfilled at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came down.
1 Corinthians 12:13: For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Les uses this to show the later reversal where the Spirit baptizes believers into Christ.
According to Les Feldick, the baptism with the Holy Spirit began at Pentecost. Jesus had promised in Acts 1:5 that the disciples would be baptized with the Holy Ghost 'not many days hence,' and that promise was fulfilled when the Spirit came down on the Day of Pentecost.
Les teaches that John the Baptist spoke of a future baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire. He presented two alternatives: being baptized with the Spirit or being baptized with the lake of fire. John's words pointed ahead to the coming event, which Les says happened at Pentecost.
Yes. Les notes that the Spirit was active at creation and that David prayed for the Spirit not to be taken from him. But at Pentecost, the Spirit came in a new role, and Peter identified the event as what was spoken by the prophet Joel.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Failed to Evangelize the World — Isaiah to Acts