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10. Question: Is it true that everyone in the New Testament who was baptized in (or filled with) the Holy Ghost, also spake in tongues?
Answer: No! Actually two of the most spiritually powerful conversions and baptisms ever recorded in the book of Acts never mention the receivers as speaking in tongues at the time of their baptisms. One was the Ethiopian who the Holy Spirit sent Philip unto before supernaturally catching Philip away. And the other was the Apostle Paul after his supernatural encounter with Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. In the account of the Ethiopian we read:
“And the angel of the Lord spoke unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goes down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join yourself to this chariot. And Philip ran to him, and heard him read the prophet Isaiah, and said, Do you understand what you read? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his justice was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch asked Philip, and said, I pray you, of whom speaks the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what does hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.” Acts 8:26-40
Please note that it was the Holy Spirit who personally directed Philip to Minister unto and baptize the Ethiopian who then went on his way rejoicing after the Holy Spirit supernaturally caught Philip away. This account of the Ethiopian's conversion is so electrifying with the power of the Holy Spirit that to suggest that God left this man undone with an incomplete salvation experience simply because he did not speak in tongues would be to accuse the Holy Spirit of being inconsistent and negligent in His purpose and Ministry as our convictor and guide. And as we are about to see, the conversion of the Apostle Paul was even more powerful than that of the Ethiopian's. And though Paul would later write that he did indeed have the gift of speaking in tongues, we must still rightly divide the Word of God and remember that if the Holy Spirit intended to establish the fact that speaking in tongues was the initial evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, then why was it not recorded that the Apostle Paul spake in tongues after being filled and/or baptized? For we must consider the fact that Ananias told Paul (who was at that time called by the name of Saul) that Jesus had sent him unto Paul that he might receive his sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. Then we read that “immediately” Paul received his sight and was baptized! Therefore we must conclude that Paul's infilling and/or reception of the Holy Spirit took place upon him being water baptized in the name of the Lord.
“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? And he said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute: it is hard for you to kick against the goads. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what will you have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do. And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prays, And has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hands on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem: And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on your name. But the Lord said unto him, Go your way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him what great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto you in the way as you came, has sent me, that you might receive your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples who were at Damascus. And immediately he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them who called on this name in Jerusalem, and came here for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt at Damascus, proving that this one is the very Christ.” Acts 9:1-22
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