Does the Book of Acts Provide Any Pattern for Believers to Receive the Holy Spirit??
Often people will speak of the Acts pattern for receiving the Holy Spirit. Supposedly the Book of Acts presents certain stages the believer must go through to receive the Holy Spirit and to speak with tongues. But when one examines the Book of Acts, no such pattern emerges. Pentecost On the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) the believers, who had been baptized, received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues without the laying on of hands. Samaria In Samaria (Acts 8) the people believed in Jesus and were baptized. Yet they did not receive the Holy Spirit until Peter and John came down and laid hands on them. There is no record that they spoke in tongues. Gentiles In Acts 10, the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles while they were listening to the word. The Gentiles then spoke with tongues and were soon baptized. There was no laying on of hands in this case. Disciples Of John In Acts 19, the disciples of John the Baptist believed and were baptized. The Holy Spirit then came upon them when Paul lai
