The baptism with the Holy Ghost has a definite purpose stated by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. “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 Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth,” (Acts 1:8). “They were all filled with the Holy Ghost and they spake the word of God with boldness,” (Acts 4:31).

The Apostles and the disciples of Christ (about 120 in number) had just received the outpouring of the Spirit, the Pentecostal baptism. The immediate active ministry was the preaching of the saving gospel in the power of the Spirit.

The baptism of the Spirit empowered the believers to be bold and to courageously proclaim the message of salvation to the world in the irresistible power of the Spirit. The sinners’ hearts were pricked and pierced, convicted and made willing to repent, believe, submit and surrender to Christ and receive Him as Saviour and Lord.

We must always keep the purpose of Pentecost in mind. The Holy Spirit comes to fill, indwell, comfort, empower, teach, guide and envision us to fulfill Christ’s ministry through us. He equips and enables us to preach, pray and prevail on men, moving us along as with a mighty wind in the unstoppable proclamation of the gospel.

Peter, who had denied the Lord with oaths and curses about fifty days earlier, now boldly bore witness to the death, resurrection and exaltation of Christ. No longer fearful, timid or vacillating; he preached to the multitude of religious Jews with conviction, courage and compassion.

The Lord had promised to give him the keys of the Kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:18,19) and here we see him using the keys of gospel preaching to open the door of faith for multitudes to enter into the Kingdom.

As thousands of Jews gathered, wondering about the sight and sound they saw and heard (Acts 2:33), Peter arose to give the true and scriptural explanation that the Spirit of God had been poured out on the followers of Christ as spoken by Prophet Joel.

The baptism with the Holy Spirit gave the recipients illumination, inspiration, revelation, interpretation, power, courage, wisdom, zeal and single-mindedness. Peter spontaneously quoted from Joel and the Psalms and gave the interpretation as they relate to Christ and then applied the word with persuasive and penetrating impact.

• Further reading (King James Version): Acts 2:14-40. Acts 2:14-21; Joel 2:28-32; Proverbs 1:23; Isaiah 44:3; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Matthew 3:11,12; John 7:37-39; Acts 1:4,5,8; Numbers 11:29. Acts 2:22-36; Luke 24:44-49; John 3:2,3; Acts 3:13-15; 10:39-43; Psalm 16:8-11; Romans 1:3,4; 2 Timothy 2:8; Acts 13:32-39; Philippians 2:5-11. Acts 2:37-40; John 16:7-11; Acts 16:29-34; 3:19-26; 17:30,31; 20:20,21; 2 Corinthians 6:17,18; Revelation 18:4,5; Mark 16:15,16; 2 Peter 1:3,4.