The question is posed that if only baptized believers can receive the “gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38), then how does one account for the fact that Cornelius (and those with him) received the “gift” of the Holy Spirit before baptism (Acts 10:44-48). Ordinarily, according to Acts 2:38, reception of the “gift of the Holy Spirit” occurred after one was baptized in the baptism of the Great Commission. The time and place of the reception of the “gift of the Holy Spirit” was not simultaneous to one’s baptism, but came afterward through the imposition of apostolic hands and prayer (Acts 8:14-17). When the apostle Paul traveled to Ephesus, he intended to impart the “gift of the Holy Spirit” (miraculous power) to 12 disciples there. However, when he inquired whether they had received the Holy Spirit yet, they were not aware of the Holy Spirit. Since the “gift of the Holy Spirit” was announced in conjunction with the teaching of the Great Commission baptism, Paul inquired into what baptism they had been baptized if they were not aware of the Holy Spirit. Because they had been baptized into the baptism of John the Baptist when that particular baptism was no longer valid, having been replaced with the Great Commission baptism, Paul baptized them in the baptism Peter preached in Acts 2:38. Then, Paul imparted to these disciples the “gift of the Holy Spirit” or the ability to perform miracles (Acts 19:1-7).
However, the exception to the ordinary procedure in the first century to receive the “gift of the Holy Spirit” or miraculous power by non-apostles occurred at the home of Cornelius. Acts 10-11 detail how that the apostle Peter reluctantly went to a Gentile’s home and preached the Gospel to him and those with him before baptizing them. However, it was not until Cornelius and those assembled with him received the “gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 10:45; 11:17) that Peter was compelled to baptize those Gentiles. Chapter Eleven chronicles how that the apostle Peter was called on the carpet or criticized for taking the Gospel to Gentiles and baptizing them. It was that God gave those Gentiles the “gift of the Holy Spirit” that compelled those Jewish Christians to reluctantly accept the fact that God determined to include Gentiles in the Gospel. Acts 10-11 make it abundantly clear that the reason for the exception to the rule for reception of the “gift of the Holy Spirit” in the first century was to compel biased Jewish Christians to accept God’s purpose to save the Gentiles, too.
Since miracles were slated to end when they accomplished the purpose for which they were given by God (Mark 16:20; 1 Corinthians 13:8-13; Ephesians 4:11-14), and since miracles have accomplished that purpose (Hebrews 2:3-4; John 20:30-31) by providing the completed Word of God (Bible), miracles are no longer needed and have ceased. The ordinary way for the “gift of the Holy Spirit” to be received was through imposition of apostolic hands and prayer, but since the apostles are dead, that cannot happen. Only the apostles were the recipients of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, for only to them was it promised (John 14-16; Acts 1:8), and only they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:26-2:4, 7, 14). Therefore, no one today should expect to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The exception to the way in which the “gift of the Holy Spirit” was received is not applicable beyond the admission of Gentiles to the church of God. Therefore, no one should expect to receive the “gift of the Holy Spirit” directly from heaven.
