For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Parallel translations
- WEB For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
- BSB For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
- NKJV for John truly baptized with water,but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
- NASB for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
- NLT John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus contrasts John's water baptism with the imminent baptism in the Holy Spirit. It points forward to Pentecost as the decisive outpouring of the Spirit.
Overview
John's baptism prepared the way, but the Spirit's baptism would bring the promised new-covenant reality. 'Not many days from now' anticipates Pentecost, fulfilled in chapter 2. This baptism in the Spirit equips the church for witness and unites believers to Christ's ongoing work.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Matt 3:11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
- Acts 11:15–16And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
- 1 Cor 12:13For 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.
- Luke 3:16John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
- Titus 3:5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
- Acts 2:1–4And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
- Mark 1:8I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
- Acts 10:45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
- Acts 2:16–21But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
- John 1:31And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
- Joel 2:28–32And 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:
- Acts 19:4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
- Joel 3:18And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 1:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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