For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Parallel translations
- KJV For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
- 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 in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 11:15–16As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.
- 1 Cor 12:13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.
- Luke 3:16John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire,
- Titus 3:5not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
- Acts 2:1–4Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.
- Mark 1:8I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”
- Acts 10:45They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.
- Acts 2:16–21But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:
- John 1:31I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.”
- Joel 2:28–32“It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.
- Acts 19:4Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.”
- Joel 3:18It will happen in that day, that the mountains will drop down sweet wine, the hills will flow with milk, all the brooks of Judah will flow with waters, and a fountain will flow out from Yahweh’s house, and will water the valley of Shittim.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.