And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. Acts 11:15

          If you read about people’s ministries in the New Testament, you can draw one distinct correlation.  Before people went out to teach or share the Word, they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.  Luke 3:21-22 tells how Jesus was baptized with water and then the Holy Spirit came upon Him.  This is the one time in scripture where the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all active and revealed openly at the same time.  Luke 4:1 says, “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.”  After Jesus stood against the temptations of Satan, Luke 4:14 says that Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit.  This passage of scripture is titled “Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry.”  Jesus did not begin His ministry until He was filled with the Holy Spirit. 

          Acts 9 tells the story of how Paul was baptized in the Holy Spirit.  In verse 20 right after being baptized in the Holy Spirit it says, “Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.”  Jesus knew the power of the Holy Spirit.  He told His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel (Mark 16:15).  However, He told them in Luke 24:49 to wait in the city of Jerusalem until they were endued power from on high by the Holy Spirit.  Jesus commanded the disciples to preach the gospel, but His will was for the disciples to be filled with the Holy Spirit before they went out.  Once they were baptized in the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, Peter stood up and gave his first sermon.  This is what Peter is describing in Acts 11:15 when he says, “the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.”  Peter had walked with Jesus, yet he referenced his infilling of the Holy Spirit as the beginning.  That is when his ministry started.  This is why Jesus stated in Acts 1:5 and 11:16 that you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.  Then you are ready to preach the Gospel in the fullness of His revelation and power.