BIBLICAL TEACHING · HOLY SPIRIT
What Is the Evidence of Baptism in the Holy Spirit?
Bruce Tentzer teaches speaking in a new tongue as evidence of baptism with the Holy Spirit. In Acts 10, believers recognized that the Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles because they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Bruce distinguishes this empowering baptism from receiving the Holy Spirit at salvation.
This teaching is drawn from Bruce Tentzer’s book, Jesus: Baptizer in the Holy Spirit.
How the believers recognized the outpouring in Acts 10
Acts 10:44–47 describes the Holy Spirit falling upon people listening to Peter. The Jewish believers who accompanied him were astonished that the gift had also been poured out upon Gentiles. What they heard helped them recognize what had happened: these new recipients were speaking with tongues and magnifying God.
Bruce emphasizes Peter’s recognition that they had received the same gift as the earlier believers. The account reaches beyond one people or the Day of Pentecost. In his explanation, speaking in tongues is an audible expression of the Spirit’s outpouring, rather than something these listeners produced through their own learning.
The believer speaks; the Spirit supplies the language
The same pattern appears at Pentecost in Acts 2. All were filled, and they spoke as the Spirit gave utterance. Bruce keeps both parts together: their own voices were involved, while the language came from the Holy Spirit. The supernatural source of the utterance matters when considering the evidence of Holy Spirit baptism.
His teaching encourages surrender rather than an effort to invent words. The believer yields their mouth, lips, and voice to the Holy Spirit. The language is received from Him, rather than composed by natural understanding. Bruce’s guided prayer ends by encouraging readers to begin using the prayer language the Spirit gives.
Keep Spirit baptism distinct from the new birth
The question about evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit needs this distinction. Bruce teaches that every born-again believer receives the Holy Spirit at salvation. In his discussion of John 20:20–22, the disciples received the Spirit in connection with their faith in the risen Jesus, before the later promised baptism.
This page concerns the evidence Bruce identifies with that empowering baptism. His teaching does not make the baptism a way to earn salvation. The new birth and the subsequent baptism with the Holy Spirit have distinct places in his explanation. Keeping them clear helps readers understand what question the accounts in Acts are answering.
An expression to continue using in prayer
Bruce describes speaking in tongues as the beginning of a continuing personal prayer language. The point is more than remembering an experience. The Spirit supplies help in prayer where natural understanding is limited, and believers are encouraged to keep using this gift in their walk with God.
The wider purpose also includes power to witness and live faithfully. Jesus remains central: He is the One who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Bruce’s invitation directs confidence toward Him and His promised help, with prayer and surrender continuing beyond the initial encounter.
Receive from Jesus in faith
Bruce presents this baptism as a freely given gift. Believers do not earn it by first becoming good enough. His instructions are to ask in faith, trust the Father’s goodness, and yield to the Spirit. Others may pray alongside a person, but the power comes from Jesus.
As you consider the biblical evidence of Spirit baptism, begin with the passages themselves. Bruce’s book develops these accounts alongside ministry testimonies and a guided prayer, helping readers move from understanding the promise toward personally asking and receiving.
Scripture from the book
For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Bruce Tentzer is the author of Jesus: Baptizer in the Holy Spirit and a licensed and ordained minister with the Foursquare Gospel Church. Read Bruce’s biography.
Want to go deeper?
Continue exploring the biblical evidence of Spirit baptism and Bruce’s guidance on receiving this promised gift. Jesus: Baptizer in the Holy Spirit expands these truths in a concise pocket ministry booklet by Bruce Tentzer.
EXPLORE THE BOOK FOLLOW THE KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN (opens in a new tab)The Kickstarter campaign comes first. Normal website ordering is not open yet.