It has already been shown that Charles Ryrie expressed a doubt concerning just exactly what Peter knew of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, writing that ""it is doubtful that Peter himself and much less probable that his hearers understood the truth concerning the baptism of the Spirit even though it did first occur first at Pentecost" (Ryrie, "The Significance of Pentecost," Bibliotheca Sacra [Oct., 1995, Vol. 112, # 448], p.337).

It is certain that when the Lord Jesus spoke of the "baptism with the Holy Spirit" the Apostles did not think that the reference was to a baptism into the Body of Christ:

"And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:4-6).

Even after hearing the Lord speak of a baptism with the Holy Spirit the Apostles were under the impression that the things of which He spoke were in regard to Israel and the earthly kingdom. There is not even a hint that they understood the Lord was speaking about a baptism into the Body of Christ.

Acts 2 dispensationalist Stanley D. Toussaint writes that at Acts 1:6 the Apostles were certainly expecting that the restoration of Israel's kingdom was near in time:

"In the disciples' minds the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the coming of the promised kingdom were closely associated...when Christ told the disciples of the soon-coming Spirit baptism, they immediately concluded that the restoration of Israel's kingdom was near in time...Acts 1:3 states that the Lord instructed the disciples about the kingdom; He certainly gave them the right impression as to its character and future coming" (Walvoord & Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary; New Testament [Colorado Springs: Chariot Victor Publishing, 1983], p.354).

Another Acts 2 dispensationalist, Miles Stanford, wrote that "The Church (born at Pentecost-Acts 2) was a complete mystery until revealed doctrinally by Paul" (Stanford, The Progressives' KINGDOM CHURCH).

In a Bible Tract titled Paul's Gospel another Acts 2 dispensationalist, William R. Newell, writes that none of the Twelve Apostles understood the truths associated with the Body of Christ until those truths were revealed to them by Paul:

"But unto none of these twelve Apostles did God reveal 'the great body of doctrine for this Age'…Paul is the unfolder of the great company of God's elect, called 'the Church, the Body of Christ,' the individuals of which Body are called 'members' of the Body of Christ—members of Christ 'Himself.' No other Apostle speaks of these things. Peter himself had to learn them from Paul (2 Pet. 3:15-16)" [emphasis added] (Newell, Paul's Gospel).

After reading this Bible tract Lewis Sperry Chafer, the founding President of Dallas Theological Seminary (Acts 2), said:

"This is a great tract, a clear treatise on the truth of God for this age. The author was one of America's greatest Bible expositors. It glorifies the Savior as the author desired it to do. It should be distributed by hundreds of thousands" (Editor, Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society, Autumn 1994, Volume 7:12).

Keeping in mind that Peter had no understanding of the things concerning the Body of Christ before they were revealed to him by Paul let us look at Peter's own words where he describes the events when Cornelius and his household received the Holy Spirit:

"And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?" (Acts 11:15-17).

We can see that Peter knew that the Lord's words concerning a baptism with the Holy Spirit had been fulfilled upon Cornelius and his household. He even quoted the words of the Lord Jesus in regard to that baptism. Since Peter had no knowledge of the baptism of believers into the Body of Christ then the baptism upon Cornelius must necessarily be in regard to another baptism! Just think about it! Since Peter had no knowledge of any baptism where believers are baptized into the Body of Christ he surely did not think that anyone was being baptized into the Body of Christ. But he did know that a baptism with the Holy Spirit did occur. That means that the "baptism with the Holy Spirit" had to be in regard to a baptism other than the one where believers are baptized into the Body of Christ.

It is not difficult to find the "baptism with the Holy Spirit" which the Lord Jesus said would happen "not many days from hence":

"But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams" (Acts 2:14-17).

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