The baptism of the Holy Spirit upon the early church was an answer to Christ's prayer for the ____ of His followers/disciples.

• A. Sanctification
• B. Enlightenment
• C. Blessing
• D. Empowerment

Answer: (A)

The heart of this idea is that Jesus prayed for his followers to be sanctified. Sanctification means being made holy and set apart for God, a transformation of character and conduct shaped by truth. When the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, it was the Spirit’s work among the believers that began and continued this process of sanctification—setting the church apart for God’s purposes and forming a holy people fit for mission. So the baptism of the Spirit is best understood as the answer to Jesus’ request that his followers be sanctified through the truth and kept by God for His purposes. Enlightenment speaks to knowledge, blessing is too broad, and empowerment highlights ability rather than the essential divine work of making believers holy through the Spirit.