Baptism of fire

John said that the one who came after him would baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16). Jesus mentioned baptism and fire in the same breath on his last journey to Jerusalem. He was preparing his followers on what to expect after he had departed (Luke 12:49-53).

The fire he was speaking of would be brought by the Holy Spirit who could only come after Jesus had been glorified (John 7:39). On the day of Pentecost tongues of fire appeared on the heads of his followers (Acts 2:3). Peter attributed the pouring out of the Holy Spirit to the fact that Jesus had ascended to heaven (Acts 2:33). On that day about 3000 people were separated from their fellow Israelites by getting baptised in water (Acts 2:40-41).

At the time when Jesus predicted the division the Holy Spirit would bring, he warned the crowds to choose life. If they ignored his invitation the consequences would be disastrous. He spoke in a parable, the meaning of which was that they needed to make peace with him or else be delivered over to the wrath of the Roman army (Luke 12:57-59). Those who persisted in their unbelief did suffer that fate. Jesus prophesied it more than 40 years before the event (Luke 21:20) and the historian Josephus recorded it.