The Promise Poured Out at Ephesus
There were disciples in Ephesus that had not come into the knowledge of the deeper relationship that could be entered into by being baptized into Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God. Too often we just assume that believers have this understanding and we never share this knowledge with them. Paul was not in that group of believers.
There is always more we can learn and grow into if we are open and humble in heart. We need to know more than the words written down on paper, we need to know the one that had them written for our benefit.
- Acts 18:24-26 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by race, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus. He was mighty in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside, and explained to him the way of God more accurately. WEB
Acts 19:1-7
It happened that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples. 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said to him, “No, we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.
- Literally, ‘We did not even hear whether the Holy Spirit was [given],’ that is, at the time of their baptism. That the word ‘given’ is the right supplement, seems plain from the nature of the case; and it is the same in (John 7:39), on the same subject. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary
“3 He said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.”
- John’s baptism was a baptism that prepared the hearts of the people. It was a transition from the old ways to a new and living way that was to be lived out in Christ Jesus and in the spirit of the life-giving God.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
- They heard and they responded. It is not enough to just here we must respond to what we here.
- By being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus they were leaving behind the relationship established through John’s baptism and were now entering into a new and deeper one established in Christ Jesus.
6 When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with other languages and prophesied.
- Again, we see when the Spirit is given there were signs that follow.
7 They were about twelve men in all.
Paul took the opportunity to preach the gospel every chance he had. It did not matter if there was a great many or just a few. He desired that all would come into the knowledge of the saving grace of God and enter into a deep and meaningful relationship with him.
The Gift of the Holy Spirit – Part 7