by Timothy W. Burnett
To set the scene, a Jewish man named Apollos came to Ephesus to instruct others out of the scripture according to the way of the Lord. There was one problem. Athough he was strong and diligent in teaching, Apollos understood only the baptism of John (Acts 18:24-25).
This means Apollos understood only the baptism of water that was established during John's ministry. During the same time, a married couple named Aquila and Priscilla heard Apollos teach, invited him over for some fried chicken and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. Ok, maybe it didn't involve fried chicken. It's important to understand that Apollos first knew only the baptism of John, and afterward understood things more perfectly.
Later, Apollos went to Corinth while Paul stopped in Ephesus. Paul said to some of the disciples, "have you received holy ghost since you believed?' And they siad to him, 'We have not so much as heard whether there is any holy ghost.' Then Paul said, 'John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him who should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.' When they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.'" (Acts 19:2-4). The above verses show that the people misunderstood the true baptism as Apollos did. When Paul came to Ephesus he asked them if they received the holy ghost since they believed, and they had no idea what he was talking about. He had to teach them the truth just as Aquila and Priscilla did for Apollos.
Let's closely examine Paul's initial question, "Have you received the holy ghost, since you believed?" The words "since you believed" is more accurately read "having believed." The act of believing came before receiving the holy ghost. It could accurately read, "having believed, have you received the holy ghost?"
This order fits perfectly with Romans 10:9-10 where we learn to first believe with the heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, which is unto righteousness. To be righteous referred to being filled with holy spirit (Acts 2:4). Logically speaking, Paul was asking them if they had received the holy ghost since they believed unto being filled with holy spirit.
They were clueless, and he had to ask them what kind of baptism they experienced. Of course they honestly replied that they were baptized according to John's baptism, with water.
Paul taught them the truth about the baptism of holy spirit. It says when they heard him, they were baptized in the name of the Lord. This means they were baptized or filled with holy spirit. Next Paul helped them to receive the holy ghost. It says when he laid hands upon them, the holy ghost came on them (Acts 19:6). Please understand that the use of hands over others was not meant to be religious act to be applied all the time by everybody, but instead it was specific to that particular situation according to the will of God.
The holy ghost came on them when they started speaking in tongues. Following basic logic, this is also when they received the holy ghost.
Home