By Timothy W. Burnett
This week we look at Acts 19:2-6, where the apostle Paul came to Ephesus. To set the scene, a Jew named Apollos taught the Ephesians for a while. He was a very knowledgeable man and strong in the scriptures. Yet he knew only the baptism of John (Acts 19:24-25). During his stay, a couple of loving believers "took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly" (verse 26). These two believers were Aquila and Priscilla. They were a married couple who also quartered the apostle Paul for a while (Acts 18:1-3). Of course Paul would have expounded unto them the way of God more perfectly also.
Now we arrive at the point where Paul enters Ephesus. Acts 19:2-6, "He [Paul] said unto them, 'Have you received [lambano] the holy ghost since you believed?' And they said unto him, 'We have not so much as heard whether there be any holy ghost.' And he said unto them, 'Unto what then were you baptized?' And they said, 'Unto John's baptism.' Then said Paul, 'John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.' When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the holy ghost came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied."
Paul first asked if they received, or laid-hold of holy spirit since they believed. This alone reveals that to lay-hold of holy spirit chronologically comes after to believe. The use of "believe" can be understood better when we consider its results, which is to be filled with holy spirit. When we consider Romans 10:9-10, we can see that Paul referred to when they believed with their hearts that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, which is unto righteousness or being filled with holy spirit. In other words, he asked them if they laid-hold of holy spirit since they were filled with holy spirit.
They had not even heard that it was possible to lay-hold of holy spirit. They were only baptized with the baptism of John. So Paul taught them that the old tradition of John's baptism was unto repentance. He might have even taught how the baptism of water was a sign of things to come. And that now they must be baptized with holy spirit. It says that after they heard him, they were "baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." This means that they were filled with holy spirit. Then after Paul prayed for them, the holy ghost came on them when they spoke with tongues. Paul would have taught them how to speak in tongues, and its spiritual significance. First they believed unto being filled with holy spirit. Second, they began to speak in tongues. Sound familiar? For a comparison, see Acts 2:4.
Next week we will study the use of the Biblical Greek word "epi" in the context of speaking in tongues.
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