Acts 19:1-7

There are two baptisms, one of salvation found only in JESUS CHRIST and one of the power and unity of the HOLY SPIRIT. Both are equal in importance. Salvation is for eternity but the power of the HOLY SPIRIT enables us to live the life of a CHRIST follower here on earth and to get us safely home.

Acts 19:1–7 (NKJV)

19 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples ² he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

³ And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”

So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”

⁴ Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”

⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. ⁷ Now the men were about twelve in all.

These 12 men had been baptized into the baptism of John the Baptist, but they had never heard about the Holy Spirit. All they knew was that One mightier than John was to come. They did not know that Jesus the Messiah, the One mightier than John had already come. He had died for their sins, had been raised from the dead, had ascended to the Father, and had already sent the Holy Spirit. They needed to hear the rest of the gospel. As soon as this happened, these men could place their faith in Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit.

 The NKJV Study Bible. (2007). (Ac 19:2–6). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

This is likely a reference to an act related to worship (see note on 10:46), not miraculously speaking in another person’s native language (compare 2:4–6). In Acts, speaking in tongues is related to the Holy Spirit indwelling and empowering believers (2:4–6; 10:45–46).

 Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ac 19:6). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Matthew 3:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)

¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,