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Acts 19

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye 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 ye 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 spake with tongues, and prophesied.

And all the men were about twelve.

And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.

But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.

And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

What does Acts 19:2 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:2 presents a dialogue between the Apostle Paul and a group of Ephesian believers.

The verse highlights Paul's inquiry about whether these believers had received the Holy Spirit since they believed in Jesus Christ.

This indicates that in the early Christian church, the reception of the Holy Spirit was seen as a significant and distinct event that followed belief in Jesus Christ.

The believers' response that they had not even heard of the Holy Spirit exemplifies a lack of understanding about the fullness of Christian experience, underlining the importance of teaching and discipleship in early Christianity.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 19:2 occurs during Paul's third missionary journey, specifically during his visit to Ephesus, an influential city in the Roman province of Asia, now modern-day Turkey.

Historically, Ephesus was a center for trade and had a diverse population, including Jews and followers of various Greco-Roman deities.

At this time, the Christian community was not yet well-established and was made up of people from different backgrounds, including Jews, God-fearing Gentiles, and disciples of John the Baptist, as is the likely case with the group mentioned in this verse.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse raises the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. The distinct experience of the Holy Spirit, sometimes referred to as the "baptism in the Holy Spirit," is debated among Christians.

Some view it as an integral and subsequent experience to conversion, evidenced by speaking in tongues and prophesying, while others see it as occurring simultaneously with belief in Jesus.

This verse has been used to support the former view in Pentecostal and Charismatic theology, emphasizing the experiential aspect of the Christian faith.

Practical Applications

Practically, Acts 19:2 suggests the need for continuous learning and spiritual growth.

It shows that it's possible to have a basic belief in Jesus but still lack a full understanding of Christian tenets. For believers today, this might mean seeking a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit and being open to learning and growth within their faith communities.

Furthermore, it highlights the responsibility of more mature Christians to teach and mentor newer members of the faith.

Cross-References

Acts 2:38: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Acts 8:15-17: "Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost."
Ephesians 1:13: "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"

Language Study

The key phrase in this verse is "Holy Ghost" (Greek: Ἅγιον Πνεῦμα, Hagion Pneuma), which is often translated as "Holy Spirit" in other versions of the Bible.

"Received" (Greek: λαμβάνω, lambanō) often conveys the act of taking what is offered or given, while "believed" (Greek: πιστεύω, pisteuō) refers to the act of faith or trust in someone or something.

The use of these words illustrates the concept that faith is followed by the reception of the Holy Spirit as a gift from God.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the context of ancient religions, the idea of a spirit or divine force coming upon individuals is not unique to Christianity.

Many cultures believed in divine encounters that imbued individuals with power or wisdom.

However, in Christianity, the Holy Spirit is distinct, as it is seen as part of the triune Godhead and indwells believers as a helper, guide, and source of spiritual gifts.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, the Holy Spirit's indwelling is a spiritual phenomenon and does not have a direct parallel within empirical science.

However, psychology and neuroscience might explore the effects of religious experiences on mental states and brain function.

Spiritual experiences can influence emotions, cognition, and social behavior, with some research suggesting changes in brain activity during experiences perceived as spiritual or religious.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians offer different interpretations of Acts 19:2.

John Stott, an influential evangelical writer, suggests that this passage demonstrates an "incomplete Christianity," where the believers had an initial faith but lacked the fullness provided by the Holy Spirit.

Craig S.

Keener, noted for his in-depth biblical commentaries, emphasizes the historical and cultural context, asserting that the believers in Ephesus were likely disciples of John the Baptist and not fully acquainted with Christian teaching.

Pentecostal theologians commonly interpret this verse as a foundation for the belief in the baptism in the Holy Spirit as a distinct and empowering experience.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:2 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 19:2 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?