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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 19:5 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:5 describes an event during Paul's ministry in Ephesus where he encounters some disciples who had received John's baptism but not the Holy Spirit. Upon hearing Paul's teaching about Jesus, they are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

This verse highlights the transition from the ministry of John the Baptist to the Christian church established by Jesus Christ.

The "name of the Lord Jesus" signifies recognition and acceptance of Jesus’ authority and mission.

Being baptized in His name represents a commitment to His teachings and a formal induction into the Christian faith, signifying a complete break from the past and a new beginning.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The Book of Acts was written by Luke, the same author as the Gospel according to Luke. Acts 19:5 is part of Paul's third missionary journey, which took place in the 1st century CE, specifically around 53-57 AD.

The setting is in Ephesus, a major city in Asia Minor, which was known for its temple to Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and its magical practices.

During this time, various religious movements were present, including followers of John the Baptist who practiced a baptism of repentance.

Paul's mission brought clarity to those early disciples about the full message of Christianity, which included faith in Jesus Christ, not merely adherence to the preparatory teachings of John.

Theological Insights

Different theological interpretations focus on the significance of Christian baptism in the name of Jesus:

Trinitarian Viewpoint: Mainstream Christian theology emphasizes baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (as prescribed in Matthew 28:19).

This verse underscores the importance of Jesus' name in the baptismal rite, often interpreted as an affirmation of the Trinitarian formula.

Oneness Pentecostal Perspective: Some Christian denominations such as the Oneness Pentecostals emphasize baptism specifically in Jesus' name, viewing it as an essential part of salvation.

They may cite this verse as a scriptural basis for their practice.

Symbolic Interpretation: Some theologians see baptism as primarily a symbolic act that represents dying and rising with Christ, as well as the washing away of sins.

Practical Applications

From Acts 19:5, believers can glean practical applications for their lives:

Reaffirmation of Faith: Individuals may use this verse as an opportunity to renew their faith in Jesus Christ and reaffirm their commitment to Christian teachings.
Unity in the Body of Christ: This passage encourages unity among believers, regardless of their initial background or how they came to faith.
Obedience and Submission: Being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus signifies willingness to obey Jesus' commands and submit to His lordship.

Cross-References

Matthew 28:19 (KJV): "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
Acts 2:38 (KJV): "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."
Romans 6:3-4 (KJV): "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Language Study

In Acts 19:5, the key words in the original Greek text include:

"Baptized" (βαπτισθέντες, baptisthentes): From "baptizō," meaning to immerse, submerge, or make overwhelmed (i.e., fully wet).
"Name" (ὄνομα, onoma): Used here, indicates authority or character, representing the person, Jesus.
"Lord" (Κυρίου, Kyriou): Translates as "Lord," denoting master or one who exercises authority.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the cultural and religious contexts of the time, John's baptism was recognized as a Jewish practice of purification.

Comparatively, the Christian baptism represented a new covenant through Jesus Christ.

It marked a departure from older traditions or myths, such as ritual cleansings for the sake of purity alone without the specific commitment to a new belief system centered around a messianic figure.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern science does not typically intersect with theological practices such as baptism due to its spiritual and symbolic nature.

However, psychology might explore the effects of ritual practices on mental states, group cohesion, or personal transformations, which could be relevant but does not alter the religious interpretation of the baptism act.

Commentaries

According to Matthew Henry's Commentary, the verse underscores the necessity of not just John's baptism but also the baptism by Jesus, which signifies receiving the Holy Spirit.
The Expositor's Bible Commentary suggests that while John's baptism looked forward to the Messiah, Christian baptism looks back at Christ's finished work and identifies a person with Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.
John Calvin's Commentary emphasizes that baptism in Jesus' name is a seal of our engrafting into Christ and a token of our profession of faith, denoting that we are owned by Him.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:5 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 19:5 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?