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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 19:7 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:7 mentions "And all the men were about twelve." This verse occurs in the context of the Apostle Paul’s visit to Ephesus, where he encounters a group of disciples who had a limited understanding of the Holy Spirit.

Upon finding them, Paul inquires if they had received the Holy Spirit since they believed.

When they replied that they had not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit, Paul finds out that they were baptized with the baptism of John, which was a baptism of repentance.

Paul then explains to them that John's baptism was meant to lead people to believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus Christ.

After Paul's clarification, these men are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and when Paul lays his hands on them, the Holy Spirit comes upon them, allowing them to speak in tongues and prophesy.

The verse thus conveys both the specific event and the broader process of receiving the Holy Spirit by believers in the early Christian movement. The number twelve may symbolically resonate with the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles, indicating a new community formed in Christ.

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Historical Context

The Book of Acts, written by Luke, is a historical narrative of the early Church’s establishment and spread following Jesus Christ’s resurrection and ascension.

Acts 19:7 occurs during Paul’s third missionary journey, which took place approximately between 53 and 57 A.D.

Ephesus was a significant center of commerce and religion in the Roman province of Asia Minor, noted for its temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

This period was characterized by a diversity of religious beliefs and practices, including Judaism, mystery religions, and the imperial cult of Rome.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse highlights several key insights:

Baptism in Jesus' Name: It underscores the importance of baptism in the name of Jesus for the early Christian community as a step beyond John's baptism.
The Work of the Holy Spirit: The arrival of the Holy Spirit upon the laying on of hands demonstrates the Spirit's role in initiating believers into the faith, imparting spiritual gifts, and authenticating apostolic authority.
Church Unity: The number twelve could be seen as signifying unity and the gathering of a new covenant community, mirroring the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles.

Different Christian traditions may emphasize various aspects of this narrative, from the necessity and significance of baptism, the role of apostolic succession, to the charismatic gifts as a manifestation of the Spirit.

Practical Applications

This verse can offer practical applications for modern believers:

Understanding of Baptism: It encourages Christians to consider the significance of their baptism, regardless of denomination, and to discern their understanding of the Holy Spirit’s role in their lives.
Spiritual Gifts: For Christians who believe in the continuation of spiritual gifts, it provides a foundation for seeking and stewarding these gifts responsibly.
Mentorship and Discipleship: It serves as a reminder of the need for mature guidance in the faith and the importance of theological mentorship for new believers.

Cross-References

Related verses from the King James Version include:

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 8:17: "Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost."
Acts 10:44-46: "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word...

For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God."

Language Study

In the original Greek text of Acts 19:7, the phrase "And all the men" ("πάντες τε οἱ ἄνδρες") literally refers to all the males present.

However, in a broader sense, it often implies all the people or adherents of a group without focusing on gender. The use of "about" ("ὡσεὶ") indicates an approximation, not an exact count.

"Twelve" ("δώδεκα") is often symbolic in Biblical literature, signaling completeness or a new people of God, as seen with the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparing Acts 19:7 to other cultural and religious narratives, the number twelve often carries weight.

For instance, in Greek mythology, there are twelve Olympian gods; in Hinduism, the Sun god Surya has twelve names.

Such parallels reveal a shared symbolic importance across cultures regarding the number twelve, often representing cosmic order or complete governance.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse itself does not overtly intersect with scientific perspectives.

However, the mention of the Holy Spirit imbuing individuals with abilities such as speaking in tongues could initiate discussions on neurology and altered states of consciousness.

Contemporary studies might investigate glossolalia (speaking in tongues) from psychological or neuropsychological viewpoints.

Commentaries

Commentaries differ in their interpretation of Acts 19:7.

Some commentators emphasize the transitional nature of the early church from John's baptism to that of Jesus and suggest this event exemplifies a unique occurrence where miraculous gifts confirmed the new Christian message.

Others focus on the apostolic authority of Paul and how the laying on of hands was necessary for the reception of the Spirit in this context.

Still, others may view the number twelve as a purposeful inclusion by Luke to signify the establishment of a renewed people of God in Ephesus.

Overall, while commentators agree on the basic narrative, they diverge on its implications for contemporary Christian practice and theology.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:7 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 19:7 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?