1While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the upper regions and came to Ephesus. Finding some disciples, [19:2] he said to them: "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They said to him: "But we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." [19:3] And he said: "Into what then were you baptized?" They said: "Into John's baptism." [19:4] Paul said: "John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one coming after him — that is, in Jesus." [19:5] When they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. [19:6] And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. [19:7] There were about twelve men in all.
ACT 19:1-7
The Holy Spirit Received at Ephesus
In the world it was spoken into
In Ephesus, a major urban center of the Roman Empire, Paul encounters a group of disciples who had only received John’s baptism of repentance. In the 1st century, baptism was a public ritual signifying a break with one’s past and alignment with a new identity or community. John’s baptism, rooted in Jewish prophetic tradition, emphasized repentance in preparation for the coming Messiah. However, these disciples were unaware of the Holy Spirit, a central element in early Christian baptism, which marked the believer’s incorporation into the body of Christ and the indwelling of divine power. The term (spirit) carried connotations of divine presence and authority, distinct from mere ritual cleansing. Paul’s question about their baptism highlights the incomplete nature of their initiation, as Christian baptism was understood to be (into the name) of Jesus, signifying full identification with his authority and the reception of the Spirit. This encounter underscores the transition from John’s preparatory message to the fulfillment found in Christ.
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How other translations render this
ACT 19:1
- KJV
- 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,
- BSB
- While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples
- Koinōnos
- While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the upper regions and came to Ephesus. Finding some disciples,
ACT 19:2
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” “No,” they answered, “we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
- Koinōnos
- he said to them: "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They said to him: "But we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.
ACT 19:3
- KJV
- And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
- BSB
- “Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked. “The baptism of John,” they replied.
- Koinōnos
- And he said: "Into what then were you baptized?" They said: "Into John's baptism.
ACT 19:4
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- Paul explained: “Johnʼs baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
- Koinōnos
- Paul said: "John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one coming after him — that is, in Jesus.
ACT 19:5
- KJV
- When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
- BSB
- On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
- Koinōnos
- When they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
ACT 19:6
- KJV
- And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
- BSB
- And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
- Koinōnos
- And when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
ACT 19:7
- KJV
- And all the men were about twelve.
- BSB
- There were about twelve men in all.
- Koinōnos
- There were about twelve men in all.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
ACT 19:1
- disciples:The word translated 'disciples' refers to a learner or pupil, someone who follows the teachings and way of life of a master, not merely a student of facts.
ACT 19:2
- [the] Spirit:The term translated 'Spirit' can also mean 'wind' or 'breath,' suggesting a powerful, unseen, and life-giving force.
ACT 19:4
- a baptism:The word translated 'a baptism' here refers to a 'change of mind or heart' or 'repentance,' indicating a fundamental reorientation of one's life and thinking.
ACT 19:5
- name:The word translated 'name' in this context often carries the sense of a person's authority, character, and presence, not just a label.