PLAN OF SALVATION – 7 (Acts 19)

So far we have covered the Lord's commands and all of the detailed cases of conversions.  However, there is one more incident in the book of Acts that is of interest.  It is in Acts 18:24-19:7.

 

Act 17 covers Paul's journey and preaching to/at Athens.  From there he went to Corinth and established the church there, as recorded in Acts 18:1-17.  He converted Priscilla and Acquilla there and left them at Ephesus.  The events in the rest of Acts 18 involve them and Appolos at Athens.  Appolos was baptized by John the Baptist, but was never baptized by the authority of Jesus Christ.

 

Acts 19 involves Paul with some who also seem to be under this same influence (i.e., they had the idea that the baptism of John was adequate).  Notice that the only problem with Apollos' teaching was that he was “knowing only the baptism of John.”  This would not seem to be something that most people would find to be a problem today.  However, Luke found it worthy of documenting, and Pricilla and Acquilla felt it necessary to “expound unto him the way of the Lord more accurately.”  While his not understanding
it when he did would seem to be quite understandable, there is no doubt that had he persisted in this false teaching it would have divided the church and he would have been labeled as a false teacher.

 

To further reinforce this, Luke chose to follow the events in Athens with Acts 19:1-7,
which also deals with the same subject when Paul got to Ephesus. 

 

Acts 19:1-7: “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples: and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they (said) unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was (given).  And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John's baptism.  And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus.  And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.  And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And they were in all about twelve men.

 

Notice the following:

 

• The term "receive the Holy Spirit" is an interesting one, which is used in various ways in the New Testament.  Here it seems clear from the context that Paul was inquiring regarding a miraculous reception of the Holy Spirit.
• We saw in Acts 8 that it was "through the laying on of the apostles’ hands that the Holy Spirit was given" (Acts 8:18), so Paul (as an apostle) would be qualified to do this.  The very question infers that some Christians had received such gifts and others had not, as also taught in 1 Cor. 12, 13 and 14.
• In verse 3 Paul inquires further and finds out that they have not been baptized by the authority of Jesus – only by John the Baptist.  This is not sufficient, and we see their immediate response to learning the truth in verse 5.  They are baptized once again, but this time by the authority of Jesus Christ.
• After this Paul lays his hands on them and imparts to them spiritual gifts.  This is further proof that the baptism that they were commanded was water baptism and not baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Lesson 8 is an outline of all of the conversions in the book of Acts.  This is an excellent outline so that you can continue your study of God's plan of salvation.  Please e-mail us if you have any questions: dbrown@cs.ua.edu