Acts 19: 1-7
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road trough the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
So Paul asked, “What baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is in Jesus.” On hearing this they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.
A Thought
Paul is introducing some disciples of John to the Holy Spirit. John had baptized him with a baptism of repentance with their belief in the one to come after John, Jesus. After receiving the knowledge of the Holy Spirit, they were baptized again in the name of the Lord Jesus. Afterward when Paul placed his hands on them, they spoke in tongues and prophesied in the same manner when the Holy Spirit was given at Pentecost.
The power of God is revealed by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament the Spirit was given at different times to different people to accomplish certain things. John was full of the Spirit even while he was in his mother’s womb. John was chosen to preach repentance and baptism. When Jesus began his ministry, he preached forgiveness of sins and his disciples baptized in the name of Jesus. After Jesus ascended back to the Father, the Holy Spirit was made available to all people. The Holy Spirit leads us to forgiveness that is found in Christ Jesus. Afterward the Holy Spirit lives within each of us as believers. There is a greater power of the Spirit that believers can seek and receive to do even greater works for the kingdom of God–the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Our Prayer
Thank you for our baptism symbolizing our new life by accepting your perfect plan to bring us back in harmony with you as our Father–giving us your Son for our forgiveness of sins and sending the power of your Holy Spirit to teach us how to live godly lives. Fill us with more power of your Holy Spirit to speak boldly with truth in love for others that they may receive your love through us. We ask in the name of Jesus’ name, amen.
