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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Act_19:1-7
1It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2He said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" And they said to him, "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." 3And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" And they said, "Into John's baptism." 4Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. 7There were in all about twelve men.
Act_19:1 "upper country" This refers to an alternate route through the higher (i.e., elevation) country and to the churches started on Paul's previous missionary activity in South Galatia.
▣ "Ephesus" Michael Magill, NT TransLine, p. 413, #25, has an informative note.
"This was the capital city of Asia, where Paul was forbidden to go in Act_16:6. He stopped there briefly in Act_18:19-21, planning to return. Now he spends over two years here, Act_19:10."
▣ "disciples" The term implies they were believers (cf. Act_19:2, "when you believed," see Special Topics at Act_3:16; Act_6:5) in Jesus as the Messiah through John the Baptist's messages or possibly through Apollos' preaching.
The Spirit apparently sent Paul by this upper route for the very purpose of helping these "disciples" know and experience the full truth of the gospel.
Act_19:2 "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed" The fact that they are called "disciples" (Act_19:1) and the statement "when you believed" imply they were believers. This question links (1) the personal reception of the Spirit at the time one believed (aorist active indicative and aorist active participle) and (2) the Spirit's preparatory action, without which no one could even believe (cf. Joh_6:44; Joh_6:65; Rom_8:9). There are levels and stages of the Spirit's work (cf. Act_8:11; Act_8:15-17). The book of Acts itself should warn modern interpreters not to be dogmatic in the "necessary" elements and order of salvation. Acts records what occurred, not what should occur every time. Salvation is a personal relationship which involves the whole person, but often this is a progressive experience as the relationship deepens and more scriptural information is understood. See Special Topic at Act_2:40.
▣ "No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit" John's preaching could not have produced spiritual effect without the Spirit (cf. Rom_8:6-11; 1Co_12:3; 1Jn_4:2). John mentioned the Spirit in his preaching (cf. Mat_3:11; Mar_1:8; Luk_3:16; Joh_1:32-33), but it must be remembered that his was a message of preparation, not fulfillment (cf. Isa_40:3; Mat_3:3). John was the last OT prophet and transitional preacher and preparer for the coming of the Messiah. He pointed people to Jesus (cf. Joh_1:19-42).
Act_19:3 "Into what then were you baptized" They were followers of John the Baptist. Apparently they were faithful to the light they had, but needed further clarification about the life, death, resurrection, and ascension (i.e., the gospel) of Jesus, just like Apollos (cf. Act_18:24-28).
Act_19:3-4 "John's baptism" John's baptism involved repentance and expectation (cf. Mat_3:11; Mar_1:15). However, it must be consummated by faith in Jesus. From history we know that there were several heretical groups that formed in the first century claiming to be followers of John the Baptist (Recognitions of Clement, chapter 60). Recording this account may have been Luke's way of nullifying the effect of these groups. John's ministry pointed away from himself and to Jesus (cf. Joh_1:19-42).
Act_19:4 "believer in Him" See Special Topics: Believe at Act_3:16; Act_6:5.
Act_19:5 "They were baptized" See Special Topic at Act_2:38.
▣ "in the name of the Lord Jesus" Luke describes baptism as "in the name of Jesus" (cf. Act_2:38; Act_8:12; Act_8:16; Act_10:48). See hyperlink at Act_2:21. Matthew describes baptism as "in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" (cf. Mat_28:19). The baptism formula is not the key to salvation, but the heart of the person being baptized. To view the formula as the key is to place the emphasis in the wrong place. Salvation is not the sacramental correctness of a rite, but an entering into a repentant/faith relationship with Jesus. See note at Act_2:38.
As far as we know, Apollos, who also only knew the baptism of John, was not rebaptized! The Spirit was obvious in his powerful preaching and teaching.
Act_19:6 "Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them" The laying on of hands is often mentioned in connection with the Spirit (cf. Act_8:16-17; Act_9:17), but not always (cf. Act_10:44, see Special Topic at Act_6:6). The Bible links the Spirit with the believer in three different ways:
1. at the time of belief
2. at the time of baptism
3. with laying on of hands
This diversification should warn us against dogmatism in the matter. Acts is not intended to teach a set pattern, but to describe the dynamic movement of the Spirit.
I must admit that these twelve disciples of John speaking in tongues is surprising to me. Usually in Acts tongues are evidence for the believing Jewish proclaimers that God
1. has accepted a new group or
2. broken down a geographical barrier (see full note at Act_2:4 b)
What new group did these men represent? They were already disciples (cf. Act_19:1). Why did Luke choose to record this event? He chooses to introduce it with Apollos in Acts 18. This just does not fit the pattern, which probably means that modern interpreters are trying to fit an agenda or interpretive grid over Luke's writing that just does not fit! Maybe this event of speaking in tongues is more like those in Corinth!
There is an interesting variety in the way the NT describes the coming of the Spirit to individuals.
1. came upon (erchomai plus epi), cf. Mat_3:16; Luk_19:6 [just epi, Act_2:25]
2. baptized with, cf. Mat_3:11; Mar_1:8; Luk_3:16; Luk_11:16; Joh_1:33; Act_1:5
3. descended upon, cf. Mat_3:16; Mar_1:10; Luk_3:22
4. coming upon (eperchomai plus epi), cf. Luk_1:35; Act_1:8
5. filled with, cf. Luk_1:15; Luk_1:41; Luk_1:67; Act_2:4; Act_4:8; Act_4:31; Act_9:17; Act_13:9; Act_13:52
6. poured out (ekcheô), cf. Act_2:17-18; Act_2:33; Act_10:45; Tit_3:6
7. received, cf. Act_2:33; Act_2:38; Act_8:15; Act_8:17; Act_8:19; Act_10:47; Act_19:2
8. given, Act_5:32; Act_10:45; Act_15:8
9. fallen upon (epipiptô), cf. Act_8:16; Act_10:44; Act_11:15
▣ "and prophesying" This term has OT connotations of ecstatic behavior (cf. 1Sa_10:10-12; 1Sa_19:23-24). The context may support this interpretation. However, this term in I & 2 Corinthians (cf. 1Co_11:4-5; 1Co_11:9; 1Co_14:1; 1Co_14:3-5; 1Co_14:24; 1Co_14:31; 1Co_14:39) implies a bold proclamation of the gospel. It is difficult to define prophecy in the NT. Since the filling of the Spirit is often linked with a bold proclamation of the gospel, this may be the intent of this context also. See hyperlink at Act_11:27.
Act_19:7 "There were in all about twelve men" Twelve is one of several numbers often used symbolically in the Bible, but here it seems to be historical. See Special Topics: Twelve at Act_1:22 and Symbolic Numbers in Scripture at Act_1:3.