Acts 19:1, commentary and pictures

Paul passed through the upper regions through Galatia and Phrygia and Asia Minor strengthening the believers, and came to Ephesus while Apollos was preaching at Corinth. Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia and a great commercial city with a busy harbor, a stronghold of heathenism yet a promising field where a large church grew up. The certain disciples he found there were about twelve men who were followers of John the Baptist, who knew something of Christ and sincerely shared what light they had but had only John's baptism and had not heard of the Holy Spirit. Paul questioned them about the Holy Ghost and their baptism, taught them that John's baptism of repentance pointed to Christ Jesus, baptized them in the name of the Lord Jesus, and when he laid his hands on them they received the Holy Ghost and spoke in foreign tongues as at Pentecost. Their experience stands as instruction for the churches today, that the Holy Spirit is given as a sacred endowment and secret of power to those set apart for the work who labor with God, surrender the will to Him, humble the heart, and submit to His guidance.

Journey and Setting

Paul came to Ephesus by way of the upper coasts, the upper regions, after traveling through Galatia and Phrygia and through Asia Minor. On that return he visited the churches he had established and founded, strengthening the faith of the believers and the disciples. Before that inland journey he had first visited Jerusalem and Antioch. His arrival at Ephesus took place while Apollos was at Corinth, preaching there.

Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia and a major commercial center with a busy harbor and people from many countries. Like Corinth it was a promising field for missionary work. Though a stronghold of heathenism, the work there became a large church. The setting reflects how news of Jesus had spread before the apostles' work, for Jews living throughout the world had heard John the Baptist proclaim Jesus as the Promised One and had carried that news widely to many lands, preparing people to hear the apostles.

After arriving, Paul remained in Ephesus for three years, described as three years and six months. There he disputed and persuaded about the things concerning the kingdom of God, teaching and carrying out an active evangelistic effort throughout the region. While doing so he toiled at his craft to support himself and his companions, continuing to work at his trade. Such manual labor did not lessen the dignity of his ministry. Aquila and Priscilla, who had accompanied him on his return to Asia at the close of his second missionary journey, were with him in Ephesus.

Disciples Paul Found

The disciples Paul found at Ephesus were about twelve men who were disciples and followers of John the Baptist. Like Apollos, they had been taught by John and knew something of the mission and life of Christ, and they sincerely sought to share the light they had received. Yet their understanding was incomplete and they had not yet received fuller Christian teaching, for they had received only John's baptism and had not heard of the Holy Spirit.

Paul questioned them about whether they had received the Holy Ghost and about their baptism. He instructed them that John's baptism of repentance pointed to Christ Jesus. Upon this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and when Paul laid his hands on them they received the Holy Ghost.

Their experience was the same as that of the apostles at Pentecost, when the promised blessing and promised power from on high came upon believers. Then they spoke in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance, speaking in foreign languages they did not understand.

Their meeting belongs to the recorded experience given for the instruction of the churches today, showing that the Holy Spirit was given to disciples especially set apart for the work. The same presence goes with everyone who labors together with God, seeks His counsel, surrenders the will to His will, humbles the heart before God, and submits to His guidance. It is a sacred endowment and the secret of power, with help pledged by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and angels working for those who yield to the leading of the Spirit.