When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
At Ephesus while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul found about twelve disciples who had received only John's baptism of repentance and had not heard of the Holy Ghost. He explained that John baptized with repentance, telling the people to believe on Him who should come after him, that is Christ Jesus, in His life, death, resurrection, mission and atoning sacrifice as sin-bearer and Redeemer. When they heard this explanation, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, acknowledging Him as Redeemer in faith. After their baptism Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied with the same power as the Spirit gave utterance among the first apostles. So baptism follows hearing, repentance and faith in Christ, and being baptized again in the name of Jesus marked their changed faith with a corresponding change in obligations, life and character, while the Holy Spirit received is the sacred endowment and secret of power for humble, surrendered workers today.
Ephesus Context and Sequence
The verse belongs to the work in Ephesus, where earlier preaching about Jesus had helped prepare people to receive the gospel. While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul came to Ephesus and found about twelve disciples who had received only John's baptism of repentance and had not heard of the Holy Ghost. They knew only John's baptism of repentance and had not heard whether there is a Holy Ghost.
Paul explained that John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe on Him who should come after him, that is on Christ Jesus. He taught them Christ's life, death, resurrection, mission, and atoning sacrifice as sin-bearer and Redeemer, and they accepted His atoning sacrifice. When they heard this explanation, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, acknowledging Him as Redeemer in faith and reception of Him.
After their baptism Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. It was the same power with speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance seen among the first apostles, the same promised blessing and power coming upon believers as upon the apostles. This beginning led to Paul speaking boldly three months in the synagogue disputing and persuading concerning the kingdom of God and then two years in the school of Tyrannus so that all in Asia heard the word. God worked special miracles by Paul, the name of Jesus was magnified after the sons of Sceva were overcome by an evil spirit, and many believers confessed and burned their books of curious arts.
Baptism, Spirit, and Application
Baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus follows hearing, repentance, and faith, and is given after a person believes in Christ and receives Him as Redeemer. That faith came through learning Christ's life, death, resurrection, saving work, and atoning sacrifice. Reception of the Holy Spirit and its gifts came afterward, when hands were laid on the baptized believers.
Their earlier baptism unto John had not reflected a full understanding of Jesus' mission as sin-bearer. When clearer light led them to accept Christ as Redeemer, they were baptized again in the name of Jesus. That rebaptism acknowledged their faith and marked their changed faith with its corresponding change in obligations, life, and character.
The same event illustrates the broader principle that one baptized before understanding God's will may be baptized again after recognizing sin, repenting, and desiring to be buried with Christ and rise to new life. Repentance and faith are conditions for receiving baptism, not infant baptism. The Holy Spirit received is the sacred endowment and secret of power given to those set apart who humble their hearts, submit to guidance, surrender the will, seek counsel, pray much, and labor together with God. The same presence and pledged help of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, with angels working for them, goes with every worker today, and the early apostolic experience of the promised blessing and power with speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance corroborates present experience of that blessing.
At Ephesus while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul found about twelve disciples who had received only John's baptism of repentance and had not heard of the Holy Ghost. He explained that John baptized with repentance, telling the people to believe on Him who should come after him, that is Christ Jesus, in His life, death, resurrection, mission and atoning sacrifice as sin-bearer and Redeemer. When they heard this explanation, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, acknowledging Him as Redeemer in faith. After their baptism Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied with the same power as the Spirit gave utterance among the first apostles. So baptism follows hearing, repentance and faith in Christ, and being baptized again in the name of Jesus marked their changed faith with a corresponding change in obligations, life and character, while the Holy Spirit received is the sacred endowment and secret of power for humble, surrendered workers today.
Ephesus Context and Sequence
The verse belongs to the work in Ephesus, where earlier preaching about Jesus had helped prepare people to receive the gospel. While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul came to Ephesus and found about twelve disciples who had received only John's baptism of repentance and had not heard of the Holy Ghost. They knew only John's baptism of repentance and had not heard whether there is a Holy Ghost.
Paul explained that John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe on Him who should come after him, that is on Christ Jesus. He taught them Christ's life, death, resurrection, mission, and atoning sacrifice as sin-bearer and Redeemer, and they accepted His atoning sacrifice. When they heard this explanation, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, acknowledging Him as Redeemer in faith and reception of Him.
After their baptism Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. It was the same power with speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance seen among the first apostles, the same promised blessing and power coming upon believers as upon the apostles. This beginning led to Paul speaking boldly three months in the synagogue disputing and persuading concerning the kingdom of God and then two years in the school of Tyrannus so that all in Asia heard the word. God worked special miracles by Paul, the name of Jesus was magnified after the sons of Sceva were overcome by an evil spirit, and many believers confessed and burned their books of curious arts.
Baptism, Spirit, and Application
Baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus follows hearing, repentance, and faith, and is given after a person believes in Christ and receives Him as Redeemer. That faith came through learning Christ's life, death, resurrection, saving work, and atoning sacrifice. Reception of the Holy Spirit and its gifts came afterward, when hands were laid on the baptized believers.
Their earlier baptism unto John had not reflected a full understanding of Jesus' mission as sin-bearer. When clearer light led them to accept Christ as Redeemer, they were baptized again in the name of Jesus. That rebaptism acknowledged their faith and marked their changed faith with its corresponding change in obligations, life, and character.
The same event illustrates the broader principle that one baptized before understanding God's will may be baptized again after recognizing sin, repenting, and desiring to be buried with Christ and rise to new life. Repentance and faith are conditions for receiving baptism, not infant baptism. The Holy Spirit received is the sacred endowment and secret of power given to those set apart who humble their hearts, submit to guidance, surrender the will, seek counsel, pray much, and labor together with God. The same presence and pledged help of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, with angels working for them, goes with every worker today, and the early apostolic experience of the promised blessing and power with speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance corroborates present experience of that blessing.