The account belongs to Paul's work in Ephesus, a major commercial center in the Roman province of Asia and a promising place for missionary work, a stronghold of heathenism where the work helped establish a large church. Its background is that people who heard John the Baptist proclaim Jesus as the Promised One carried that news widely, and their witness prepared the way for the apostles' work. The company Paul found at Ephesus numbered about twelve men.
They were disciples of John the Baptist who had received only John's baptism of repentance toward Christ, with incomplete knowledge of Christ and only partial understanding of his life and mission, and they had not yet learned about the mission of the Holy Spirit. Yet they sincerely sought to share the light they had received. After Paul taught them about Jesus, including his life, death, resurrection, and the promised Comforter and Holy Spirit, they believed and accepted Christ as Redeemer.
They were then baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul laid his hands on them the Holy Ghost came upon them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. The Spirit thus enabled them to speak other languages and prophesy, equipping them for missionary work to spread the gospel in Ephesus and Asia Minor. This took place before Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months concerning the kingdom of God. Their receiving of the Holy Spirit as disciples especially set apart is recorded for the instruction of the churches today, showing that the same presence will go with everyone who labors together with God, seeks His counsel, surrenders the will to His will, humbles the heart, prays much, and submits to His guidance.
The account belongs to Paul's work in Ephesus, a major commercial center in the Roman province of Asia and a promising place for missionary work, a stronghold of heathenism where the work helped establish a large church. Its background is that people who heard John the Baptist proclaim Jesus as the Promised One carried that news widely, and their witness prepared the way for the apostles' work. The company Paul found at Ephesus numbered about twelve men.
They were disciples of John the Baptist who had received only John's baptism of repentance toward Christ, with incomplete knowledge of Christ and only partial understanding of his life and mission, and they had not yet learned about the mission of the Holy Spirit. Yet they sincerely sought to share the light they had received. After Paul taught them about Jesus, including his life, death, resurrection, and the promised Comforter and Holy Spirit, they believed and accepted Christ as Redeemer.
They were then baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul laid his hands on them the Holy Ghost came upon them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. The Spirit thus enabled them to speak other languages and prophesy, equipping them for missionary work to spread the gospel in Ephesus and Asia Minor. This took place before Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months concerning the kingdom of God. Their receiving of the Holy Spirit as disciples especially set apart is recorded for the instruction of the churches today, showing that the same presence will go with everyone who labors together with God, seeks His counsel, surrenders the will to His will, humbles the heart, prays much, and submits to His guidance.