Mega15

This is the record in which apostle Paul received a vision in the night of a certain man calling him alongside to pass through into Macedonia to help them, prompting Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke to go to Macedonia.

Acts 16:11-15

Acts 16:11 But (de) we having been led up (anachthentes) from (apo) Troas (trōados), we ran a well-put course (euthudromēsamen) into (eis) Samothracia (samothrakēn);

but (de) the (tē) [course] over the morrow (epiousē) [was] into (eis) Young (nean) City (polin);

Acts 16:12 and (te) from there (kakeithen) [the course was] into (eis) Philippi (philippous), which (hētis) is (estin) a first (prōtē) part (meridos) of the (tēs) Macedonia (Makedonias), a city (polis), a colony (kolōnia).

But (de) we were being (ēmen) in (en) to this (tautē) [part of Macedonia], the (tē) city (polei), rubbing through (diatribontes) some (tinas) days (hēmeras).

"rubbing through some days" - This idiom comes down to us today in the form of "rubbing elbows" or "rubbing shoulders" with a person or a group of people, meaning to have close social contact. They made close social contact with the local people in Philippi to spread the word of reconciliation, the knowledge of Jesus Christ, while doing the ministry of reconciliation.

Acts 16:13 And (te) the (tē) day (hēmera) of the (tōn) sabbath days⁴⁵²¹ (sabbatōn) we went out (exēlthomen), outside (exō) of the (tēs) gate (pulēs) beside (para) a river (potamon) where (hou) we decided (enomizomen) [there] to be (einai) utterance toward (proseuchēn) [God].

And (kai) having sat down (kathisantes) we were speaking (elaloumen) to the (tais) females (gunaixin) having come together (sunelthousais).

"beside a river" - The little river Gangites was located about one mile West of town.

"we were speaking" - Luke's use of the first person plural implies that each one, Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke all had opportunities to speak God's Word to the females.

Acts 16:14 And (kai) a certain (tis) female (gunē), by name (onomati) Lydia (ludia), a seller of purple (porphuropōlis), of [the] city (poleōs) of Thyatira (thuateirōn), revering (sebomenē) the (ton) God (theon), kept on hearing (hēkouen), of whom (hēs) the (ho) Lord (kurios) thoroughly opened (diēnoixen) the (tēn) heart (kardian) to pay attention (prosechein) to the things (tois) being spoken (laloumenois) under (hupo) the (tou) Paul (Paulou).

"of [the] city of Thyatira" - Here was Lydia outside the gate of Philippi by a river. Her town of Thyatira was located about two hundred miles Southeast in Asia, across the Aegean Sea. She may have been on the road selling her purple wares. Her whole "house" was with her (verse 16). "Philippi was on the Egnatian Way, one of the great Roman roads, that ran from here to Dyrrachium on the shores of the Adriatic, a road that linked the east with the west." (Robertson's Word Pictures)

"revering the God" - Apparently Lydia was a proselyte, believing in the God of the Jews.

"kept on hearing, of whom the Lord thoroughly opened the heart" - The holy Spirit was upon Lydia conditionally, according to her believing, and was working in her heart to give her spiritual understanding of the things Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke were speaking. The idiom "opened the heart" is similar to the Eastern idiom of "opening the mouth". The open mouth is a figure of speech used to flag the importance of what is about to come out of it, or go into it. Here, "opened the heart" flags the importance of what is going into it, which was their witness of God's Word, presumably about Jesus Christ. Lydia "was hearing", meaning she heard to the end of understanding it and believing it in her heart.

"to pay attention to the things being spoken" - The things Paul spoke caught her attention, and were persuasive. Subsequently Lydia was persuaded and believed the things being spoken.

"under the Paul" - Paul was the senior spokesperson, while Silas, Timothy and Luke were under his direction.

Acts 16:15 But (de) when (hōs) [she] was baptized (ebaptisthē) and (kai) the (ho) house (oikos) of her (autēs), she called them alongside (parekalesen), saying (legousa), “If (ei) you have judged (kekrikate) me (me) to be (einai) believable (pistēn) to the (tō) Lord (kuriō), having entered (eiselthontes) into (eis) the (ton) house (oikon) of me (mou), abide (menete).”

And (kai) she forced us alongside (parebiasato hēmas).

"But when she was baptized and the house of her" - This record does not specifically mention whether Lydia and her household were baptized in the element of water or holy Spirit, or both. The record says the Lord opened her heart, which means he was helping her believing, and so she received. I believe this refers to her reception of Jesus Christ, and so is evidence of a baptism in holy Spirit from him. However, in the record in Acts 18:8, if Luke's record here is in chronological order, which I believe it is, apostle Paul water baptized Crispus and his whole household in water, which shows that Paul and the others believed that water baptism was a valuable ceremony which could lead to baptism in holy Spirit from Jesus Christ.

I don't believe that apostle Paul's concept of the doctrine of baptisms (Heb. 6:2) was water baptism only. First, I know that on and since the day of Pentecost, Peter and the other eleven, and the disciples were ecstatic about the coming to pass of part of the Joel 2:28-32 prophecy of the outpouring of the gift of holy Spirit, and knew very well that this was the baptism about which both John the Baptist and Jesus Christ prophesied, baptism in the gift of holy Spirit from Jesus Christ. Secondly, apostle Paul had received this baptism in holy Spirit himself, from Jesus Christ while in Damascus. Since the day of Pentecost, I believe all the apostles and disciples believed their mission was to help believers ultimately receive the baptism in holy Spirit from Jesus Christ. I do not believe the scope of their concept about baptisms was ever water baptism only.

In light of the Joel Great Mystery prophecy having come to pass and all the preaching on the day of Pentecost, and the baptisms in holy Spirit from Jesus Christ which occurred subsequently, I find it very difficult to conclude that the baptism here spoken of is strictly water baptism. I believe both water baptism unto repentance and baptism unto ageless life, baptism in holy Spirit from Jesus Christ occurred. I believe that Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke here were very knowledgeable of the outpouring of holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and this is exactly what they spoke about to Lydia. Therefore, this record does not give us enough information to conclude whether water baptism and baptism in holy Spirit from Jesus Christ occurred simultaneously, but that Lydia and her house did receive the baptism in holy Spirit, the new birth above, and its highly likely that they were water baptized also. However, we have no details to tell us how simultaneous these two baptisms occurred.

Chapter 15 - Crispus and His House Receive the New Birth In Corinth

In this record Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke are at Corinth, and preach to Crispus the chief ruler of the synagogue, who believed upon the Lord with the whole house of him, and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized.

Acts 18:8 But (de) Crispus (krispos), the (ho) first one of the synagogue (archisunagōgos), believed (episteusen) the (tō) Lord (kuriō) together with (sun) the (tō) whole (holō) house (oikō) of him (autou).

And (kai) many (polloi) of the (tōn) Corinthians (korinthiōn) being ones hearing (akouontes), they were believing (episteouon), and (kai) they were being baptized (ebaptizonto).

"believed the Lord" - I believe the word 'baptized' in this verse refers to baptism in holy Spirit from Jesus Christ, because the verse says, "many of the Corinthians hearing were believing". But I believe water baptism occurred as well because of what Paul says in his letter to the Corinthian believers (1 Cor. 1:14), that he baptized Crispus. In my opinion there is evidence in this passage and a remote passage to show that water baptism and baptism in holy Spirit from Jesus Christ may have both occurred simultaneously.

Chapter 16 - Certain Ephesian Disciples Receive the New Birth

The fifth record in the scriptures of believers receiving the new birth, the gift of holy Spirit, is in Acts 19. We have already tracked Jesus' prophecy given in Acts 1:8, becoming fulfilled;

1. in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost where the twelve Apostles and about three thousand other believers received,

2. and in Acts 8 where the "half-Jews", the Samaritans received,

3. and in Acts 9 where Saul (Apostle Paul) received,

4. and in Acts 10 where gentiles, Cornelius and his household received,

5. and now in Acts 18:24 - 19:7 where believers in Ephesus received.

Acts 18:24 - 19:7

Acts 18:24 But (de) a certain (tis) Jew (ioudaios) named (onomati) Apollos (apollōs), the (tō) Alexandrian (alexandreus) generation (genei), a Word (logios) man (aner), he being (ōn) inherently powerful (dunatos) in (en) to the (tais) writings (graphais), came down (katēntēsen) into (eis) Ephesus (epheson).

Acts 18:25 This one (houtos) having been orally handed down (eôn katēchēmenos) the (tēn) way (hodon) of the (tou) Lord (kuriou), and (kai) the (to) spirit (pnuemati) hot (zeōn), was speaking (elalei) and (kai) was teaching (edidasken) exactly (akribos) the things (ta) about (peri) the (tou) Jesus (Iēsou), having knowledge upon (epistamenos) only (monon) the (to) John (iōanou) baptism (baptisma).

Apollos spoke and taught exactly (akribos) the things about Jesus, because he was a Word (logios) man (verse 24). He taught exactly (akribos), he didn't guess concerning things about which he knew nothing. He spoke powerfully about repentance toward the Father, and turning from dead works to serve the living God. John's baptism was a baptism of water only, unto repentance only (Matthew 3:11), and therefore the content of what Apollos spoke was about repentance and water baptism only, because that's all he had knowledge about according to this verse. This is a little puzzling, because John the Baptist spoke about both the baptism in water, and the coming baptism in holy Spirit by Christ Jesus, who would come after him (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:7-8, Luke 3:16, John 1:15). If Apollos had been a follower of John the Baptist with personal contact with him, Apollos would have heard John's prophecy about the baptism in holy Spirit from Christ Jesus. Apparently Apollos didn't have personal contact with John the Baptist, and so all that reached Apollos was the knowledge about water baptism.

Acts 18:26 And (te) this one (houtos) caused himself to start (ērxato) to speak boldly (parrēsiazesthai) in (en) the (tē) synagogue (sunagōgē). But (de) having heard (akousantes) of him (autou), Priscilla (priskilla) and (kai) Aquila (akulas) took him toward them (proselambonto auton) and (kai) more exactly (akribesteron) laid out (exethento) to him (autō) he (tēn) way (hodon) of the (tou) God (theou).

"Aquila and Priscilla took him toward them" - This is how believers help one another grow spiritually in knowledge and practical application. Apollos was humble enough to believe he didn't know it all, and allowed others to teach him more. Aquila and Priscilla gently and lovingly helped Apollos to learn more, they didn't condemn him for being ignorant on certain things. This is an especially important circumstance where love (agape) toward the brothers and sisters must come in. Anyone who is arrogant and resists learning more, who is above fellowshipping with others, would cause me to seriously consider their motive behind speaking God's Word.

"and more exactly laid out to him the way of the God" - This is true prophecy. What is prophecy if not speaking about the greatness of the Way of the God? The greatness of God and His Word is always at the center, and true prophecy and fellowship is always around it and its subject matter. When Jesus fellowshipped with his disciples, what did they talk about, what was the subject matter? The Word! Each brother and sister in Christ, from mining the scriptures for themselves, should always have a gem of truth, a bit of prophecy to share with the other brothers and sisters when they come together for fellowship. Fellowship on the horizontal level with our fellow mortals, first and foremost is sharing knowledge of God's Word out of accurate translations of His Word. That knowledge is healing and building. Apollos shared with the Jews by pointing out with the finger, out of the writings. Aquila and Priscilla didn't share theory with Apollos, they exactly laid out for him, out of the manuscripts, the Word of God concerning Jesus Christ, and knowledge they had learned from Apostle Paul which may not as yet been fully recorded in his letters.

During Apostle Paul's second itinerary, about AD 53-58, as recorded in Acts chapter 18 we're told that Apostle Paul coming to Corinth, finds Aquila and Pricilla, and that because he had skills in the same trade as they, he abode with them for some time (Acts 18:3, 18). Then when Apostle Paul sailed for Syria, Aquila and Priscilla accompanied him (Acts18:18). Because of Apostle Paul's close relationship with them and amount of time he spent with them, it's highly probable that he spoke with them about the baptism in holy Spirit from Christ Jesus, and whatever knowledge he had concerning it, he shared with them. Furthermore, just before Apollos arrived in Ephesus, Paul was there with Aquila and Priscilla preaching, making known the knowledge of the new birth as Acts 19;1- goes on to tell us. Therefore, we could conclude with a high degree of certainty that the way of God that was more exactly laid out to Apollos by Aquila and Priscilla included knowledge about the baptism in the gift of holy Spirit from Christ Jesus. Then Apollos, after fellowshipping with Aquila and Priscilla, could now speak and teach more exactly (akribesteron) the things about Jesus which things now included the knowledge of his baptism in holy Spirit, the new birth from above, the Great Mystery!

It is likely also that the way of God that was more exactly laid out to Apollos from Aquila and Priscilla included the knowledge of many, if not all the old covenant prophecies beginning with the foretelling of the coming messiah (Genesis 3:15), and the prophecies about the messiah in the grave (Psalm 69), and the prophecies about his accusers (Psalm 109), and the prophecies about his betrayal (Psalm 69:25, 109:8:), and the prophecies about his crucifixion (Isaiah 53), and the prophecy of his resurrection (Psalm 16:8-11), and the prophecy of the baptism in holy Spirit, and manifestations of holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-32), referenced by Christ Jesus also. Apostle Peter referenced this prophecy in his oration on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:17-21).

"the way of the God" - refers to the spiritually correct or "exact (akribos)" Word of God concerning The "Way", Jesus Christ. In addition to knowing the exact Word about Jesus Christ, Apollos rightly divided (2 Tim. 2:15) God's Word as well! The issue of the unbelieving Jews was one of theology, arguing that how Jesus Christ, Peter, Apostle Paul, and Apollos interpreted the meaning of scripture prophecies was wrong, while they themselves had less than a vague idea of most spiritual concepts. They knew next to nothing while insisting everyone else but them were wrong. They erred not knowing the scriptures nor the power of the God, having invented their own oral, mortal-made tradition and religion of social pecking order. The things that Aquila and Priscilla taught Apollos strengthened his knowledge of old covenant prophecies concerning the messiah, and his knowledge of how Jesus fulfilled those prophecies, and how the fulfillment of those prophecies made available the baptism in the gift of holy Spirit from Christ Jesus, now available to all mortals who believe. When Apollos goes to Achaia, specifically Corinth in the modern Greece area, he uses this additional knowledge very effectively.

Acts 18:27 But (de) of him (autou) wishing (boulomenou) to come through (dielthein) into (eis) the (tēn) Achaia (Achaian), being urged to turn toward them (protrepsamenoi), the (hoi) brothers (adelphoi) wrote (egraphan) to the (tois) disciples (mathētais), to cause himself to be received from (apodexasthai) [them];

who (hos) having caused himself to become alongside (paragenomenos) he threw together (sunebaleto) many (polu), the ones (tois) having believing (pepisteukosi) through (dia) the (tēs) grace (charitos);

"he threw together many" - Apollos was able to draw and hold together a crowd of believers to hear him speak, and as a result of the believers hearing him speak, many believed to receive the baptism in the gift of holy Spirit from Jesus Christ to become part of his spiritual one body.

"of those having believing (pepisteukosi)" - This is a reference to those that Apollos helped to believe into receiving the baptism in the gift of holy Spirit.

"through the grace" - This refers not simply to grace as manifested by natural mortalkind, but that Grace which incorporates a kind of love (agapeô) which is beyond natural mortalkind love (phileoô), and an infinite mercy impossible to be sustained on the natural mortal level. The grace is the saving Grace that only the Father could conceive and manifest toward us through His son Jesus Christ!

Acts 18:28 because (gar) with controlled tension (eutonos) down through debate refuted (diakatēlegcheto) the (tois) Jews (ioudaiois) publicly (dēmosia), upon pointing with the finger (epideiknus) through (dia) the (tōn) writings (graphōn) Jesus (Iēsoun) to be (einai) the (ton) Christ (christon).

"controlled tension (eutonos)" - From teino, a medical term meaning to stretch. Because of the Jews lack of knowledge and understanding of the written holy scriptures concerning Jesus, Apollos stretched the Jew's ability to follow his discourse, but skillfully kept them in tow, and controlled their debates with him with his powerful knowledge and ability.

"down through debate refuted the Jews" - Apollos, through logically stepping through the scriptural evidence, and in the scrolls pointing it out with the finger, was able to show that the Jew's interpretation of the scripture prophecy was in error, and explain to them the Truth concerning Jesus' true identity as the coming messiah.

"Jesus to be The Christ." - Jesus, in his birth, life (teachings and miracles), death, resurrection, and ascension, resulting in the descension and baptism in the gift of holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost of about three thousand, fulfills all scripture prophecies, exactly. The unbelieving Jews didn't know this because they didn't know God's Word, and many of them didn't want to know God's Word, above which they elevated their oral man-made tradition! Noah wasn't the savior; Jacob wasn't the savior; Moses wasn't the savior; David wasn't the savior; BUT, Jesus was The Savior. Almost all of the priests were false teachers and false priests. The temple was spiritually dead, and served as no more than a theater for actors adept at acting as religious figures, who used that skill to establish a false foundation upon which to manage the "things of God", and erect a false judgment seat from which they usurped the authority to control the social pecking order, to insure they were on top. Apollos took them all to the word and gave them all lessons. This is a wonderful record in the Word of practical application of how to either show believers the way of God more exactly, or if they won't hear of it, mark and avoid them as false brothers and sisters. And as others who were willing to believe heard what Apollos spoke and taught about Jesus being the Christ, they believed and received the baptism in the gift of holy Spirit from Christ Jesus!

Romans 10:17 So (ara) the (hē) belief (pistis) [comes] out (ek) of a thing heard (akoēs);

but (de) the (hē) thing heard (akoē) [comes] through (dia) an individual word (rhēmatos) of Christ (christou).

These verses describes why and how Apollos was inherently powerful in the scriptures, and provide a pattern to us by the Father, which all believers can use in teaching the scriptures. First of all, Apollos had a mind full of the exact (akribos) knowledge concerning the things prophesied about the coming redeemer, Christ Jesus. Apollos could explain each and every single word (rheômatos) in each of the prophecies concerning the coming messiah. Apollos was a "Word (logios) man (verse 24)" because he had detailed, in-depth knowledge of the holy prophetic scriptures, and could show how the mortal man of flesh and blood Jesus fulfilled those prophecies, exactly. He had a storehouse of knowledge in his head upon which to draw. Secondly, with the scrolls in hand, he rose up to confront the unbelieving Jews by taking them to those places in their own scrolls concerning the prophecies about the coming redeemer and the coming gift of holy Spirit, and pointed out with the finger to them each end every word of those prophecies, corresponding all the things which Jesus said and did to be exact fulfillment of those prophecies. Thirdly, through constant practical application of the knowledge of the holy scriptures, he could recall that knowledge and marshal it at any given moment. Apollos must have been a very brilliant and gifted teacher!

Acts 19:1 But (de) it caused itself to come to pass (egeneto) in (en) the (to) [time] the (ton) Apollos (apollō) was to be (einai) in (en) Corinth (korinthō), Paul (Paulon) was coming through (dielthonta) the (ta) upper (anōterika) parts (merē) to come down (katelthein) into (eis) Ephesus (epheson).

And (kai) he found (heurein) certain (tinas) disciples (mathētas);

"But it came to pass in the [time] the Apollos was in Corinth" - The scriptures are backing us up in time a little bit now, to before Apollos came to Ephesus as recorded in verse 24.

Acts 19:2 and (te) he enunciated (eipen) toward (pros) them (autous), "If (ei) [you are] ones having believed (pisteusantes), have you taken (elabete) holy (hagion) Spirit (pneuma)?"

But (de) they (oi) enunciated (eipon) toward (pros) him (auton), "BUT (all), we heard (ēkousamen) absolutely not (oude) if (ei) holy (hagion) Spirit (pneuma) is (estin)!"

"If [you are] ones having believing" - Apostle Paul indicates that receiving the baptism in holy Spirit requires believing for it, as we just read in Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans in 10:17. Paul interrogates these apparent followers of John's ministry to determine if they have received the new birth from above, baptism in the gift of holy Spirit from Christ Jesus, and whether they have the believing to receive it.

"But, we heard not even if holy Spirit is!" - These certain disciples that Apostle Paul found in Ephesus must not have been knowledgeable of that part of John the Baptist's preaching about the one coming after him who will baptize in holy Spirit and fire (Mat. 3:11). Now we see Aquila, Priscilla, and Apostle Paul all working the Ephesus area in Syria, together. At this time Apollos is in Corinth, speaking and teaching mightily.

Acts 19:3 And (te) [Paul] enunciated (eipen), "Into (eis) what (ti), therefore (oun), were you baptized (ebaptisthēte)?" But (de) they (hoi) enunciated (eipan), "Into (eis) the (to) John (Iōannou) baptism (baptisma)."

"Into what, then, were you baptized?" - Apostle Paul implies, 'If you were not baptized in holy Spirit, then in what were you baptized?' Apostle Paul implies that "baptism in holy Spirit" is his common frame of reference and common nomenclature concerning baptisms, and that when he thinks of 'baptism' he thinks first of baptism in holy Spirit, and then secondly to water baptism. This is just the opposite frame of mind, time reference and nomenclature commonly associated with the word baptism in modern "Christian" thinking! Apostle Paul's first inquiry of them is to determine whether they've received baptism in holy Spirit from Christ Jesus, not water baptism!

John the Baptist taught that mortals should look for the one coming after him, Jesus, who would baptize them in holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:7-8, Luke 3:16, John 1:15). These certain disciples had a lack of knowledge about baptism in holy Spirit as did Apollos, who "was teaching (edidasken) exactly (akribos) the things (ta) about (peri) the (tou) Jesus (Iēsou), having knowledge upon (epistamenos) only (monon) the (to) John (iōanou) baptism (baptisma)." (Acts 18:25). If John The Baptist spoke not only about baptism in water unto repentance, but spoke also about baptism in holy Spirit unto eternal life, the baptism that only "the one coming after him" could do, how is it that in the Ephesus area both Apollos and these certain disciples never heard about baptism in holy Spirit? I can't prove it, but the records in Acts 18:25 and 19:2 seem to indicate that John The Baptist was preaching and water baptizing for some time before his preaching began to explicitly include the prophecy of the baptism in holy Spirit by the one coming after him. This may account for why both Apollos and these certain disciples have no knowledge of the baptism in holy Spirit.

Acts 19:4 But (de) Paul (Paulos) enunciated (eipen), "John (iōanēs) baptized (ebaptise) a baptism (baptisma) of repentance (metanoias) to the (tō) people (laō), saying (legōn) in order that (hina) they may believe (pisteusōsin) into (eis) the (ton) [baptism] coming (erchomenon) after (met) him (auton), that (tout) is (estin), into (eis) the one (ton) of Jesus (Iēsoun)." (See Mat. 3:11)

"John baptized a baptism of repentance" - If water baptism produces the same effects in the believer as baptism in holy Spirit, then why does Apostle Paul make a point of distinguishing the difference between the two baptisms, and concern himself primarily with whether these certain disciples have been baptized in holy Spirit? Because only baptism in holy Spirit gives a mortal the inherent power to enter into the kingdom of the heavens, and to rise out from among the dead into eternal life! Water baptism in and of itself imparts no holy Spirit power whatsoever to the believer. Apostle Paul says that John water baptized people to help them come to repentance toward God, so they could believe to receive Christ Jesus' baptism in God's gift of holy Spirit. What I see in this verse is Apostle Paul implying that either John doing water baptizing, or water baptism itself, was going to end, and Christ Jesus' baptism in holy Spirit was going to begin.

"saying in order that they may believe into the [baptism] coming after him, that is, into the one of Jesus." - Believe into what? Paul knew that John the Baptist prophesied about Jesus coming after him, as a "baptizer" of a different kind, who would baptize in holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). Paul knew this because John the Baptist preached it, and because Paul received revelation directly from Christ Jesus concerning the Great Mystery. When the name 'Jesus' is used by itself in scripture, apart from the title of 'Christ', then the emphasis in the context is placed upon the aspect of redemption in his name (Acts 4:12).

Acts 19:5 But (de) having heard (akousantes) they were baptized (ebaptisthēsan) into (eis) the (to) name (onoma) of the (tou) Lord (Kuriou) Jesus (Iēsou),

"But having heard they were baptized" - The intransitive usage of heard (heard what? no object stated), indicates that what they heard was not simply Paul's voice, i.e., the sounds he was making, but they heard and understood the meaning of what he was saying about Jesus Christ, and believed it. They heard Paul's individual words (rhēmatos) about Jesus. Isn't it wonderful that the new birth, the baptism in the holy Spirit from Christ Jesus can happen that quickly, with virtually no ritual or mortal-made religious production!

"they were baptized" - In 1 Corinthians 1:13-16 Apostle Paul recollects all those he had water baptized, and these certain disciples here in Ephesus are not mentioned! Paul states he did very little water baptizing in his ministry. The certain disciples stated in verse 3 that they had already been water baptized according "to the baptism of John". I don't believe these certain disciples (they were disciples already!) needed to become water baptized a second time by Apostle Paul or anyone else, on anyone's false assumption that their first water baptism didn't "take"! In verse 1, Paul found these certain disciples who had already repented toward God and were water baptized, and were following after righteousness. They didn't need water baptism unto repentance a second time because they had already repented. They were already believing disciples. What they needed was what Paul helped them receive, the knowledge of and believing for the new birth from above, the baptism in the gift of holy Spirit from Christ Jesus. Paul did not re-water baptize them.

"into the name of the Lord Jesus" - means "in acknowledgement of, respect for, and believing in" who the man Jesus was, i.e., what he came to do, to redeem mortalkind from the consequences of sin.

Paul was not interested in whether they had been water baptized since they believed, but said, "If [you are] one having believed, have you taken (elabete) holy Spirit?" in verse 2. Paul's immediate concern was whether they had been baptized in holy Spirit from Jesus Christ! It logically follows that if they had received holy Spirit, they would have already repented in their heart toward God first in order to have received forgiveness of sins. John the Baptist came with his water baptism unto repentance to prepare the "way" in mortals hearts to have repentance toward God, so that when Jesus came their hearts would be ready to believe and receive him and his baptism in holy Spirit.

The word having heard (akousantes) in this verse indicates that the believing of those who were listening increased as Apostle Paul spoke because they heard what he was saying to the extent of believing it, and when their believing reached a certain point in their minds then Christ Jesus could baptize them in his Father's Spirit, the gift of holy Spirit, the new birth above. This is exactly what happened with Cornelius and his full house as they were listening and hearing Apostle Peter speak (Acts 10:44).

Verse 5 tells me that the certain disciples were baptized in holy Spirit, and verse 6 tells me how Apostle Paul assisted them in receiving it;

Acts 19:6 and (kai) the (tou) Paul (Paulou), having put upon (epithentos) them (autois) the (tas) hands (cheiras), the (to) Spirit (pneuma), the (to) holy one (hagion) came (ēlthe) upon (ep) them (autous); and (te) they were speaking (elaloun) tongues (glōssais), and (kai) they were prophesying (eprophēteuon).

Acts 19:7 But (de) all (pantes) the (hoi) males (andres) were being (ēsan) about (hōsei) twelve (dōdeka).

This is the baptism in the gift of holy Spirit from Christ Jesus, which John the Baptist prophesied about in Matthew 3:11-12. We know that these certain disciples finally obtained believing, or perhaps had the believing already, but lacked the knowledge that the gift of holy Spirit was available. Verse 5 says, "But having heard (akousantes) they were baptized (ebaptisthesan)..." What Apostle Paul asks in verse 2, "If having believing, [have] you received holy Spirit", together with what Romans 10:17 says about how believing comes to mortals "through an individual word (rhematos) of Christ, together clearly and logically indicate that baptism in holy Spirit comes through hearing and then believing all the individual words (rhemata) about Jesus the redeemer.

When Apostle Paul came to Ephesus, he found these certain disciples who had already repented within their hearts before he arrived, and had already been water baptized before he arrived, and were already walking as disciples following after righteousness. All they needed to receive the new birth from above was to hear that the gift of holy Spirit was now available, and for someone (Apostle Paul in this case) to tell them what to do to receive it, which is simply ask for it (Mat. 7:7) and to believe to receive it (Rom. 10:9-10)! They heard Apostle Paul speak about Jesus Christ, they believed it, and then they received baptism in the gift of holy Spirit from Christ Jesus.

"having laid upon them the hands" - Under the old covenant, under the Mosaic law, the Levitical priests laid their hands upon the head of 'the bullock the sin', which all the people could see, which designated the bullock responsible for taking and carrying the penalty for the sin of all Israel, which penalty was death (Exod. 29:10-14, Lev. 8:14-17). Thus, the redeeming substitute, 'the bullock the sin', passed immediately from life unto death for Israel. For those believing upon the name of 'Jesus', they pass from death unto life (John 5:24). Apostle Paul laying his hands upon these certain disciples designated them as having heard and believed upon the name of Jesus, about him taking and carrying their sin and the penalty for it upon himself as 'the bullock the sin' for them. Thus, with the laying upon them the hands Apostle Paul as a royal priest (1 Peter 2:9) in the temple, that is the body of Christ, designated the certain disciples as passing from death unto life. Just as death immediately followed the transfer of sin upon the head of the 'the bullock the sin', holy Spirit, eternal life was immediately transferred upon the head and into the one believing into the name of 'Jesus'.

Jesus Christ, who gives the new birth from above by baptizing people in the gift of holy Spirit from the Father, prophesied what those who received that spiritual baptism would become;

Acts 1:8 ...witnesses (martures) of me (mou) in (en) both (te) Jerusalem (ierousalēm) and (kai) in (en) all (pasē) the (tē) Judea (ioudaia), and (kai) Samaria (samareia), and (kai) until (heōs) last (eschatou) of the (tēs) land (gēs)!"

Those people outside of Israel and all the way unto the last of the earth speak different languages than Jesus' disciples in Israel to whom he was speaking. This is made clear in Acts 2:6-11, where the twelve Apostles spoke in a multitude of tongues (languages), because of the diversity of Jews which came from many other locations and were present in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. Acts 2:6-11 was the first application of the manifestation of speaking in tongues in the scriptures. But as we see here, there are other applications for speaking in tongues as well.

Apostle Paul remained in the Ephesus area for at least two years and three months more, reasoning with and persuading many concerning the things about the Kingdom of the God. If these twelve certain disciples remained and worked with Apostle Paul, they may have been instrumental in helping all those inhabiting Asia to hear the individual words (rhemata) about Jesus the redeemer, over the time period of the next two years (Acts 19:10).

PART 2 SUMMARY

We have now tracked Jesus' prophecy given in Acts 1:8, becoming fulfilled;

- in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost where the twelve Apostles and about three thousand other believers received,

- and in Acts 8 where the "half-Jews", the Samaritans received,

- and in Acts 9 where Saul (Apostle Paul) received,

- and in Acts 10 where gentiles, Cornelius and his household received,

- and now in Acts 18:24 - 19:7 where believers in Ephesus received.

PART 3

SUMMARY OF THE GREAT MYSTERY