Baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and its sequel The exceeding economy of Scripture will prevent our supposing that these verses lie on the page of Scripture for no end, and will equally prevent our supposing they are present for no distinct and important end. Starting from quite the opposite creed, we are led to notice— I. THAT THE STRESS OF THE PASSAGE BELONGS , NOT TO THE SUBJECT OF BAPTISM , BUT TO THE SUBJECT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT . The... read more
He said for he said unto them, A.V. and T.R.; into for unto (twice), A.V. Into what then were ye baptized ? Nothing can mark more strongly the connection between baptism and the reception of the Holy Spirit than this question does. For it implies, "How could you be ignorant of the giving of the Holy Ghost if you were duly baptized?" (comp. Acts 2:38 ) The answer explains it, "We were baptized with John's baptism, to which no promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost was attached." read more
And Paul said for then said Paul, A.V.; John for John verily, A.V. and T.R.; Jesus for Christ Jesus, A.V. and T.R. The baptism of repentance . See Luke 3:3 , etc., and for the difference between John's baptism and that of Christ, Luke 3:16 . Him which should some after him . read more
And when for when, A.V.; into for in, A.V. Into the Name of the Lord Jesus (see Acts 8:16 ). So too Acts 10:48 of Cornelius and his company, "He commanded them to be baptized in the Name ( ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι ) of Jesus Christ" (R.V.). The formula of baptism, as commanded by the Lord Jesus himself, was, "In [or, 'into'] the Name ( αἰς τὸ ὔνομα ) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" ( Matthew 28:20 ). But the candidate always first made a profession of... read more
Had laid his hands , etc. (see Acts 8:17 and note). We have here a distinct mark of Paul's true apostleship (see Acts 8:17 , Acts 8:18 ). For the manifestation of the Spirit, see Acts 10:46 . read more
They were in all about twelve men for all the men were about twelve, A.V. read more
Entered for went, A.V.; reasoning for disputing, A.V. ( διαλεγόμενος , as Acts 19:9 and Acts 17:2 , Acts 17:17 ; Acts 18:4 , Acts 18:19 , etc.); as to the things for the things, A.V. This last is a needless change, since πείθειν properly governs an accusative of the things persuaded or taught, and it is a right English use of "to persuade" to apply it to the thing inculcated. For the use of the phrase "the kingdom of God" as a compendious description of... read more
The spiritual, the supernatural, and the natural. The faithful labors of Paul in the synagogue of the Jews and the room of Tyrannus, the unusually extensive employment of the miraculous, and the discomfiture of the exorcists suggest to us— I. THAT THE SUPERNATURAL IS TO BE SUBORDINATED TO THE SPIRITUAL . ( Acts 19:8-12 .) We remember how our Lord refused to gratify the unworthy craving for signs and wonders in his day: "There shall no sign be given to this... read more
Work of Paul at Ephesus. Here we have the victory of the Divine Word over the power of falsehood and evil in the minds of men. Such episodes show on a small scale what the effect of the evangelical leaven is in the world on a large scale. I. THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL SEEN IN THE ACTIVITY OF PAUL . It becomes a two-edged sword in his hand against all the powers of darkness. Three months' continuous preaching of great evangelical truths may lay the foundation of... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Acts 19:2
And he said for he said, A.V. and T.R.; did ye receive for have ye received, A.V.; when for since, A.V. ; nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Ghost was given for we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost, A.V. Did ye receive , etc.? The R.V. gives the sense much more accurately than the A.V., which is, "Did ye receive the Holy Ghost at the time of your baptism, when ye first believed?" Something led the apostle to suspect that they had not... read more