Acts 19:4

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. THEN SAID PAUL, JOHN VERILY BAPTIZED WITH THE BAPTISM (OR 'BAPTIZED THE BAPTISM') OF REPENTANCE, SAYING UNTO THE PEOPLE, THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE ON HIM WHICH SHOULD COME AFTER HIM, THAT IS, ON [CHRIST] JESUS. (The word "Christ" is clearly not genuine.) The point of contrast is between two stages in the development of the same Gospel truth-a rudimental and a ripe Gospel; the former represented by John's baptism, in which Christ and His salvation was rather expected than actually come. This state of things, strictly speaking, terminated not with the commencement of Christ's public ministry, but with the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost; as is evident from John's own statement: "I indeed baptize you wit...

− 4._John truly _Paul’s admonition tended to this end, that these men being convict of their ignorance might desire to go forward. He saith that John preached of Christ who was to come. Therefore he sent out his disciples, − (354) that running in the course they might go towards Christ who was not as yet revealed. Wherefore, to the end these men may not flatter themselves, and refuse to go forward, he showeth that they be yet far from the mark. For the feeling of want doth enforce men to desire that which is as yet lacking. The sum cometh to this end, as if Paul had said Before Christ was glorified, this power of his did not appear − (355) in the world; when he was ascended into heaven he would have his kingdom to flourish thus. Therefore the graces of the Spirit were much less shed out when John was as yet in the course of his embassage, which do now declare that Chri

1-7 Paul, at Ephesus, found some religious persons, who looked to Jesus as the Messiah. They had not been led to expect the miraculous powers of the Holy Ghost, nor were they informed that the gospel was especially the ministration of the Spirit. But they spake as ready to welcome the notice of it. Paul shows them that John never design that those he baptized should rest there, but told them that they should believe on Him who should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. They thankfully accepted the discovery, and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. The Holy Ghost came upon them in a surprising, overpowering manner; they spake with tongues, and prophesied, as the apostles and the first Gentile coverts did. Though we do not now expect miraculous powers, yet all who profess to be disciples of Christ, should be called on to examine whether they have received the seal of the Ho...

Verse Acts 19:4. _THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE ON HIM WHICH SHOULD COME_ _AFTER_] John baptized them with the baptism of repentance; this was _common_ to all the baptisms administered by the Jews to proselytes; but telling them that they should believe on him who was coming, was _peculiar_ to John's baptism....

JOHN VERILY BAPTIZED - John did indeed baptize. WITH THE BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE - Having special reference to repentance, or as a profession that they did repent of their sins. See the notes on Matthew 3:6. SAYING UNTO THE PEOPLE - The design of his preaching was to tarn the people from their sins, and to prepare them for the coming of the Messiah. He therefore directed their attention principally to him that was to come, John 1:15, John 1:22. THAT IS, ON CHRIST JESUS - These are the words of Paul, explaining what John taught. John taught them to believe in the Messiah, and Paul

EXPOSITION ACTS 19:1 _Country _for _coasts, _A.V.; _found _for _finding, _A.V. and T.R. THE UPPER COUNTRY (τὰ ἀνωτερικὰ μέρη); the inland districts of Galatia and Phrygia, through which St. Paul journeyed on his way to Ephesus, as distinguished from the seacoast on which Ephesus stood. DISCIPLES. They were like Apollos, believers in the Lord Jesus through the preaching of John the Baptist. It looks as if they were companions of Apollos, and had come with him from Alexandria, perhaps for some purpose of trade or Commerce. 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.

THEN SAID PAUL,.... In reply to their answer, understanding them that they were baptized by John, he takes it up, and gives an account of John's baptism: showing how agreeable it was, and that it was the same baptism with the baptism of Christ, being administered in his name: JOHN VERILY BAPTIZED WITH THE BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE; which required repentance antecedent to it, and was a fruit and effect, and so an evidence of it: SAYING UNTO THE PEOPLE; the people of the Jews, the common people, the multitude that attended on his ministry: THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE ON HIM, WHICH SHOULD COME AFTER HIM, that is, on Jesus Christ; so that he preached faith in Christ, as well as repentance towards God; and made the one as well as the other a necessary prerequisite unto baptism; which shows, that his baptism and Christian baptism are the same....

CHAPTER 19 _ 1. The second visit of Paul to Ephesus. The twelve disciples of John (Acts 19:1)._ 2. The Apostle's continued labors. The separation of the disciples. The Province Asia evangelized (Acts 19:8). 3. The Power of God and the Power of Satan (Acts 19:11). 4. Paul plans to go to Jerusalem and to visit Rome (Acts 19:21). 5. The opposition and riot at Ephesus (Acts 19:23). The disciples whom Paul found at Ephesus were disciples of John. The question the Apostle asked them has often been made the foundation of wrong teach

OTHER FOLLOWERS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST AT EPHESUS. Paul's return to Ephesus, promised in Acts 18:21, is made a part of this anecdote. His movements were not fully known, as we saw in Acts 18:21. [101] The story is, like that of Apollos, obscure; it exhibits a bizarre form of early Christianity (_cf._ Acts 8:14 ff.). For into John's baptism we should expect into John's name. Speaking with tongues indicates (as in Acts 10:45 f.) the descent of the Spirit. The whole story is primitive. [101] D reads here: When Paul wished to follow his own plan and to travel to Jerusalem, the Spirit said to him to return to Asia, and he went

It happened that when Apollos was in Corinth Paul went through the upper districts and came to Ephesus and found certain disciples there. He said to them, "When you believed, did you receive the Holy Spirit?" They said to him, "No, we never even heard that the Holy Spirit exists." He said to them, "With what. then, were yon baptized" They said, "With the baptism of John." Paul said. "It was the baptism of repentance that John administered and he told the people that it was on him who was to come after him that they must believe and this is Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands on them the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. In all there were about twelve of these men. In Ephesus Paul met some men who were incomplete Christians. They had received the baptism of John but they did not...