Acts 19:7

And all the men were about twelve. AND ALL THE MEN WERE ABOUT TWELVE - and, from the mode of expression used, probably all men. Remarks: (1) The episode about Apollos from Alexandria, and the account of the twelve disciples whom Paul found at Ephesus-both apparently at the same imperfect stage of Christian knowledge denoted by "the Baptism of John" - bear such internal marks of truth as not only to speak for themselves, but to a large degree to inspire confidence in the whole strain of the History in which they lie embosomed. Observe the particulars of Apollos' Christian history up to the time when Aquila and Priscilla took him aside; their perception of the imperfect ground on which he stood, and their confidence that, though occupying a position inferior to his, they could impart to him what he knew not, but would dearly value; the humility and teachableness with which he dra...

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...

AND ALL THE MEN - The whole number....

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.

AND ALL THE MEN WERE ABOUT TWELVE. The Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions, have not the word "about"; but affirm, that the men were twelve; and indeed the number being so small, the historian might be at a certainty about it: these seem to be the first materials of a Gospel church at Ephesus, which afterwards was very large and flourishing, and very likely were some of the elders of it....

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...

MEN. Greek. _aner._ App-123....

_And all the men were about twelve The Revised Version_"And they were in all about twelve men," is a more strict rendering of the Greek, but it does not give a different sense, and "men" in that position receives an undue accent. The verse has been the cause of much remark. Why the inspired historian should speak with an "about," has been asked by some. With that we are not concerned, only to observe that the Spirit has not prompted him to speak otherwise. Some have seen in the number and the circumstances a resemblance to the Apostles and their supernatural endowment; others have looked back as far as the Patriarchs and have made of these men the beginning of another Israel. May it not be that the "about" was written to admonish us of the unprofitableness of such speculations? Cp. Joshua 7:5....