Year 1, Day 252: Acts 19

Historical Background

I need to do some historical background here.  You might be wondering how anyone in the world could have heard of John the Baptizer but not know of the death and resurrection of Christ as well as the coming of the Holy Spirit – which seems to be the case with these disciples that Paul meets.  In truth, it is quite possible.  Remember that John the Baptizer was beheaded while Jesus was still doing His ministry.  Some of John the Baptizer’s disciples came over to follow Christ, but certainly not all.  It is likely that some of them fled the Jerusalem area to escape the persecution that came upon John the Baptizer.  As religious people, they would have likely continued to teach the message God laid upon their heart – even as incomplete as it was.  Given this historical scenario, it is quite possible that Paul would run across some people who were taught by John the Baptizer’s followers who may have been aware of the presence of Jesus but didn’t know the full story of Christ and both His crucifixion and His resurrection.

Paul and the Disciples

So Paul does meet some disciples who had been water-baptized into the repentance baptism of John.  But they certainly didn’t know the Holy Spirit, which means they didn’t know about Pentecost.  And if they didn’t know about Pentecost it is likely that they didn’t know about the resurrection and crucifixion.  So as I say above, their message was good, but it was incomplete.

Paul teaches them and then baptizes them into the Holy Spirit.  Now, it is really important to stop here and make sure that we are clear at what is going on.  The New Testament clearly teaches that there are two types of baptism experiences: Water Baptism (a baptism of repentance and acknowledgment that we are born into sinful flesh) and Spirit Baptism (where we receive the Holy Spirit).  Many people are brought up to believe that these are one and the same and that they happen at the same time.  While that could absolutely be the case, I personally think it is extremely rare that the Holy Spirit comes upon a person at the exact same instant they are water baptized.  Let me explain.

• As we see here, these disciples are water baptized well before they receive the Holy Spirit.  We also see this experience in Acts 8 when Philip goes among the Samaritans.  We also see this experience in many of Jesus’ disciples, who were baptized by John the Baptizer and didn’t receive the Holy Spirit until Pentecost.
• In Acts 10, Peter at Cornelius’ house, we see that Cornelius and his family receive the Holy Spirit first and it is actually the reception of the Holy Spirit that convinces Peter that they should also be water baptized. 
• In Acts 8, Philip and the Eunuch, water baptism and the reception of the Holy Spirit are nearly simultaneous.

You see, the Bible presents three equal possibilities.  The Holy Spirit can precede water baptism, the Holy Spirit can follow water baptism, and the Holy Spirit can come at or very near the time of water baptism.  From this, I believe that it is important to understand water baptism and Spirit baptism as two separate baptisms which may certainly overlap into one event in a person’s life.

Why is this important?  Well, the presence of the Holy Spirit is the “proof” of salvation.  (See Romans 8:9, 16 and Ephesians 1:13)  The reception of the Holy Spirit is not the work by which we are saved – that work is Jesus’ death on the cross.  However, Jesus promises that all who are saved into eternal life will have the Holy Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit does not necessary come when a person is water baptized; the Holy Spirit comes when a person truly believes!  This is why Paul makes such a big deal about the baptism of the Holy Spirit with these disciples that he meets.  He wants to make sure that they have heard the whole story, understand the whole story, and believe the whole story.  Paul doesn’t want them going through life believing an incomplete Gospel and experiencing an incomplete baptism.  Paul wants them to know the Holy Spirit and to have received Him!

So let me ask the same question to you the reader.  Have you received the Holy Spirit? 

It’s the same question that Paul asks these disciples of John the Baptizer.  If it is important enough for Paul to ask, I ask it of you.  If you have, then great!  If you have not, please let me know!

Sons of Sceva

I will now quickly talk about the other two stories in this chapter.  In the story of the sons of Sceva, we can see the importance of truly being in the Spirit.  Anyone can call upon the name of Christ, but only those who have the Holy Spirit within them – and who are following God’s directions in the first place – will be protected under God’s will!  If we don’t have the Holy Spirit within us and guiding us we can do whatever we set our mind to do.  But it probably isn’t going to be God’s will!

Riot in Ephesus

Then we get to the riot in Ephesus.  I’m going to cast a real downer on this story.  First, notice that this story is all about money.  This is the one story in Acts where Paul gets in trouble that originates from Gentiles.  And it is all about money! 

Furthermore, this is a story about mob mentality.  Notice that the Bible is clear that the majority of the people who gathered didn’t even know why they were together.  They weren’t aware that the problem was Demetrius and his companions’ love for money; they simply thought that someone had attacked the sanctity of Ephesus!  Isn’t it sad how a small group of people can get the mob mentality going so strongly without even really telling them all what is actually going on!

Finally – and here’s the real downer – please note that this story was not won theologically.  This story was won by a government official reminding the gathered crowd that the last thing they wanted to do was to riot to the point that Rome would need to send soldiers.

So what can we learn from the story? 

• People are greedy. 
• People will also need little reason to enter into mob mentality. 
• Once in mob mentality mode, people won’t stop and think. 
• The day is not always won theologically. 

All of that being said, we can also learn that God is in control and whether through theological means or not – God protects His servants so that they can accomplish the role He has set before them.

<><