Acts 19:1-7

Expanded Bible

Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions [^Cthe mountainous northern route through the interior of Phrygia; 18:23] to Ephesus [^Ca major city in western Asia Minor; 18:23]. There he found some ·followers [disciples] ² and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit ·when [or after] you believed?”

They said, “We have never even heard ·of [or that there is] a Holy Spirit.”

³ So he asked, “·What kind of baptism did you have [^LInto what were you baptized]?”

They said, “·It was the baptism that John taught [^LInto John’s baptism].” [^CThese followers of John the Baptist either (1) knew only of John’s ministry but had not heard that Jesus was the Messiah, or less likely, (2) believed in Jesus as Messiah, but had not been baptized in his name to receive the Holy Spirit.]

⁴ Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of ·changed hearts and lives [repentance; ^Cin preparation for the Messiah]. He told people to believe in the one who would come after him, and that one is Jesus.”

⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized ·in [or into] the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ Then Paul ·laid [placed] his hands on them [^Ca ritual of blessing and/or conferring of authority], and the Holy Spirit came upon them. They began speaking ·different languages [or in tongues; ecstatic utterance] and prophesying. ⁷ There were about twelve people in this group.