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Act 19:3 And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's
baptism."

These men had been born again under the ministry of Apollos when he remained in Ephesus for
a brief time (18:25).

Act 19:4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the
people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."

The ministry of John the Baptist brought people to the new birth and water baptism (Matthew
3: 1-3, 11). However, the infilling of the Holy Spirit is their doorway into the church age, the
dispensation of grace. They will learn, as did Apollos, of the specialized dispensation we live in
today.

Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Although they have already been water baptized, they do not understand its New Testament
significance. So Paul has them baptized again, this time in the name of Jesus. Now they can
apply the act of baptism to the new birth.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they
spoke with tongues and prophesied.

These men speak with tongues and then move into one of the utterances gifts: prophecy. This
also occurs in the house of Cornelius in Acts 10: 46. In both cases, the people speak with
tongues before they move into the gift of the Holy Spirit. Speaking with tongues is the
manifestation of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

19:6 Water Baptism and Holy Spirit Baptism, HOLY SPIRIT FULLNESS. As in Samaria
with Peter and John, here Paul showed the same concern over those in Ephesus.
Drawing the distinction between water baptism and receiving the Holy Spirit, he “laid
hands on them.” When “the Holy Spirit came upon them,” similar results attended their
experience, just as other miracle signs in Acts. Most significantly, just as in Jerusalem,
before long the entire city was awakened to the message of Jesus and the Resurrection
(verse 10). This is the greatest sign of Holy Spirit fullness: he enables believers in a
penetrating witness that impacts cultures alien to God’s Word of Truth (verse 20).

Act 19:7 Now the men were about twelve in all.

This Ephesian revival begins with a core of 12 men.

THE REVIVAL IN EPHESUS (8-22)

God begins to work special miracles through Paul’s hands, and handkerchiefs and aprons that
had been lain on Paul’s body, bring healing and deliverance on those on whom the cloths are
placed.