Acts 19 -- Sincere, But Lacking

In chapter 18, we were shown how Apollos, though sincere, was lacking in his understanding of the Gospel, and how Aquila and Priscilla brought him into the full light of the gospel.  Now, in chapter 19, we hear about 12 men "who professed to be Christian disciples, but whose lives gave evidence that something was lacking ... they did not even know that the Holy Spirit had been given [to humans]," my commentary said.

The transition period was over, and Peter had unlocked the way to Christ for Jews, Samaritans, and Gentiles using the keys Jesus had given him.  Now, God's pattern is that "sinners hear the Word, they believe on Jesus Christ, they immediately receive the Spirit, and then they are baptized ... The fact that these men did not have the Spirit dwelling within was proof that they had never truly been born again ... These twelve men had been baptized and were seeking to be religious, but something was missing ... we have people just like them in our churches today," my commentary explained.

"This was a special group of men who would help form the nucleus of a great church at Ephesus.  By using Paul to convey the gift of the Spirit, God affirmed Paul's apostolic authority and united the Ephesian church to the other churches ... What God did through Paul for these 12 men was not normative for the church today ... it was not repeated."

Also here, we have "the last instance of the gift of tongues in the book of Acts ... Today, the gift of tongues is not an evidence of the baptism of the Spirit or the fullness of the Spirit ... Nowhere in Scripture are we admonished to seek a baptism of the Holy Spirit, or to speak in tongues, but we are commanded to be filled with the Spirit."  

Keep me topped off, Father.  I need it every day!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford