Epiphany Season · Baptism of the Lord · Year B
Acts 19:1-7
Paul in Ephesus
January 10, 2027
Overview & Insights
“And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them.” (Acts 19:6)
This section and the one before it are a pair. They are both concerned with the relationship of Christianity to an imperfect form of the faith—“the baptism of John.” In this case Paul deals with the situation himself. These verses include also a brief description of his ministry in Ephesus, aspects of which are illustrated in the following section. But again we must turn to Paul’s letters to fill out our knowledge of these years. They show that his achievement in Ephesus was at the cost of much suffering (1 Cor. 15:32; 2 Cor. 1:8; 4:9ff.; 6:4ff.), including, perhaps, an imprisonment (cf. 2 Cor. 11:23) and a “flying visit” to Corinth in an attempt to bring order into that church’s troubled affairs (cf. 2 Cor. 12:14; 13:1; also 2 Cor. 2:1; see disc. on 21:21).
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Commentary
Acts 19:1-7 Working Preacher
Reads Paul's re-baptism of the Ephesian disciples as a study in baptism joined to the gift of the Spirit.
Acts 19:1-7 Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed reading on the difference between John's baptism and Spirit baptism, and incomplete faith.
Acts 19 Enduring Word · David Guzik
An accessible verse-by-verse commentary on Paul in Ephesus, widely used across evangelical churches.
Acts 19 verse by verse Precept Austin
A study library with word studies on Paul in Ephesus and the coming of the Spirit.
Classic commentaries on Acts 19 BibleHub
The classic expositors aligned to the verse on the Ephesian disciples.
Background & Word Study
The Church Fathers
Questions preachers ask
What happens at Ephesus in Acts 19?
Paul finds disciples who knew only John's baptism; baptized now in the name of the Lord Jesus and receiving the Spirit through Paul's hands, they speak in tongues and prophesy.
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