Acts 19:2

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

He said {G2036} unto {G4314} them {G846},{G1487} Have ye received {G2983} the Holy {G40} Ghost {G4151} since ye believed {G4100}? And {G1161} they said {G2036} unto {G4314} him {G846},{G235} We have {G191} not so much as {G3761} heard {G191} whether {G1487} there be any {G2076} Holy {G40} Ghost {G4151}.

He asked them, “Did you receive the Ruach HaKodesh when you came to trust?” “No,” they said to him, “we have never even heard that there is such a thing as the Ruach HaKodesh.”

and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” “No,” they answered, “we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given.

Acts 19:2 records a pivotal exchange between the Apostle Paul and a group of disciples he encountered in Ephesus. This verse highlights a crucial gap in their understanding regarding the Holy Spirit, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of Christian experience and baptism.

Context

Paul's arrival in Ephesus marks a significant point in his third missionary journey. He seeks out believers, and upon finding these "certain disciples," his first question is not about their initial belief in Jesus, but about their reception of the Holy Spirit. This suggests that for Paul, genuine Christian discipleship involved not only faith in Christ but also the empowering work of the Spirit. Their response—that they had not even heard of the Holy Ghost—is startling and points to an incomplete understanding of the Christian message, likely having received only John the Baptist's baptism, which prepared people for the Messiah but did not confer the Holy Spirit.

Key Themes

  • The Essential Role of the Holy Spirit: This verse underscores that the Holy Spirit is not an optional extra but central to the Christian life. Paul's immediate inquiry emphasizes the Spirit's necessity for believers.
  • Incomplete Understanding and Spiritual Growth: The disciples' ignorance reveals that initial belief or adherence to a partial truth (like John's baptism) is not the full scope of God's revelation. There is always room for deeper understanding and spiritual maturity.
  • Apostolic Correction and Teaching: Paul's interaction demonstrates the importance of sound doctrine and apostolic teaching in guiding believers into a complete understanding of the Gospel, including the person and work of the Holy Spirit.
  • Transition to the New Covenant: The dialogue implicitly highlights the shift from the preparatory ministry of John the Baptist to the full reality of the New Covenant, inaugurated by Christ and empowered by the Spirit.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "Holy Ghost" is an older English translation of the Greek term Pneuma Hagion (Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον), which is more commonly translated today as "Holy Spirit." Both terms refer to the third person of the Trinity, emphasizing His divine nature and distinct personality. The Greek word for "received" (ἔλαβετε - elabete) implies an active reception or impartation, suggesting a transformative experience rather than mere intellectual acknowledgment.

Practical Application

Acts 19:2 prompts believers today to consider their own understanding and experience of the Holy Spirit. Have we truly "received" Him, not just intellectually assented to His existence? The Spirit empowers us for service, guides us into truth, convicts us of sin, and conforms us to the image of Christ. This passage encourages us to seek a deeper relationship with God through the Spirit, recognizing His vital role in our daily lives and the life of the Church. It also reminds us of the importance of sound biblical teaching to ensure a full and accurate understanding of God's truth.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Galatians 3:5

    He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, [doeth he it] by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

  • 1 Corinthians 6:19

    What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

  • John 7:39

    (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet [given]; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

  • Acts 19:5

    When they heard [this], they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

  • Acts 11:15

    And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

  • Acts 11:17

    Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as [he did] unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

  • Acts 2:17

    And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

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