Unto What Were You Baptized? - Acts 19:3

Luke the beloved physician wrote, “while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost”, and in chapter nineteen and verse three of the book of Acts Luke shared how Paul asked the believers at Ephesus, “Unto what then were you baptized?” where we read:

And he said unto them, Unto what then were you baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

The verse reads, “And he said unto them, Unto what then were you baptized?” Luke began with the words, “He said unto them” which means “and Paul uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked the disciples at Ephesus”, “unto what then” or “what was it therefore, wherefore, consequently and these things being so” “were you baptized” which means “were you, disciples at Ephesus, immersed, submerged and dipped as a cleansing and ceremonial ablution”? Luke shared how “Paul” asked the “disciples at Ephesus” what it was to which they were “baptized”.

The verse goes on to say, “And they said, Unto John's baptism.” Luke continued with the words “and they said” or “and the disciples at Ephesus uttered, declared, proclaimed and answered”, “unto John's baptism” which means “toward John the Baptist's immersion, submersion and dipping as a cleansing and ceremonial ablution”. Luke shared how the disciples at Ephesus answered “Paul” that they were “baptized” with the “baptism” that John the Baptist taught them.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we learn of the limited knowledge of these “disciples at Ephesus” concerning a personal relationship with God. They only heard and obeyed the “baptism” spoken of by “John the Baptist”, and like unto “Apollos”, they needed to be instructed in the fulfillment of “John the Baptist's” preaching by receiving Jesus Christ. Jesus promised to give His Spirit upon anyone who will receive Him as their “Savior and Lord” (See John 14:16,26; John 15:26 and John 16:7), and those who yield themselves to Jesus will be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and be filled with His Holy Spirit who gives them the ability to live and bear witness of the Christian life. Let all who read these words understand the desire of God the Father and Christ the Son and receive them into their lives.

Next time Luke shares how Paul tells the believers at Ephesus, “that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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