Disciples Yet Not Received The Holy Ghost

Devotional # 27

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at the Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 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.”
 And he said unto them, “Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, “Unto John’s Baptism.”

Then said Paul, “John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

And when Paul laid his hands upon them the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues and prophesied.
 And all the men were about twelve (Acts 19:1-7)

Paul, along with Aquila and Priscila had come to Ephesus on his way to Jerusalem and stayed for a short time. During this visit, he taught in the synagogue. Aquila and Priscilla stayed back in Ephesus while Paul journeyed on (Acts 18: 18-20).

In the meantime, Apollos, an eloquent Jew from Alexandria, arrived in Ephesus. He was instructed in the way of the Lord. He diligently taught the things of the Lord in Ephesus but knew only the baptism of John. Aquila and Priscilla heard and sensed that his teaching was not complete. Then they received Apollos and privately and explained him the way of God more clearly (Acts 18:24-26). It is easy to criticize the preacher publicly and create disturbance in the congregation when we see the teaching is not perfect. But Aquila and Priscilla chose a more mature and graceful way to expound the way of the Lord to Apollos.

Paul, after he visited Jerusalem, joined Aquila and Priscilla again in Ephesus and found some disciples who had been baptized but had not heard about the Holy Ghost. The twelve men at Ephesus had believed in the Lord and were recorded in the scripture by the Holy Ghost as disciples. These men were taught by Apollos and were baptized unto the baptism of John.

The baptism of John was unto repentance to believe in the One who would come after him. John was a forerunner, preparing the hearts of the Jewish nation, bringing them to light the fallen condition of their lives, and directing them to believe in Jesus Christ. Apollos was aware of only the baptism of John, and he taught the disciples the same.

When the word of God is preached, the Holy Spirit brings conviction to the heart of the hearers.

Those who seek the truth, and their hearts are ready to allow the wind to touch them, holding no hindrance or bias, the Holy Spirit quickens their dead spirits. He enlightens them to know God, revealing His Fatherly love and the redeeming work of the Son of God (as a Son of Man). They come to know of the Kingdom of God.

In the light of the revelation of the countenance of the Father’s holiness, their sins are made known. The Spirit convicts them to confess and enables them to receive the forgiveness of their sins. A new relationship is established between the believer and God, leading to a sanctified life, seeking to be found in His Kingdom.

Unfortunately, we find many Christians content that their sins have been forgiven and that they have received the gift of eternal life. Either they are not taught or do not exercise faith to come into the experience of many more other blessings and promises offered to the believers in the Lord. They are happy that the Lord died for their sins, and that they are forgiven.