In Acts 19, Paul came across some disciples that had been
baptized, but not in Jesus name. Neither had they received the gift of the Holy
Ghost.
In this chapter, we have an example of people being
re-baptized, so that they can be baptized in Jesus name for the remission of
their sins.
We also have yet another example of people speaking in other
tongues when they received the gift of the Holy Ghost.
When Paul came across these men, he calls them disciples. He
asked them if they had received the Holy Ghost since they believed.
"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." - Acts 19:2
It is clear that they had heard about the coming of the Holy
Ghost, for it turns out they were disciples of John the Baptist. John the
Baptist proclaimed:
"I indeed
baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier
than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy
Ghost, and with fire:" - Matthew 3:11 (Also: Luke 3:16)
It is apparent the disciples of John rather were saying,
they hadn’t heard that the Holy Ghost was yet being poured out.
This is when Paul asked them,
"And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye
baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism." - Acts 19:3
"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." - Acts 19:4
"When they heard this, they were baptized in the name
of the Lord Jesus." - Acts 19:5
Even though they had already been baptized once, because
they had not been baptized in Jesus name, they got re-baptized.
These men had now been born of water, and thus had partially
obeyed the Gospel. They needed also to be born of the Spirit to fully obey the
Gospel.
"And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy
Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." - Acts
19:6
Here, it is by the laying on of hands, that the men received
the Holy Ghost. And, it is here that once again, when people received the Holy
Ghost, they spoke in tongues.
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