GOD'S WORD FOR TODAY
DAILY DEVOTIONAL
ANOTHER GIFT
READ: ACTS 17:1 THROUGH 19:41
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:1–2).
The disciples in Ephesus didn’t realize the Holy Spirit existed, so they never asked to receive Him. The fact that Paul said they believed may indicate these disciples already knew about Jesus, His ministry, and His resurrection. As former followers of John the Baptist, they had been baptized with the baptism of repentance.
Before he died, however, John pointed to Jesus as the foretold Messiah who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). Having a better understanding, they asked Paul to rebaptize them in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he laid hands on them, they received the promised Holy Spirit baptism as well, evidenced by speaking in tongues.
The New Testament encourages people to receive two important spiritual gifts: salvation and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The first one they need for eternal life, the latter for edification and ministry.
Thought for Today: Paul’s question is still relevant. Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?
Quicklook: Acts 19:1–7
DAILY DEVOTIONAL
ANOTHER GIFT
READ: ACTS 17:1 THROUGH 19:41
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:1–2).
The disciples in Ephesus didn’t realize the Holy Spirit existed, so they never asked to receive Him. The fact that Paul said they believed may indicate these disciples already knew about Jesus, His ministry, and His resurrection. As former followers of John the Baptist, they had been baptized with the baptism of repentance.
Before he died, however, John pointed to Jesus as the foretold Messiah who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). Having a better understanding, they asked Paul to rebaptize them in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he laid hands on them, they received the promised Holy Spirit baptism as well, evidenced by speaking in tongues.
The New Testament encourages people to receive two important spiritual gifts: salvation and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The first one they need for eternal life, the latter for edification and ministry.
Thought for Today: Paul’s question is still relevant. Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?
Quicklook: Acts 19:1–7
GOD'S WORD FOR TODAY
DAILY DEVOTIONAL
ANOTHER GIFT
READ: ACTS 17:1 THROUGH 19:41
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:1–2).
The disciples in Ephesus didn’t realize the Holy Spirit existed, so they never asked to receive Him. The fact that Paul said they believed may indicate these disciples already knew about Jesus, His ministry, and His resurrection. As former followers of John the Baptist, they had been baptized with the baptism of repentance.
Before he died, however, John pointed to Jesus as the foretold Messiah who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matthew 3:11). Having a better understanding, they asked Paul to rebaptize them in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he laid hands on them, they received the promised Holy Spirit baptism as well, evidenced by speaking in tongues.
The New Testament encourages people to receive two important spiritual gifts: salvation and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The first one they need for eternal life, the latter for edification and ministry.
Thought for Today: Paul’s question is still relevant. Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?
Quicklook: Acts 19:1–7
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