Acts 19:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he said, "Into what then were you baptized?" They said, "Into John 's baptism."

NIV: So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John’s baptism," they replied.

NASB: And he said, 'Into what then were you baptized?' And they said, 'Into John’s baptism.'

CSB: "Into what then were you baptized?" he asked them. "Into John’s baptism," they replied.

NLT: Then what baptism did you experience?' he asked. And they replied, 'The baptism of John.'

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

NKJV: And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”

Paul has just arrived in Ephesus and has met twelve men who know a lot about John the Baptist but not much about Jesus. John's ministry was largely around the Jordan River east of Jerusalem. He had been selected since inception to herald the coming of the Messiah (Luke 1:16–17). His personal message was one of repentance: that people should turn away from their rebellion against God and intentionally choose to obey Him, instead. To show their acceptance and devotion to John's message, people were baptized into "John's baptism."

We don't know where or by whom these men were baptized. Jewish men, no matter where they lived, were expected to go to Jerusalem to participate in the three main feasts each year; Jews who lived outside of Judea went far less often, but still tried to make some. By this time, John has been gone for decades. The men may have learned about John from Apollos, a Jewish man from Alexandria who devoutly followed John's message and preached it in Ephesus. The first time Paul came by Ephesus, he left behind Priscilla and Aquila who met Apollos and explained to him that John had been talking about Jesus of Nazareth. Apollos quickly realized he needed to follow Jesus, not John, and took that message to Corinth (Acts 18:24–28).

To be baptized into a "name" means to publicly affirm you follow the teachings of that person. "Name" doesn't just mean a series of sounds that identifies an individual. It includes the person's character, reputation, beliefs, and authority. The men had received John's baptism, meaning they committed to following his teaching. Now, they need to be baptized in Jesus' name to show they trust Jesus' message: that He is the Messiah who died and rose again for the forgiveness of their sins.

Acts 19:1–7 continues the story of Paul's third missionary trip that began with his tour of the churches in central modern-day Turkey (Acts 18:23). Now, he is in Ephesus in the province of Asia in western Turkey. He had been in Ephesus for a short time before and will now stay for about three years (Acts 18:19–21; 20:31). His first encounter is with twelve men who know about John the Baptist and his baptism for repentance but not about Jesus, whom John promised would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11).

Acts 19 recounts Paul's three-year visit in Ephesus. He starts by revealing how Jesus of Nazareth has brought to life the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit validates Paul's message by healing those struck with physical ailments and demon possession. Amazed by Paul's authority over evil spirits, so many magicians turn to Christ that the craftsmen who make idols fear for their livelihoods. They nearly incite a riot before the town clerk settles them down. Paul realizes his time in Ephesus has ended, and he travels to Macedonia (Acts 20:1).

Acts 19 is the meat of Paul's third missionary voyage. He has already revisited the churches in central modern-day Turkey (Acts 18:23). Now he returns to Ephesus for a three-year stay. After firmly establishing the church there, rescuing many from pagan magic and the worship of Artemis, he returns to Macedonia and Greece. A threat on his life sends him back up to Macedonia and across to Troas. He meets briefly with the Ephesian elders to tell them they will not meet again (Acts 20). When he returns to Jerusalem, he is arrested and, eventually, taken to Rome.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.