Conversions in The Book of Acts - IXa

Conversions In The Book Of Acts
The Twelve Disciples Of John (19:1-10) Part One

In our survey of "Conversions In The Book of Acts", we have consider the following examples of conversion.
The 3000 on Pentecost - Ac 2:1-41
The 2000 at Solomon’s Porch - Ac 3:1-4:4
The Samaritans - Ac 8:4-25
The Ethiopian Eunuch - Ac 8:26-40
Saul Of Tarsus - Ac 9:1-19; 22:6-16; 26:12-18
Cornelius And His Household - Ac 10:1-48; 11:1-18
Two Households At Philippi - Ac 16:6-34
The Athenians - Ac 17:16-34
The Corinthians - Ac 18:1-11
There were others that we might have considered, but did not.
Those at Antioch of Syria - Ac 11:19-21
Sergius Paulus on the island of Paphos - Ac 13:4-12
Those at Antioch of Pisidia - Ac 13:13-48
Those at Iconium, Lystra and Derbe - Ac 14:1-20
Those at Thessalonica and Berea - Ac 17:1-12
And Apollos, who was taught by Aquila and Priscilla - Ac 18:24-28

In the examples we considered, I made the following observations:
The gospel message was one that focused on Jesus...
Who died for our sins
Who was raised from the dead
Who is both Lord and Christ, returning again one day to judge the world
That the response expected of those who heard was one of...
Faith in Jesus as the Christ, the son of God (which included confessing that faith)
Repentance of one’s sins
Baptism for the remission of sins

Before we conclude this series, I wish to examine one more case of conversion. It is the last example of conversion in Acts (with the possible exception of some in the audience when Paul spoke at Rome - Ac 28:23-24). It is unique for several reasons, one of which is that it describes a "re-baptism". I am referring to "The Twelve Disciples Of John", recorded in Ac 19:1-10.
As we begin this study, let’s review the Biblical record of the conversion of twelve "disciles of John." When Paul arrived in Ephesus. He had just started his third journey - Ac 18:22-23 "Paul sailed to Caesarea, where he greeted the church. Then he went on to Antioch. After staying there for a while, he left and visited several places in Galatia and Phrygia. He helped the followers there to become stronger in their faith." At the end of his second journey, he had made a quick stop at Ephesus - Ac 18:19-21 "The three of them arrived in Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He then went into the Jewish meeting place to talk with the people there. They asked him to stay longer, but he refused. He told them good-by and said, "If God lets me, I will come back."’ True to his word, he returned to Ephesus - Ac 19:1 "While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled across the hill country to Ephesus, where he met some of the Lord's followers."

He finds some "disciples", who were twelve in number - Ac 19:1b "where he met some of the Lord's followers.", 7 "There were about twelve men in this group." Upon questioning, he learns they were disciples of John the Baptist - Ac 19:2-3 "He asked them, "When you put your faith in Jesus, were you given the Holy Spirit?" "No!" they answered. "We have never even heard of the Holy Spirit." "Then why were you baptized?" Paul asked. They answered, "Because of what John taught."’ He asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed as explained in the conversion of "The Samaritans" (Ac 8:4-25), I believe the phrase "receive the Holy Spirit" to be a metonymy for receiving a miraculous gift from the Spirit. As an apostle, Paul had the ability to impart spiritual gifts - Ro 1:11 "I want to see you and share with you the same blessings that God's Spirit has given me. Then you will grow stronger in your faith."; 2 Ti 1:6s28 "So I ask you to make full use of the gift that God gave you when I placed my hands on you. Use it well." Assuming the "disciples" to have been baptized into Christ, he desired to give them gifts from the Spirit (such as the gifts of tongues and prophesy, cf. 1 Co 12:10). Their immediate answer sparks another question from Paul as they had not heard about a Holy Spirit. They must not have known much of John’s own teaching, for he taught concerning the Holy Spirit - Mt 3:11 "I baptize you with water so that you will give up your sins. But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." They clearly could not have been properly baptized into Christ, for it is a baptism into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! - Mt 28:19 "Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit," So Paul inquires into their baptism. He learns that it was John’s baptism. Some have suggested that these 12 may have been converted by Apollos before Apollos himself learned the truth - Ac 18:24-25 "A Jewish man named Apollos came to Ephesus. Apollos had been born in the city of Alexandria. He was a very good speaker and knew a lot about the Scriptures. He also knew much about the Lord's Way, and he spoke about it with great excitement. What he taught about Jesus was right, but all he knew was John's message about baptism."

Paul explains that while John did teach a baptism of repentance, he directed people to believe on Jesus who would come after him - Ac 19:4 "Paul replied, "John baptized people so that they would turn to God. But he also told them that someone else was coming, and that they should put their faith in him. Jesus is the one that John was talking about."’ The twelve are then baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus - Ac 19:5 "After the people heard Paul say this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." This would be the baptism commanded by Jesus - Mt 28:18-20 "Jesus came to them and said: I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth! Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world." And the baptism expected of all would-be disciples of Jesus - Ac 2:38; 22:16. Following their baptism, Paul laid hands on them and the Spirit imparted gifts of tongues and prophesy - Ac 19:6-7 "Then Paul placed his hands on them. The Holy Spirit was given to them, and they spoke unknown languages and prophesied. There were about twelve men in this group." Such was the beginning of a very successful period for the gospel (cf. Ac 19:8-10 "For three months Paul went to the Jewish meeting place and talked bravely with the people about God's kingdom. He tried to win them over, but some of them were stubborn and refused to believe. In front of everyone they said terrible things about God's Way. Paul left and took the followers with him to the lecture hall of Tyrannus. He spoke there every day for two years, until every Jew and Gentile in Asia had heard the Lord's message."). Again we see what was considered the normal response of one who wished to become a disciple of Jesus (faith and baptism). Mark 16:16 "Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned."

The example of "The Twelve Disciples Of John" does raise an interesting question concerning "re-baptism". We will look at this question in our next lesson in this series.

God Bless,
Jim Newsted
Shamrock, Tx
The town that turns green for a week every year

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Even though you can't see the air, It doesn't stop you from breathing
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