This week we are looking at Acts 19 – and noting the various ways the people of Ephesus

respond to the gospel of Christ when Paul presents it to them.

Early in the chapter, we find Paul entering the city of Ephesus and encountering twelve disciples

of John the Baptist. He asks them in Acts 19:2: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you

believed?”

And they respond: “[W]e haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

These disciples didn’t follow Jesus because they didn’t even know about His ministry!

Paul then shares with them the difference between John’s ministry and Jesus’ ministry: Paul

said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should

believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this,

they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 19:4-5)

This is a simple, but powerful, story especially to these twelve men.

Paul was willing to share about Jesus’ ministry to anyone who wanted to hear it. He definitely

had a history and a desire to tell this wherever he went. When he came to Ephesus, he was

ready to share it with people that needed to hear it.

These disciples knew about John. They had part of the story, but they didn’t know about Jesus

or the Holy Spirit. This made them willing to learn and be baptized.

There are times in our life when we can make an impact this easily. We likely won’t encounter

followers of John the Baptist in our daily lives, but we may encounter people who are familiar

with the right thing to do or have even been in church at some point. They just need a little

guidance back toward Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and it’s our job as a church to show them the

right way. In this story, Paul never made fun of them or told them they were wrong for being

disciples of John. He simply told them about Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and the disciples

believed. It was that easy!

Who in your life needs this gentle guidance toward Jesus?

By Jason Grace

Jason is a software engineering manager. He and his wife, Karen, have two children and have

been active members at Immanuel for over 22 years. His service includes roles in the deacon

ministry, children's ministry, technical team, financial coaching, and leading Bible studies. He

loves traveling with his wife and family throughout the US.