Acts 19:3 - He said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Acts 19:3" mean?
This verse, Acts 19:3, is part of a story where Paul encounters some disciples in Ephesus. Let's break down what it means:
"He said, 'Into what then were you baptized?'": Paul is inquiring about the basis or purpose of their baptism. He's not just asking who baptized them, but in whose name or with what understanding they were baptized. Baptisms in the New Testament era carried specific meaning, tied to the faith and understanding of the person being baptized.
"They said, 'Into John's baptism.'": This is their response. They were baptized according to the practices and teachings of John the Baptist.
Significance and Context:
To fully understand the verse, we need to know a bit about John's baptism and the difference between it and Christian baptism:
John's Baptism: John the Baptist preached a message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4). His baptism was a symbol of this repentance and a preparation for the coming of the Messiah (Jesus). It was pre-Christian. Those baptized by John looked forward to Jesus.
Christian Baptism: After Jesus's death and resurrection, baptism took on a new significance. It became associated with faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, and identification with his death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). It was performed in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38), signifying union with him and receiving the Holy Spirit.
Why Paul's Question Matters:
Paul recognized that these disciples had only experienced John's baptism, which was incomplete in light of the coming of Jesus. They had not yet heard the full Gospel message about Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
In Essence:
The verse reveals that these disciples had only received a preliminary baptism focused on repentance and anticipation of the Messiah. They hadn't yet been baptized into the fuller Christian understanding of faith in Jesus Christ and the receiving of the Holy Spirit. This sets up the next verses where Paul then teaches them about Jesus, and they are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit.
In summary, Acts 19:3 highlights the transition from John's ministry to the Christian era, and the necessity of understanding the significance of Christian baptism in light of the completed work of Jesus Christ.
Acts 19:3 - He said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”
What does "Acts 19:3" mean?
This verse, Acts 19:3, is part of a story where Paul encounters some disciples in Ephesus. Let's break down what it means:
"He said, 'Into what then were you baptized?'": Paul is inquiring about the basis or purpose of their baptism. He's not just asking who baptized them, but in whose name or with what understanding they were baptized. Baptisms in the New Testament era carried specific meaning, tied to the faith and understanding of the person being baptized.
"They said, 'Into John's baptism.'": This is their response. They were baptized according to the practices and teachings of John the Baptist.
Significance and Context:
To fully understand the verse, we need to know a bit about John's baptism and the difference between it and Christian baptism:
John's Baptism: John the Baptist preached a message of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4). His baptism was a symbol of this repentance and a preparation for the coming of the Messiah (Jesus). It was pre-Christian. Those baptized by John looked forward to Jesus.
Christian Baptism: After Jesus's death and resurrection, baptism took on a new significance. It became associated with faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, and identification with his death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). It was performed in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38), signifying union with him and receiving the Holy Spirit.
Why Paul's Question Matters:
Paul recognized that these disciples had only experienced John's baptism, which was incomplete in light of the coming of Jesus. They had not yet heard the full Gospel message about Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
In Essence:
The verse reveals that these disciples had only received a preliminary baptism focused on repentance and anticipation of the Messiah. They hadn't yet been baptized into the fuller Christian understanding of faith in Jesus Christ and the receiving of the Holy Spirit. This sets up the next verses where Paul then teaches them about Jesus, and they are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit.
In summary, Acts 19:3 highlights the transition from John's ministry to the Christian era, and the necessity of understanding the significance of Christian baptism in light of the completed work of Jesus Christ.