Acts 19:2
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
Original Language Analysis
πρὸς
unto
G4314
πρὸς
unto
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
2 of 20
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
αὐτόν
him
G846
αὐτόν
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
3 of 20
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
πνεῦμα
Ghost
G4151
πνεῦμα
Ghost
Strong's:
G4151
Word #:
5 of 20
a current of air, i.e., breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e., (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital prin
ἅγιον
Holy
G40
ἅγιον
Holy
Strong's:
G40
Word #:
6 of 20
sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated)
ἐλάβετε
Have ye received
G2983
ἐλάβετε
Have ye received
Strong's:
G2983
Word #:
7 of 20
while g0138 is more violent, to seize or remove))
πιστεύσαντες
since ye believed
G4100
πιστεύσαντες
since ye believed
Strong's:
G4100
Word #:
8 of 20
to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e., credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to ch
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 20
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πρὸς
unto
G4314
πρὸς
unto
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
12 of 20
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
αὐτόν
him
G846
αὐτόν
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
13 of 20
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Ἀλλ
G235
Ἀλλ
Strong's:
G235
Word #:
14 of 20
properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
πνεῦμα
Ghost
G4151
πνεῦμα
Ghost
Strong's:
G4151
Word #:
17 of 20
a current of air, i.e., breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e., (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital prin
ἅγιον
Holy
G40
ἅγιον
Holy
Strong's:
G40
Word #:
18 of 20
sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated)
Cross References
1 Corinthians 6:19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?John 7:39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)Acts 19:5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.Galatians 3:5He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?Acts 10:44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.Acts 2:17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:1 Samuel 3:7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
Historical Context
These disciples, like Apollos, apparently received teaching about Jesus through John the Baptist's followers without learning about Pentecost and Spirit baptism. Paul's instruction brought them to full Christian understanding and experience.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you help those with partial understanding of Christ come to fuller knowledge and experience?
- What does this teach about the Holy Spirit's essential role in Christian life and testimony?
Analysis & Commentary
Paul's question - 'Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?' - revealed these Ephesian disciples' incomplete understanding. Their response 'We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost' indicated they were disciples of John rather than fully Christian believers. This encounter shows the transition from John's preparatory ministry to Christian fullness.