Acts 19:3
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
Original Language Analysis
πρὸς
unto
G4314
πρὸς
unto
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
3 of 15
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,
αὐτοὺς,
them
G846
αὐτοὺς,
them
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
4 of 15
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
Εἰς
Unto
G1519
Εἰς
Unto
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
5 of 15
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τί
what
G5101
τί
what
Strong's:
G5101
Word #:
6 of 15
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
ἐβαπτίσθητε
were ye baptized
G907
ἐβαπτίσθητε
were ye baptized
Strong's:
G907
Word #:
8 of 15
to immerse, submerge; to make whelmed (i.e., fully wet); used only (in the new testament) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordi
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 15
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Εἰς
Unto
G1519
Εἰς
Unto
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
12 of 15
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
13 of 15
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Acts 18:25This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.Acts 8:16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)1 Corinthians 12:13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.Matthew 28:19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Historical Context
John's baptism (AD 27-29) called Israel to repentance in anticipation of Messiah's imminent appearance. By AD 53, twenty-five years later, remaining in John's baptism represented arrested spiritual development—stopping at preparation without entering fulfillment.
Questions for Reflection
- What 'preparatory' practices might Christians substitute for genuine Spirit-empowered relationship with Christ?
- How does Paul's questioning model help us identify incomplete gospel presentations today?
Analysis & Commentary
Unto what then were ye baptized?—Paul's diagnostic question exposes the gap between John's preparatory baptism and Christian baptism in Jesus' name. The phrase John's baptism (τὸ βάπτισμα Ἰωάννου) referred to the baptism of repentance pointing forward to Messiah, valid in its time but now superseded by the reality it anticipated. These disciples remained in the preparatory stage, unaware that Messiah had come, died, risen, and sent His Spirit. Paul's question demonstrates that Christian initiation requires acknowledgment of Christ's completed work and reception of the Spirit, not merely ethical reformation.