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graduation in Ephesus

Acts 19:1-7 (JDV)

Acts 19:1 It so happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples
Acts 19:2 and asked them, “Did you take the Sacred Breath when you believed?” “No,” they told him, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Sacred Breath.”
Acts 19:3 “Into what then were you baptized?” he asked them. “Into John’s baptism,” they replied.
Acts 19:4 Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism signifying repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.”
Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Sacred Breath came on them, and they began to speak in other languages and to prophesy.
Acts 19:7 Now there were about twelve men in all.

graduation in Ephesus

Were these twelve men missing out because they didn’t yet have the Holy Spirit? I don’t think so. They had simply failed to appropriate a gift they had already been given. They had not yet taken (λαμβάνω) the power behind their belief, just as the disciples of Christ had at one point not yet taken up (λαμβάνω) their cross and followed him (Matthew 10:38). There was a graduation that happened on the day these twelve believers in Ephesus were re-baptized into the name of Christ, and began their missionary work for him. They began to speak in other languages — not the languages of angels, but the languages of the people of Ephesus who God was calling them to reach with the gospel. Like Apollos in yesterday’s text, these men were almost ready for a fantastic ministry. They just needed one gentle nudge from another believer — a challenge to graduate to ministry in Christ’s name.

Lord, make us aware of those around us who are ready to serve you.