Help QuickNav Adv. Options
KJV

KJV

Click to Change

Return to Top

Return to Top

Printer Icon

Print

The Blue Letter Bible
← Back to Don Stewart FAQ List

Don Stewart :: Why Did the Apostle Paul Ask Certain Disciples If They Received the Holy Spirit upon Believing?

Choose a new font size and typeface
Don Stewart

[A new version of this page can be found here]

In Acts 19 we find the Apostle Paul asking certain disciples,

Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? And they said to him, We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1).

The King James Version reads: Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed? However, this is not the best translation of the Greek text which literally reads, Having believed did you receive the Holy Spirit? or Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?

Period Of Time?
Does this account indicate that there is a period of time between salvation and the reception of the Holy Spirit?

Again, when we understand the situation, we find that this is not the case. These disciples were followers of John the Baptist. Paul, noticing something lacking in their knowledge of Christ, asked them if they received the Holy Spirit when they believed John's message. Had they been baptized into Christ, they would have been familiar with the Trinitarian baptismal formula.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

Ignorant Of Holy Spirit
They confessed that they were ignorant of the Holy Spirit. These disciples had heard only John's message of the coming Messiah. They were ignorant of the fact of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Thus, the reason they had not received the Holy Spirit is that they were not Christians. When Paul then explained to them about the death and resurrection of Christ, they became believers and immediately received the Holy Spirit. So this was not a case of receiving the Holy Spirit after salvation but rather the reception of the Holy Spirit at salvation.

← Back to Don Stewart FAQ List
Return to Don Stewart FAQ List
BLB Searches
Search the Bible
KJV
  [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
x
KJV
Daily Devotionals
x

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans
x

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan

CONTENT DISCLAIMER:

The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.