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Selected Verse: Acts 19:2 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ac 19:2 |
Strong Concordance |
He said [2036] unto [4314] them [846], [1487] Have ye received [2983] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151] since ye believed [4100]? And [1161] they said [2036] unto [4314] him [846], [235] We have [191] not so much as [3761] heard [191] whether [1487] there be any [2076] Holy [40] Ghost [4151]. |
| |
King James |
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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?--rather, "Received ye the Holy Ghost when ye believed?" implying, certainly, that the one did not of necessity carry the other along with it (see on Act 8:14-17). Why this question was asked, we cannot tell; but it was probably in consequence of something that passed between them from which the apostle was led to suspect the imperfection of their light.
We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost--This cannot be the meaning, since the personality and office of the Holy Ghost, in connection with Christ, formed an especial subject of the Baptist's teaching. Literally, the words are, "We did not even hear whether the Holy Ghost was (given)"; meaning, at the time of their baptism. That the word "given" is the right supplement, as in Joh 7:39, seems plain from the nature of the case. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Have ye received the Holy Spirit? - Have ye received the extraordinary effusions and miraculous influences of the Holy Spirit? Paul would not doubt that, if they had "believed," they had received the ordinary converting influences of the Holy Spirit - for it was one of his favorite doctrines that the Holy Spirit renews the heart. But, besides this, the miraculous influences of the Spirit were conferred on many societies of believers. The power of speaking with tongues, or of working miracles, was imparted as an evidence of the presence of God, and of their acceptance with him, Act 10:45-46; 1 Cor. 14. It was natural for Paul to ask whether this evidence of the divine favor has been granted to them.
Since ye believed - Since you embraced the doctrine of John that the Messiah was soon to come.
We have not so much as heard ... - This seems to be a very strange answer. Yet we are to remember:
(1) That these were mere disciples of John's doctrine, and that his preaching related particularly to the Messiah, and not to the Holy Spirit.
(2) it does not even appear that they had heard that the Messiah had come, or had heard of Jesus of Nazareth, Acts . Act 19:4-5.
(3) it is not remarkable, therefore, that they had no clear conceptions of the character and operations of the Holy Spirit. Yet,
(4) They were just in that state of mind that they were willing to embrace the doctrine when it was proclaimed to them, thus showing that they were really under the influence of the Holy Spirit. God may often produce important changes in the hearts and lives of sinners, even where they have no clear and systematic views of religious doctrines. In all such cases, however, there will be a readiness of heart to embrace the truth where it is made known. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
Have
Not as in A.V, "since ye believed," but as in R.V. And margin reference, "Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed?" Paul was evidently impressed by the absence of spirituality and power in these so-called disciples. Their answer brought out the fact that they were Jewish proselytes, disciples of John the Baptist, looking backward to an accomplished redemption. (Rom 8:9); (Co1 6:19); (Eph 1:13). |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?
The two verbs are in the aorist tense, and therefore denote instantaneous acts. The A. V. therefore gives an entirely wrong idea, as there is no question about what happened after believing; but the question relates to what occurred when they believed. Hence Rev., rightly, Did ye receive the Holy Ghost when ye believed?
We have not heard
Also the aorist. We did not hear; referring back to the time of their beginning.
Whether there be any Holy Ghost
But, as Bengel observes, "They could not have followed either Moses or John the Baptist without having heard of the Holy Ghost." The words, therefore, are to be explained, not of their being unaware of the existence of the Holy Ghost, but of his presence and baptism on earth. The word ἔστιν, there be, is to be taken in the sense of be present, or be given, as in Joh 7:39, where it is said, "The Holy Ghost was not yet (οὔπω ἦν)," and where the translators rightly render, "was not yet given." |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Have ye received the Holy Ghost? - The extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, as well as his sanctifying graces? We have not so much as heard - Whether there be any such gifts. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Have ye received the Holy Ghost - It is likely that these were Asiatic Jews, who, having been at Jerusalem about twenty-six years before this, had heard the preaching of John, and received his baptism, believing in the coming Christ, whom John had proclaimed; but it appears that till this time they had got no farther instruction in the Christian religion. Paul, perceiving this, asked them if they had received the Holy Ghost since they believed? For it was the common privilege of the disciples of Christ to receive, not only the ordinary graces, but also the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit; and thus the disciples of Christ differed from those of John, and of all others. John baptized with water; Jesus baptized with the Holy Ghost. And to this day the genuine disciples of Christ are distinguished from all false religionists, and from nominal Christians, by being made partakers of this Spirit, which enlightens their minds, and convinces of sin, righteousness, and judgment; quickens their souls, witnesses to their conscience that they are the children of God, and purifies their hearts. Those who have not received these blessings from the Holy Spirit, whatever their profession may be, know nothing better than John's baptism: good, excellent in its kind, but ineffectual to the salvation of those who live under the meridian of Christianity.
We have not so much as heard whether, etc. - That is, they had not heard that there were particular gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit to be received. They could not mean that they had not heard of the Holy Spirit; for John, in his baptism, announced Christ as about to baptize with the Holy Ghost, Mat 3:11; Luk 3:16; but they simply meant that they had not heard that this Spirit, in his gifts, had been given to or received by any one. |
39 (But [1161] this [5124] spake he [2036] of [4012] the Spirit [4151], which [3739] they that believe [4100] on [1519] him [846] should [3195] receive [2983]: for [1063] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151] was [2258] not yet [3768] given; because [3754] that Jesus [2424] was [1392] not yet [3764] glorified [1392]
14 Now [1161] when the apostles [652] which [3588] were at [1722] Jerusalem [2414] heard [191] that [3754] Samaria [4540] had received [1209] the word [3056] of God [2316], they sent [649] unto [4314] them [846] Peter [4074] and [2532] John [2491]:
15 Who [3748], when they were come down [2597], prayed [4336] for [4012] them [846], that [3704] they might receive [2983] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151]:
16 (For [1063] as yet [3768] he was [2258] fallen [1968] upon [1909] none [3762] of them [846]: only [3440] [1161] they were [5225] baptized [907] in [1519] the name [3686] of the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424].)
17 Then [5119] laid they [2007] their hands [5495] on [1909] them [846], and [2532] they received [2983] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151].
4 Then [1161] said [2036] Paul [3972], John [2491] verily [3303] baptized [907] with the baptism [908] of repentance [3341], saying [3004] unto the people [2992], that [2443] they should believe [4100] on [1519] him which should come [2064] after [3326] him [846], that is [5123], on [1519] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424].
5 When [1161] they heard [191] this, they were baptized [907] in [1519] the name [3686] of the Lord [2962] Jesus [2424].
45 And [2532] they of [1537] the circumcision [4061] which believed [4103] were astonished [1839], as many as [3745] came with [4905] Peter [4074], because [3754] that on [1909] the Gentiles [1484] also [2532] was poured out [1632] the gift [1431] of the Holy [40] Ghost [4151].
46 For [1063] they heard [191] them [846] speak with [2980] tongues [1100], and [2532] magnify [3170] God [2316]. Then [5119] answered [611] Peter [4074],
13 In [1722] whom [3739] ye [5210] also [2532] trusted, after that ye heard [191] the word [3056] of truth [225], the gospel [2098] of your [5216] salvation [4991]: in [1722] whom [3739] also [2532] after that ye believed [4100], ye were sealed with [4972] that holy [40] Spirit [4151] of promise [1860],
19 What [2228]? know ye [1492] not [3756] that [3754] your [5216] body [4983] is [2076] the temple [3485] of the Holy [40] Ghost [4151] which is in [1722] you [5213], which [3739] ye have [2192] of [575] God [2316], and [2532] ye are [2075] not [3756] your own [1438]?
9 But [1161] ye [5210] are [2075] not [3756] in [1722] the flesh [4561], but [235] in [1722] the Spirit [4151], if so be [1512] that the Spirit [4151] of God [2316] dwell [3611] in [1722] you [5213]. Now [1161] if any man [1536] have [2192] not [3756] the Spirit [4151] of Christ [5547], he [3778] is [2076] none [3756] of his [846].
39 (But [1161] this [5124] spake he [2036] of [4012] the Spirit [4151], which [3739] they that believe [4100] on [1519] him [846] should [3195] receive [2983]: for [1063] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151] was [2258] not yet [3768] given; because [3754] that Jesus [2424] was [1392] not yet [3764] glorified [1392]
16 John [2491] answered [611], saying [3004] unto them all [537], I [1473] indeed [3303] baptize [907] you [5209] with water [5204]; but [1161] one mightier than [2478] I [3450] cometh [2064], the latchet [2438] of whose [3739] [846] shoes [5266] I am [1510] not [3756] worthy [2425] to unloose [3089]: he [846] shall baptize [907] you [5209] with [1722] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151] and [2532] with fire [4442]:
11 I [1473] indeed [3303] baptize [907] you [5209] with [1722] water [5204] unto [1519] repentance [3341]: but [1161] he that cometh [2064] after [3694] me [3450] is [2076] mightier than [2478] I [3450], whose [3739] shoes [5266] I am [1510] not [3756] worthy [2425] to bear [941]: he [846] shall baptize [907] you [5209] with [1722] the Holy [40] Ghost [4151], and [2532] with fire [4442]: