Acts 19

Acts 19:1-41 . SIGNAL SUCCESS OF PAUL AT EPHESUS.

1-3. while Apollos was at Corinth--where his ministry was so powerful that a formidable party in the Church of that city gloried in his type of preaching in preference to Paul's ( 1 Corinthians 1:12 , 3:4 ), no doubt from the marked infusion of Greek philosophic culture which distinguished it, and which the apostle studiously avoided ( 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ).
Paul having passed through the upper coasts--"parts," the interior of Asia Minor, which, with reference to the seacoast, was elevated.
came to Ephesus--thus fulfilling his promise ( Acts 18:21 ).
finding certain disciples--in the same stage of Christian knowledge as Apollos at first, newly arrived, probably, and having had no communication as yet with the church at Ephesus.

2. 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 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 John 7:39 , seems plain from the nature of the case.

4. Then said Paul, John . . . baptized with the baptism of repentance--water unto repentance.
saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him--that is, who should baptize with the Holy Ghost. The point of contrast is not between John and Christ personally, but between the water baptism of John unto repentance, and the promised baptism of the Spirit from the hands of his coming Master unto new life. As to all the facts, or at least the significancy, of this baptism, which made the whole life and work of Christ another thing from what it was conceived to be before it was vouchsafed, these simple disciples were unenlightened.

5-7. When they heard this--not the mere words reported in Acts 19:4 , but the subject expounded according to the tenor of those words.
they were baptized--not however by Paul himself ( 1 Corinthians 1:14 ).
in the name of the Lord Jesus--into the whole fulness of the new economy, as now opened up to their believing minds.

6. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them . . . they spake with

8-10. he went into the synagogue and spake boldly for . . . three

9. when divers--"some."
were hardened, &c.--implying that others, probably a large number, believed.
spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed--from the synagogue, as at Corinth ( Acts 18:7 ).
and separated the disciples--withdrawing to a separate place of meeting, for the sake both of the converts already made, and the unsophisticated multitude.
disputing--"discoursing" or "discussing."
daily in the school--or lecture hall.
of one Tyrannus--probably a converted teacher of rhetoric or philosophy.