In our text, we learn Paul left Corinth to go to Ephesus where Apollos had come from. When Paul arrived at the place where Apollos had been preaching and teaching, he discovered the disciples had the same problem that Apollos had. Remember, when Apollos came to Corinth he was a dedicated Christian, and an excellent speaker, but he was limited in his understanding about the gospel. He was preaching all that he knew to preach, but he was not preaching all that he should have been preaching.
When Apollos began to preach, those who were deeper in the Word of God, could tell that what he was preaching about was John's baptism of repentance. He did not know about the Messiah Who had come, died, was buried and resurrected.
It was that lovely Christian couple, Aquila and Priscilla, who called him aside, and (the Bible says in 18:26), "... expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.”
When Paul arrived where Apollos had been sharing his limited knowledge, he found, “...certain disciples, " who had the same problem Apollos had. This may have been part of the reason Paul wanted to go to Ephesus.
Illus: It is impossible for a teacher to teach something he himself does not know. This is why very much time needs to be spent in the Word of God. If they do not know what God's Word teaches, they certainly cannot teach it. All they can do is pass down their ignorance to others.
This is exactly what Apollos, who was sincere but had limited knowledge, had done about the gospel.
I. PAUL' S EXPERIENCE WHEN HE ARRIVED
A. THEIR IGNORANCE
Verses 1-3, “And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 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. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.”
When Paul arrived, he became acquainted with “...certain disciples.” The Scripture does not say upon arrival he became acquainted with “certain Christians,” they were disciples.
Is there a difference? Yes, a big difference. A disciple is a follower of a teacher, but we find in the Scriptures, that on some occasions the “followers” of Jesus, were not necessarily God's children. A classic example is in John 6:70, Jesus said, “Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil??”
In our text, the followers of Apollos' teachings knew a great deal about John the Baptist and his baptism, but little else. Some feel with their limited knowledge perhaps they were followers of Apollos, but not necessarily were they children of God. How was John's Baptism different from Christian Baptism? Those who had been baptized in John's Baptism, did not know yet that the Messiah had come, nor about being baptized in the Holy Spirit. John's baptism was not a baptism after salvation.
The design of John's preaching, was to turn people from their sins, and direct their attention to Him who was to come and save them from their sins. His baptism was a preparatory baptism, to cause men to look forward to the Messiah, but Christian baptism is looking back to the Messiah, Who came, died, was buried, and was resurrected.
They had accepted the message that Apollos taught, but they were totally ignorant of the Messiah, and the filling of the Holy Spirit.
People were ignorant of the gospel message then, and many are still ignorant today. Why?
People are spiritually ignorant for two reasons:
1. SOME CHOOSE TO BE IGNORANT.
Each week, they choose to attend a church that does not teach and preach the Word of God. That does not bother them in the slightest, because they have no desire to learn what this Bible teaches.
2. SOME ARE IGNORANT BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO BE TAUGHT NEW THINGS.
Illus: For example, this age we live in is fast becoming the age of computers. It may not be long before you are going to feel helpless if you do not know anything about computers. Even though you may be considered a smart person today, if you do not learn something about computers, in the future you will be considered to be ignorant.
Illus: For example, can you imagine a man like the apostle Paul living in our modem age? He was a brilliant man in his day and time. Yet, if he could have been transported to our day and time, he would be lost downtown with cars, buses, trucks, red lights, elevators, tall buildings, etc.
Illus: He would be like the old farmer who came to town for the first time in his life. He went into a department store, and saw people coming down from the second level, riding the escalators. He stopped, stared and watched those people for about half an hour. Someone noticed him staring and said, “Hey, mister, are you alright?”
He said, “Yes, I am fine. I have been watching those stairs disappear, and the way I figure it, that basement has got to be filled by now.”
Illus: I am reminded of a story of a man from another country, who came to town and saw an elevator for the first time. He and his son were looking this elevator over, while his wife was outside in the car waiting. As he watched, a homely woman got on the elevator and the door closed. In a few minutes the door opened and this gorgeous young lady stepped outside. The foreigner looked at his son in amazement and said, “Son, hurry and get your mamma, and put her in that thing!”
It is a tragedy to be ignorant of the things of God, but it is a far greater tragedy to choose to be ignorant!
B. THEIR IMPRISONMENT
Verse 2, “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.”
We generally think of prisoners as people who are confined to a small area, but I can assure you that one can be "inprisoned" in other ways. Imprisonment is more than being confined behind four walls. Many people are not confined to four walls, but they are restricted in so many ways, because they do not have knowledge about certain things.
The point I wish to make, is that the disciples of our text lived in a time of transition. They knew what Apollos had taught them, but they were restricted due to their ignorance of the Messiah's coming, and about being filled with the Holy Spirit. Apollos had taught them to repent and believe in a Messiah Who was to come, and Paul showed them that Messiah was Jesus of Nazareth.
Why did Paul ask, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” Because, had they received Christian baptism they should have known the Holy Spirit had come.
Their reply was, “...We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost,” Paul recognized how important it was for a Christian to be filled with the Holy Ghost, and this was a major concern he had for these disciples.
He recognized that a Christian's not being filled with the Holy Spirit, locked him away from all the opportunity of being the servant he should be. While it may seem strange that Paul would ask this question of believers, we have to understand that John's teachings related primarily to the coming of the Messiah, rather than to the coming of the Holy Ghost.
In their situation they had not heard that the Messiah had come, and stated, "...We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. " We do not have the complete record of the conversation, and of all that took place, but Paul could tell there was something missing in the lives of these believers, and in verse 3, he wanted to know what faith or doctrine they embraced when they were baptized. Their reply was, “Unto John's baptism,”
Illus: Some would question the salvation of these disciples, but I would ask you, how many new converts have all their doctrine straight after conversion? The people of our text, had heard that the Messiah was coming, and they had heard that they needed to turn from their sins, and I personally believe, that with the best of their knowledge, they trusted the Lord for salvation.
When new converts get saved, there are many things they do not know. This is why God placed the church here, to teach the whole counsel of God's Word. This is why it is important for everyone to attend Sunday School, so that they can learn more and more about God's Word.
II. PAUL'S EXPLANATION WHEN HE ARRIVED (VERSES 4-7)
A. THEIR INSTRUCTION
Verses 4-5, " Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Paul did not belittle what Apollos had taught. He explained that John came for a very specific purpose, to preach baptism of repentance, and to point people to the Messiah Who was to come after him. When Paul explained that there was more to receive than what they had received, notice what the scripture says, verse 5, “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Paul was not teaching that people should be re-baptized, as we repeat the Lord's supper. He encouraged those disciples to be re-baptized, because they had never been baptized in the manner prescribed by the Lord. Notice, once they were taught those things they were quick to obey. This is why I differ with those who may think these twelve men were not saved, I believe they were, because as soon as they heard about the loving Savior Who had come, died, was buried and resurrected, they believed on Him.
Before, all they knew was that He was coming. They believed and they displayed the openness of a new convert, by their willingness to be taught greater things, and by receiving everything that Paul taught them. They had not known of all of the gospel before, but they latched onto it the minute they heard it.
Illus: Have you ever noticed a new baby? Even before his/her eyes open, you can touch his mouth with the nipple of a bottle, and without anyone ever teaching him how to suck on that baby bottle, he will start doing it. Why? God placed within a child that natural instinct, and the same thing goes for a person who has been born again. All you have to do is place spiritual food before them and they will devour it.
On the other hand, this is one reason I believe that many people in our churches today are not saved. I have seen professing Christians play a major role in the church, teach Sunday School, sing in the choir, hold an office in the church, but you can teach them what this Bible says, and it goes in one ear and out the other. True believers will devour God's Word and grow thereby.
B. THEIR IMMERSION
Verses 6-7, “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve.”
As we read this passage, we cannot help but think of Acts chapter two, when God filled the church with His Holy Spirit in Jerusalem. God knew before the Holy Spirit filled them, they were in no position to witness to a lost word.
He told them in Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
In Acts 1:15, we find about 120 of them went into the upper room, and tarried there until they were filled with the Spirit. How would they know they were filled unless God did something in a supernatural way?
God did just that, look at Acts 2:3-4, “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
During this transition time, God did the same thing He did on two other occasions. After these three times we see no more reoccurrence of the same.
Conclusion:
I. PAUL' S EXPERIENCE WHEN HE ARRIVED
A. THEIR IGNORANCE
B. THEIR IMPRISONMENT
II. PAUL'S EXPLANATION WHEN HE ARRIVED
A. THEIR INSTRUCTION
B. THEIR IMMERSION
AS A CHRISTIAN, YOU SHOULD BE AS THOSE BELIEVERS:
1. Possessing a growing love for lost souls.
2. Hating sin.
3. Hungering for the word of God.
4. Desiring to please the Lord.
