Good morning! Yesterday, we finished Acts chapter eighteen. Today, in chapter nineteen we will begin reading on Paul’s third missionary journey. Paul was leaving Corinth and felt confident in the capability of Apollos and other believers to continue the church. Join me as we read chapter nineteen.

Bible Verse: Acts 19:1-7 (NLT)

“¹ While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers.[a] ² “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” he asked them. “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

³ “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” ⁴ Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”

⁵ As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues[b] and prophesied.  ⁷ There were about twelve men in all.“

Reflection

Paul’s third missionary journey has lead him to Ephesus where the Ephesians are found.

The message to repent and believe by John the Baptist had spread throughout many regions. John the Baptist always professedthere was someone greater than him – Jesus Christ the Messiah. In Luke 3:16-18 John the Baptist said, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.”

The word of the Lord, the message of the Good News was being shared through the region. In our past readings, we read the Holy Spirit was given in before baptism (Acts 10:44), at the time of or after baptism (Acts 8:12-16; 19:6), and the laying of hands (Acts 8:17; 19:6).

Sisters and brothers, The Holy Spirit was moving and wasn’t confined to one way of pouring out on believers.Jesus promised the Holy Spirit, in Luke 3:15-17 (NIV), “15 “If you love me, keep my commands.(A)16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate(B) to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth.(C) The world cannot accept him,(D) because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you.”

Allow the Holy Spirit to help you, to guide you, and give you peace today.

Prayer

Father God, we thank you for your amazing love toward us. We thank you for sending your son Jesus Christ to save us. We thank you for the Holy Spirit that lives within us – the Spirit of truth. Lord, we ask that you pour out and ignite within us the Spirit of truth. Lord, may the truth set us free from the lies of the enemy, from the doubt and fear that tries to hold us back from fully receiving you and the promises that you have spoken over us. Lord, reign in our lives, reign over our situations, and reign over everything that positions itself against you, your word, and your children. Lord, silence the tongues of the wicked. Keep us aligned to you, we want to abide in you. Remove the dead things that we continue to hold onto, prune us so that we may grow closer to you, and experience the fullness you have in store for us. Continue to heal and comfort those who are sick. In Jesus name, amen.

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