⁴Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” ⁵When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. ⁷There were in all about twelve men.

When Luke called the twelve men whom Paul encountered “some disciples” (Acts 19:1), we understand this to mean people who were part of the broad movement to which Paul and the apostles belonged. But they were “disciples” of John the Baptist, not yet disciples of Jesus. Somehow John’s message had escaped from Judea before the rest of the story of Jesus played out. This news traveled hundreds of miles to Ephesus, and “some” believed. Paul now gives them the rest of the story.

There are remarkable similarities between this event and Peter’s preaching to the Jews in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit’s coming on them and their speaking in tongues proved the message was truly from God. This was also the case when Peter and John first preached the Word to the Samaritans (Acts 8:14–17) and when Peter first preached the Word to the Gentiles (Acts 10:44–46). In today’s passage, we find Paul preaching to what might be called inter-testamental believing individuals, those who believed the message of John but had not heard of Jesus. They were caught, as it were, between the old covenant of the Law and the new covenant of grace. They were genuine believers but had not heard the full message of grace in Jesus Christ. When they heard the message, they showed their belief by being baptized in water (“in the name of the Lord Jesus” rather than being baptized “into John’s baptism”). As part of this experience, Paul laid hands on them and the Holy Spirit came on them. Now, with the outward signs of “speaking with tongues and prophesying,” Paul was convinced theirs was a genuine faith.

Is this experience normative for all who come to faith? No. First many simply do not experience that outward manifestation of the Spirit. Second, when they heard and believed the complete message about Christ, the Spirit’s indwelling happened at conversion, not as a subsequent “blessing.” Third, Paul writes later, “All do not speak in tongues, do they?” (Acts 14:30), implying the answer, “No, not all speak in tongues.” This recorded experience shows that the transition from the Law to grace played out over time, as the gospel went first to the Jews, then the Samaritans, and finally the Gentiles. We see how the gospel message unfolded to those who had only part of the truth. In every case, God affirmed the message with miraculous signs.

Lord, I rest in the message of the Gospel, not on the experience of signs.