While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior of the country and came [down] to Ephesus where he found some disciples. 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They answered him, “We have never even heard that there is a holy Spirit.” 3 He said, “How were you baptized?” They replied, “With the baptism of John.” 4 Paul then said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul laid [his] hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 Altogether there were about twelve men.
Ephesus was a prominent city in early Christianity and a significant center for evangelization, where Paul had previously preached (Acts 18:19-21). Upon returning, Paul found some disciples whose understanding of the faith was incomplete. They had accepted John the Baptist’s message of repentance, been baptized, and believed in God, yet they were unaware of the Holy Spirit’s transformative presence, which is essential to Christian life (Rom. 8:9). Paul explained that John’s baptism prepared hearts for Jesus, but Christian baptism incorporates believers into the life of Christ and imparts the Holy Spirit.
Upon hearing Paul’s message, these disciples received Christian baptism "in the name of the Lord Jesus." Paul then laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit, evidenced by their speaking in tongues and prophesying, much like the Pentecost experience (Acts 2:4). The mention of "twelve" men may symbolize the continuity of God’s chosen people, linking the twelve tribes of Israel with the Church, now reconstituted in Christ."
Almighty God, through Your servant Paul, You revealed the fullness of faith and poured out the gift of Your Holy Spirit. Open our hearts to receive Your Spirit afresh, that we may live as true disciples of Christ. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
- McKenzie, John. Dictionary of the Bible. Collier Books, 1965.
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