Remember,
Acts 19, is 20 yrs after Pentecost and Paul is preaching the same Gospel that Peter preached.
OK, lets look at the Ephesians.
They were Believers, in that they believed in Jesus. How do we know? Go to
Acts 18.
Acts 18:24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
(Apollos, taught "
diligently the things of the Lord," but he only knew the baptism of John.)
26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
I wonder what Aquila and Priscilla taught him. Apollos knew the way of the Lord so he evidently taught them to repent. Aquila and Priscilla were workers with Paul, so they would only teach the same as Paul. And then we see Apollos accepted their teaching, writing letters to the brethren to receive him.
27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:
28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ
And then,
Acts 19:1 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,
(Where Apollos had taught)
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.
(Paul asked, "
Since ye believed." These were believers in Jesus. But they had not received the Holy Ghost,)
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4 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.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied
Paul believed
1. Repent
2. Be baptized in Jesus name
3. Receive the Holy Ghost
Just as the Samaritans, had repented. Been baptized in Jesus name and had not received the Holy Ghost.
If they had already received the Holy Ghost, what was the sense of these verses? If they were already saved, then why did Peter and John come to pray for them to receive the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
(The Word of God. They had repented and been baptized in Jesus name. But that is not all of the Word of God.)
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Why did Luke say that the Holy Ghost had fallen on none of them, if they received it when they believed. And this was just a second blessing. Why can we not find people in the Book of Acts, (the only book that tells people how to be saved) receiving a first and second blessing?
There is only one way to receive the Holy Ghost and we are told about it in several places. Which many want to gloss over the plain scripture, to teach a false doctrine.
Galatians 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Some will say, truthfully, this is about false teachers, trying to bring the Law into Chrisianity. And that is true.
However, notice, "
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed"
And,
"if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."
What had Paul preached. Repent, be baptized in Jesus name and receive the Holy Ghost. and when they received it, they spoke in Other Tongues. not as a second blessing. But The Gospel of Salvation.