ACTS 19:1-7

1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. 3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. 4 Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus. 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all. (NIV 84)

FROM THE LESSON

Importance of Ephesus - Paul will stay longer in Ephesus than in any other city he visits on his three missionary journeys. Ephesus becomes the center of the Jesus movement that started Jerusalem went north to Antioch and now west to Ephesus. 

John the Baptist - the last in a long line of prophets who longed for the day when the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all of God's people. 

The parabola of salvation (aka. the smiley face of salvation) - the full message of the good news includes the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1 Icebreaker: like the example of my friend, Tim, do you have friends who you could contact this week who would only know you from the first half of your life? Do you have a recent example of reconnecting with an old friend in that way? Share with the group.

2 The disciples in Acts 19 had missed the announcement. Read again Acts 1:4-5. John the Baptist was the last in a long line of prophets who had longed for the day when the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all of God's people. Have you ever thought about Pentecost as the fulfillment of centuries of longing and hoping for this time?

3 The disciples in Acts 19 had missed the ascension. The fullness of the gospel is in the shape of a parabola because it includes the incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and the ascension. Discuss the importance of the ascension in understanding the good news of Jesus Christ.

4 The disciples in Acts 19 had missed the anointing. Simply put, they were ignorant of Pentecost. Read again Peter's explanation of what is happening at Pentecost in Acts 2:32-33. Have you ever thought about the explanation of the ascended Jesus being the one who baptizes us with the Holy Spirit?