Acts 19:2 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul asks the Ephesian disciples whether they received the Holy Ghost when they believed, and they answer that they have not even heard of the Holy Ghost.
What Does Acts 19:2 Mean?
Something in these disciples moves Paul to ask his searching question. Their answer exposes the gap in their instruction: they know nothing of the Holy Ghost, though John the Baptist, whose baptism they had received (v. 3), had himself promised One who would baptize with the Holy Ghost (Matt 3:11). Their faith is sincere, but their teaching stopped at the threshold.
Paul's question assumes that faith and the gift of the Spirit belong together; believing in Jesus is meant to be crowned with the Holy Ghost. The verse is full of hope for the half-taught: God does not abandon seekers at the edge of His promises. He supplies what is lacking, and the question itself is the first step of the supply.
Acts 19:2 in the Original Language
pneuma (πνεῦμα), 'Ghost' -- breath or wind; the word for the living Spirit of God.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 19:2
What does Acts 19:2 mean?
Paul asks the Ephesian disciples whether they received the Holy Ghost when they believed, and they answer that they have not even heard of the Holy Ghost.