Reflection on Acts - We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit

Part 2 of my reflection upon reading the book of Acts. I wrote about having this great sense of thankfulness while I was reading Acts in Part 1, which you may read here. 

On top of feeling thankful, I also had this overwhelming sadness in my heart as I read the account of the twelve disciples in Ephesus found in Acts 19:1-7.  

Source: Internet

Here is the account:

And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all.


And here is why I was saddened. 

1) My people have gone into captivity because they have no knowledge (Isa 5:13). 

Often times, our lack of knowledge in the Word (or the revelation and understanding of it) causes us to miss out on our blessings. On what is already rightfully ours by grace. 

The group of disciples in Ephesus was a good example. 

In NLT, it says that their answer to the Apostle Paul was “No, we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 

While believers elsewhere were receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, these twelve did not even know that there is a Holy Spirit. But after hearing what the Apostle Paul had to tell them, their lives changed! They were baptized in name of Jesus and then they received the Holy Spirit. 

There were other examples of believers who did not have the knowledge (or the complete knowledge) until the apostles went to them. Take for instance, those in Samaria in Acts 8, the eunuch who was reading Isaiah and couldn't understand it (Acts 8:26-38) and Apollos, who knew only the baptism of John (Acts 18:24-28). 

It got me to ponder. Are we living in this post-NT days yet still not having the complete revelation of the truth of the Bible? 

Remembering the words of Jesus - And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). Yes, beloved, desire to know the truth for knowing the truth shall make us free. 


2) As he sowed, some seed fell... (Matt 13:4)

Hearing and knowing the truth is good. 

But as I read Acts, I also can't help noticing a fact - as with our world today, there were those who believed and received the truth upon hearing it. And there were also those who did not. 

Just as Jesus taught and foretold of in the Parable of the Sower. Behold, the Sower went out to sow. As he sowed, some seed fell...

Taking the twelve disciples in Ephesus as example again. 

The TPT translates Acts 19:5 beautifully - When they understood this, they were baptized into the authority of Jesus, the Anointed One. When the twelve understood the truth, they received it and acted upon it. And something beautiful happened! 

And yet, in the very same chapter of Acts 19, we see others in Ephesus who did not respond that way - Acts 19:9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude. 

So, hearing and knowing the truth doesn't necessarily guarantee salvation and wholeness in Christ. Because it depends on where the seed of truth fall. 


3) Sown on good, rich soil (Matt 13:23)

Having said that, it is good to examine our soil. 

Matt 13:23 TPT defines good, rich soil nicely - But what was sown on good, rich soil represents the one who hears and fully embraces the message of the kingdom. Their lives bear good fruit—some yield a harvest of thirty, sixty, even one hundred times as much as was sown.

Let me repeat - Hears and fully embraces the message of the kingdom. 

Quoting an example from Acts, I would say that good, rich soil would look like the believers in Berea. See Acts 17:11 description of these Berea believers: These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

These did not just listen to a sermon, felt good/ edified/ convicted (whatever emotion it may be) and then went back to daily life. 

I know I quoted John 8:32 earlier. But I think we need to read Jesus' Words in its full context. 

John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”


Beloved in Christ, do you hear what Jesus is saying? 

How do we get free? By knowing the truth. 

And how do we know the truth? By abiding in His Word. 

May we never have to utter these words 'We have not so much as heard...' in response to a truth that is in the Word of God. Let's abide in His Word, and know the truth and let the truth make us free. 

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