Matthew Henry Commentary Acts 19:1-7

"And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples: and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they [said] unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was [given]. And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John`s baptism. And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus. And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And they were in all about twelve men." — Acts 19:1-7 (ASV)

Paul, at Ephesus, found some religious people who looked to Jesus as the Messiah. They had not been led to expect the miraculous powers of the Holy Spirit, nor were they informed that the gospel was especially the ministry of the Spirit. But they spoke as if ready to welcome this information. Paul shows them that John never intended for those he baptized to stop there, but told them that they should believe in Him who would come after him, that is, in Christ Jesus.

They thankfully accepted this revelation and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit came upon them in a surprising, overpowering manner; they spoke with tongues and prophesied, as the apostles and the first Gentile converts did. Though we do not now expect miraculous powers, yet all who profess to be disciples of Christ should be called upon to examine whether they have received the seal of the Holy Spirit, in His sanctifying influences, confirming the sincerity of their faith.

Many seem not to have heard that there is a Holy Spirit, and many consider all that is spoken concerning His graces and comforts to be delusion. Concerning such people, it may properly be asked, “Unto what, then, were ye baptized?” for they evidently do not know the meaning of that outward sign on which they place great dependence.