Life Group Activity
Acts 19:1–7
Drag the strips into what you think is the correct order, then check your work.
Once your strips are in order (or you've revealed the answer), talk through these as a team. Feel free to edit the questions below to match your discussion guide — your edits are saved on this device.
Consider Dr. Luke as the historical-theologian. He had restricted himself to report, to give faithful accounts of the work of the Holy Spirit in the Early Church. Yet he had a clear objective about what he intended to convey. By analysing his reporting, we can reach conclusions about his objectives. Activities 1 and 2 are intended to help us think through the significance of Luke’s reporting approach.
A key detail: Paul’s question in v3 reveals that at that point of the conversation, Paul knew they had been water baptised. Paul just did not realise it was John the Baptist’s version, rather than the Christian one. In other words, these were disciples of John the Baptist, not of Jesus.
Acts 19:1–7 (NIV) · selected versesWhile Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples. So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 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.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. There were about twelve men in all.
Acts 19:1–7 (NIV) · selected versesWhile Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 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.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.