Acts 19:3
in Acts 19“Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked. “The baptism of John,” they replied.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John’s baptism.
KJV
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
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This verse in Acts 19
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Unto what - Unto what faith or doctrine. What did you profess to believe when you were baptized? Unto John’s baptism - See the notes on Act 18:25.
This site's exposition
Unto what then were ye baptized
on Acts 19:3-4
Paul's follow-up question, unto what then were ye baptized, draws out that they had received John's baptism only, and he explains that John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe on him who should come after, that is, on Christ Jesus. John's own baptism had always pointed forward, a preparation rather than the finished sign Christian baptism became once the one it prepared for had come and been raised. The exchange shows Paul treating an incomplete but sincere devotion with patience, filling in what was missing rather than dismissing what these men already held. The bench reads the moment as a small model of how the fuller gospel completes rather than discards genuine but partial faith.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Knowing only John's baptism. It is worth asking how, if he knew only John's baptism, he nevertheless possessed the Spirit; for the Spirit was not given in that way. And if those who came after him needed the baptism of Christ, much more would he …
"And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him who should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." For that they did not even believe in Christ is plain from his saying, "that they should believe on Him that was to come after him." And he did not say, The baptism of John is nothing, but, It is incomplete. Nor does he add this (in so many words), but he taught them, and many received the Holy Ghost. From the baptism itself he (John) prophesies: and he leads them (to see) that this is the meaning of John's baptism. "That they should believe on Him that was to come:" on what kind (of Person)? "I indeed baptize you with water, but He that cometh after me, shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." (Matt. iii. 11.)
The Medieval Church1 voice
These, from among "certain disciples," who did not even know that there is a Holy Spirit, differed greatly from the other disciples, because from the words "that they should believe in Him who was coming after him" it is evident that they did not believe …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And he said unto them, unto what then were ye baptized?....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Paul having passed through the upper coasts--"parts," the interior of Asia Minor, which, with reference to the seacoast, was elevated. came to Ephesus--thus fulfilling his promise (Ac 18:21). finding certain disciples--in the same stage of Christian knowledge as Apollos at first, newly arrived, probably, and having had no communication as yet with the church at Ephesus.
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἶπέν | eipen | He said | G2036 → | 925 times |
| τε | te | then | G5037 → | 213 times |
| εἰς | eis | Into | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τί | ti | what | G5101 → | 563 times |
| οὖν | oun | then | G3767 → | 497 times |
| ἐβαπτίσθητε; | ebaptisthete | were you baptized? | G907 → | 76 times |
| οἱ | hoi | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δὲ | de | And | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| εἶπαν· | eipan | they said; | G2036 → | 925 times |
| εἰς | eis | Into | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰωάννου | ioannou | John's | G2491 → | 134 times |
| βάπτισμα.¶ | baptisma | baptism. | G908 → | 19 times |
εἶπένHe said
eipenG2036 →925 times
τεthen
teG5037 →213 times
εἰςInto
eisG1519 →1755 times
τίwhat
tiG5101 →563 times
οὖνthen
ounG3767 →497 times
ἐβαπτίσθητε;were you baptized?
ebaptistheteG907 →76 times
οἱ<the>
hoiG3588 →19766 times
δὲAnd
deG1161 →2765 times
εἶπαν·they said;
eipanG2036 →925 times
εἰςInto
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ἸωάννουJohn's
ioannouG2491 →134 times
βάπτισμα.¶baptism.
baptismaG908 →19 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 28:19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
it leads to
- Mark 16:15–16
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
- Acts 2:38–39
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
- Luke 24:47–48
and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
- Acts 19:3–5
“Into what, then, were you baptized?” Paul asked. “The baptism of John,” they replied.
- Mark 16:15–16
Through
1 Corinthians 12:13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
it leads to
- Ephesians 4:5
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
- Colossians 3:11
Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
- Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
- Ephesians 4:5
Where this verse is studied
About Acts

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary upon the Acts of the Apostles; John Chrysostom, Homily on Acts 40; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.
