Acts 19:4
in Acts 19Paul explained: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the One coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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.
KJV
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
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This verse in Acts 19
Commentary
13 notes on this verseJohn's baptism had already raised the question, which our Lord himself posed for the Pharisees, whether it was something heavenly or just from earth. They, clearly not understanding because of their unbelief, could not come to a definite answer. We, however, having only a slight understanding that accords with our slight faith, can still judge that John's baptism was, on the one hand, divine in that God commanded it, but on the other, it was not divine in its power.
This site's exposition
Into what, then, were you baptized
on Acts 19:3-4
Asked into what they were baptized, they named the baptism of John. Paul explained that it was a baptism of repentance, and that John told the people to believe in the One coming after him, Jesus. John's baptism pointed forward, and Paul supplied what these sincere men lacked.
This site's exposition
John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance
Paul's summary matches his sermon at Pisidian Antioch, where 13:24 to 25 names John's baptism of repentance and the One coming after him. These disciples had the call to repent. They lacked its object.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
" And so "the baptism of repentance" was dealt with as if it were a candidate for the remission and sanctification shortly about to follow in Christ: for in that John used to preach "baptism for the remission of sins," the declaration was made with reference to future remission; if it be true, (as it is, ) that repentance is antecedent, remission subsequent; and this is "preparing the way.
"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.)
From John's baptism he prophesies, and he leads them to understand that this was John's baptism. From this point it is shown that John's baptism was incomplete. For he did not say that it was forgiveness, but that it was of repentance. [AMMONIUS]
The Medieval Church2 voices
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 …
John baptized with the baptism of repentance. This baptism, he says, could not grant the remission of sins but could teach only repentance. For just as the sign of circumcision was a seal of the faith which they carried in the patriarchs, so this washing …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
John baptized - That is, the whole baptism and preaching of John pointed at Christ. After this John is mentioned no more in the New Testament. Here he gives way to Christ altogether.
Then said Paul,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
That they should believe on him which should come after - John baptized them with the baptism of repentance; this was common to all the baptisms administered by the Jews to proselytes; but telling them that they should believe on him who was coming, was peculiar to John’s baptism.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The point of contrast is not between John and Christ personally, but between the water baptism of John unto repentance, and the promised baptism of the Spirit from the hands of his coming Master unto new life.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
John verily baptized - John did indeed baptize. With the baptism of repentance - Having special reference to repentance, or as a profession that they did repent of their sins. See the notes on Mat 3:6. Saying unto the people - The design of his preaching was to tarn the people from their sins, and to prepare them for the coming of the Messiah. He therefore directed their attention principally to him that was to come, Joh 1:15, Joh 1:22-27. That is, on Christ Jesus - These are the words of Paul, explaining what John taught. John taught them to believe in the Messiah, and Paul now showed them that the Messiah was Jesus of Nazareth. The argument of Paul is, that it was highly proper for them now to profess publicly that Saviour to whom John had borne such explicit testimony. “Jesus is the Messiah for whom John came to prepare the way; and as you have em braced John’s doctrine, you ought now publicly to acknowledge that Redeemer by baptism in his name.
The words behind it
22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Εἶπεν | eipen | Said | G2036 → | 925 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| Παῦλος· | paulos | Paul; | G3972 → | 158 times |
| Ἰωάννης | ioannes | John | G2491 → | 134 times |
| ἐβάπτισεν | ebaptisen | baptized | G907 → | 76 times |
| βάπτισμα | baptisma | a baptism | G908 → | 19 times |
| μετανοίας | metanoias | of repentance | G3341 → | 22 times |
| τῷ | to | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λαῷ | lao | people | G2992 → | 141 times |
| λέγων | legon | telling | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| εἰς | eis | about | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὸν | ton | the [One] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐρχόμενον | erchomenon | coming | G2064 → | 628 times |
| μετ᾽ | met᾽ | after | G3326 → | 461 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| πιστεύσωσιν, | pisteusosin | they may believe, | G4100 → | 237 times |
| τοῦτ᾽ | tout᾽ | That | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἔστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| εἰς | eis | in | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| τὸν | ton | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Ἰησοῦν. | iesoun | Jesus. | G2424 → | 908 times |
ΕἶπενSaid
eipenG2036 →925 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
Παῦλος·Paul;
paulosG3972 →158 times
ἸωάννηςJohn
ioannesG2491 →134 times
ἐβάπτισενbaptized
ebaptisenG907 →76 times
βάπτισμαa baptism
baptismaG908 →19 times
μετανοίαςof repentance
metanoiasG3341 →22 times
τῷto the
toG3588 →19766 times
λαῷpeople
laoG2992 →141 times
λέγωνtelling
legonG3004 →1325 times
εἰςabout
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὸνthe [One]
tonG3588 →19766 times
ἐρχόμενονcoming
erchomenonG2064 →628 times
μετ᾽after
met᾽G3326 →461 times
αὐτὸνhim
autonG846 →5565 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
πιστεύσωσιν,they may believe,
pisteusosinG4100 →237 times
τοῦτ᾽That
tout᾽G3778 →1381 times
ἔστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
εἰςin
eisG1519 →1755 times
τὸν<the>
tonG3588 →19766 times
Ἰησοῦν.Jesus.
iesounG2424 →908 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
Acts 1:5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
it leads to
- Matthew 3:11
I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Luke 3:16
John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 11:15–16
As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as He had fallen upon us at the beginning.
- 1 Corinthians 12:13
For 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.
- Titus 3:5
He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
- Matthew 3:11
Through
Acts 11:16Then I remembered the word of the Lord, as He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
it leads to
- Acts 1:5
For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
- Acts 1:5
Through
John 1:7He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
it leads to
- John 1:32–34
Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.
- John 5:33–35
You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.
- John 1:32–34
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Acts
This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on Acts; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Acts; 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); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on Acts; Tertullian, ON BAPTISM 10.1-5; Tertullian, On Baptism and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Acts.