The Ephesians (Acts19:1-6)
WERE JUSTIFIED. "And it came
to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having
passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus; and
finding certain disciples, he said unto them, Have ye
received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?"—Ver. 1,
2.
1. They were "disciples."
Let us see what it implies to be a disciple.
"Whosoever cloth not bear his cross, and come after
me, cannot be my disciple." "So likewise,
whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he
hash, he cannot be my disciple."—Luke 14 :27, 33.
"If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples
indeed."—John 8:31. "By this shall all men
know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one for
another."—John 13:35. "Herein is my Father
glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my
disciples."—John 15:8.
2. They "believed."
Hence they were born of God (John 5:1)—were justified
(Acts 13:39). Having proved that these Ephesians were
clearly justified when Paul came to them, we shall now
prove that they were wholly sanctified after his coming.
THEIR SANCTIFICATION. After Paul
gave them proper instruction, and baptized them in the
name of the Lord Jesus, he "laid his hands upon them,
[and] the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with
tongues, and prophesied."—Ver. 6. About eight years
later, Paul wrote a letter to these brethren, in which he
testifies as follows: "After that ye heard the word
of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, after
that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit
of promise." Eph. 1:13.
