Acts 19:2
What does Acts 19:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Acts 19:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Acts 19:2 means
Paul’s first question goes to the heart of Christian experience: Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? Their answer—having not even heard that the Spirit was given—reveals an incomplete grasp of the gospel’s fulfillment. They likely knew John’s call to repentance but not Pentecost’s outpouring. Paul distinguishes between mere initiation into religious renewal and entry into the New Covenant, where the Spirit is God’s seal and power. The verse reminds us that faith in Jesus is not just assent but life accompanied by the Spirit’s presence. The apostles do not treat the Spirit as optional; His gift is a defining mark of believing the risen Lord.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he said to them, Did you get the Holy Spirit when you had faith? And they said to him, No, we have had no knowledge of the Holy Spirit.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862he said unto them, `The Holy Spirit did ye receive--having believed?' and they said unto him, `But we did not even hear whether there is any Holy Spirit;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he said to them: Have you received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? But they said to him: We have not so much as heard whether there be a Holy Ghost.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890he said to them, Did ye receive [the] Holy Spirit when ye had believed? And they [said] to him, We did not even hear if [the] Holy Spirit was [come].
Context
This question follows Paul’s discovery of disciples in Ephesus and prepares the way for clarifying their baptismal status. The next verse will probe what baptism they received, exposing that they stand in the stream of John’s preparatory ministry rather than in the fullness of Christ. This matters because the rest of the chapter will display the Spirit’s power dramatically in Ephesus, contrasting true, God-given authority with magical imitations and empty formulas used by exorcists.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Galatians 3:5
He therefore that supplieth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
- Acts 8:15
who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit:
- John 7:39
But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.
- Acts 10:44
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the word.
- Acts 11:15
And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, even as on us at the beginning.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19
Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own;
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