Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Acts 19:4
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.
4. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance ] More simply, And Paul said. The best MSS. omit the word for “verily.” Such was John’s description of his own baptism (Mat 3:11), but after the day of Pentecost the language of the Christian preacher (Act 2:38) is, “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” These Ephesian disciples knew nothing of baptism for the remission of sins, or of the other sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, nor of the gift of the Spirit to the church, nor of the doctrines of faith in Christ and salvation by grace through faith.
saying unto the people, that they should believe ] The demand for faith makes the difference between the preaching of Christ and the preaching of John. The latter said “Prepare by repentance for the coming King,” Christ says (and John also spake of this) “Believe on me, for I am He that should come.”
on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus ] The oldest MSS. omit “Christ.” In his preaching John had constantly used the phrase “He that cometh after me.” This was the stage of instruction at which these disciples had arrived. They knew that John spake of one who was to come. St Paul’s teaching made clear to them that this was Jesus. The closing words of the sentence are a condensation of all the explanations by which the Apostle convinced them, that Jesus, whom he preached, was the prophet whom John announced. St Luke does not anywhere give speeches or arguments in extenso, but only so much as is needed to explain the results which he describes
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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 Johns doctrine, you ought now publicly to acknowledge that Redeemer by baptism in his name.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The baptism of repentance; at which the Baptist did exhort them to repentance, and they by it were obliged to repent; by which is manifest, that the baptism of John and of Christ (which he commanded) are one and the same. Johns baptism did respect Christ, and oblige the baptized to believe in him, as also to repent; and more, it was a seal unto them of the remission of their sins, as is expressly observed, Mar 1:4; so that the baptism of John, and the baptism of the apostles afterward, had the same sign and the same thing signified in them both (the inward and outward part, the heavenly and earthly part, were the same in both); as also they had both the same end; and therefore they were both the same. Add to this, that unless the Baptists and the apostles baptism were the same, Christ and his members (the church) are not baptized with the same baptism. It must be acknowledged that there are some circumstances in which they differ; Johns baptism respected Christ to come; that is, in the exercise of his ministry (which was not so fully exercised till after Johns death); but especially, those great things (his death, resurrection, and ascension, &c.) were to come after Johns time, which now are accomplished.
On Christ Jesus; including the Father and the Holy Ghost, and mentioning Christ, to difference his baptisms from the several baptizings and washings then in use.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. Then said Paul, John . . .baptized with the baptism of repentancewater unto repentance.
saying unto the people, thatthey should believe on him which should come after himthat is,who should baptize with the Holy Ghost. The point of contrast is notbetween John and Christ personally, but between the waterbaptism of John unto repentance, and the promised baptism ofthe Spirit from the hands of his coming Master unto newlife. As to all the facts, or at least the significancy, of thisbaptism, which made the whole life and work of Christ another thingfrom what it was conceived to be before it was vouchsafed, thesesimple disciples were unenlightened.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then said Paul,…. In reply to their answer, understanding them that they were baptized by John, he takes it up, and gives an account of John’s baptism: showing how agreeable it was, and that it was the same baptism with the baptism of Christ, being administered in his name:
John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance; which required repentance antecedent to it, and was a fruit and effect, and so an evidence of it:
saying unto the people; the people of the Jews, the common people, the multitude that attended on his ministry:
that they should believe on him, which should come after him, that is, on Jesus Christ; so that he preached faith in Christ, as well as repentance towards God; and made the one as well as the other a necessary prerequisite unto baptism; which shows, that his baptism and Christian baptism are the same.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
With the baptism of repentance ( ). Cognate accusative with and the genitive describing the baptism as marked by (case of species or genus), not as conveying, repentance just as in Mr 1:4 and that was the work of the Holy Spirit. But John preached also the baptism of the Holy Spirit which the Messiah was to bring (Mark 1:7; Matt 3:11; Luke 3:16). If they did not know of the Holy Spirit, they had missed the point of John’s baptism.
That they should believe on him that should come after him, that is on Jesus ( ‘ , ‘ ). Note the emphatic prolepsis of ‘ before with which it is construed. This is John’s identical phrase, “the one coming after me” as seen in Mark 1:7; Matt 3:11; Luke 3:16; John 1:15. It is not clear that these “disciples” believed in a Messiah, least of all in Jesus. They were wholly unprepared for the baptism of John. Paul does not mean to say that John’s baptism was inadequate, but he simply explains what John really taught and so what his baptism signified.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “Then said Paul,” (eipen de Paulos) “And Paul said,” asserted, affirmed.
2) “John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance,” (loannes ebaptisen baptisma metanoias) “John rightly (truly) baptized a baptism of repentance,” the same as I preach, Act 17:31-32; Act 20:21; 2Co 7:10.
3) “Saying unto the people,” (to lao legon) “Repeatedly saying to the people,” explaining to the people, the masses who came out to hear him in the wilderness of Judea, Mat 3:5-7; Luk 3:1; Mar 1:3-5.
4) “That they should believe,” (hina pisteusosin) “in order that they should believe,” or trust in or receive, Joh 1:6-7; Joh 1:23; Joh 1:29.
5) “On him which should come after him,” (eis ton erchomenon met’ auton) “Into (with reference to) the one who was coming after (succeeding) him,” Jesus Christ, Joh 1:29.
6) “That is, on Christ Jesus.” (tout’ estin eis in lesoun
touto estin eit ton lesoun) “This is (this belief is) into Jesus,” the savior, deliverer, or redeemer, Act 4:12; Act 10:43; Act 13:38-39.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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4. John truly Paul’s admonition tended to this end, that these men being convict of their ignorance might desire to go forward. He saith that John preached of Christ who was to come. Therefore he sent out his disciples, − (354) that running in the course they might go towards Christ who was not as yet revealed. Wherefore, to the end these men may not flatter themselves, and refuse to go forward, he showeth that they be yet far from the mark. For the feeling of want doth enforce men to desire that which is as yet lacking. The sum cometh to this end, as if Paul had said Before Christ was glorified, this power of his did not appear − (355) in the world; when he was ascended into heaven he would have his kingdom to flourish thus. Therefore the graces of the Spirit were much less shed out when John was as yet in the course of his embassage, which do now declare that Christ sitteth at the right hand of his Father forasmuch as he had not as then openly showed himself to be the Redeemer of the world. Therefore know ye that you must go farther forward; because ye be far from the mark. So that he doth plainly show that the faith of the godly who had been taught by John ought to have looked unto Christ who was to come, lest these men should stand still being newly entered, without going any farther. −
And even by this also are we taught that the baptism of John was a token of repentance and remission of sins and that our baptism at this day doth not differ any thing from it, save only that Christ is already revealed, and in his death and resurrection our salvation is made perfect: and so baptism was brought unto his [its] effect; because out of that fountain of Christ’s death and resurrection whereof I have spoken, floweth repentance, and thither is faith referred again that it may thence fet [seek] free righteousness. In sum, Paul showeth plainly that that was the baptism of regeneration and renovation as is ours. And because both purging and newness of life doth flow from Christ alone he saith that it was grounded in his faith, by which words we be also taught, that hereupon dependeth all the force of baptism, that we lay hold upon by faith in Christ whatsoever baptism doth figure; so far off is it, that the outward sign doth derogate from or diminish the grace of Christ any iota. −
(354) −
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Ex carceribus,” from the goal.
(355) −
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Viguit,” flourish.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance.The words may fairly be regarded as giving the summary of what was actually a fuller teaching. The distinctive point in it was that the baptism of John was, by his own declaration, simply provisional and preparatory. He taught his disciples to believe in Jesus, and belief implied obedience, and obedience baptism in His name. It is not without significance that the list of elementary doctrines in Heb. 6:1-4, addressed, we may believe, by Apollos to those who had once been his disciples, includes what those who are now before us might have learnt from him in their spiritual childhood, and that he then passes on to describe the higher state of those who had been illumined, and had tasted of the heavenly gift, and been made partakers of the Holy Ghost (Heb. 6:4-6).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Baptism of repentance John’s baptism when received obligated the people to repent anew of sin in expectation of a soon-coming Messiah. By accepting the rite they acknowledged the obligation and the expectation. Yet when Messiah came he required a new baptism, obligating a consecration to him, whereby the Spirit of promise would be poured out upon them, and they be emancipated into the full liberty of the sons of God.
Christ Jesus Messiah Jesus. John’s baptism obligated faith in the Messiah; John’s testimony obligated faith in Jesus as Messiah. (See notes on Joh 1:19-42.) The Gospel of the apostle John, indeed, written by him at this same Ephesus, clearly indicates in its first chapter the need, from the great number of Johnites in that locality, of a clear testimony that the Baptist himself did most explicitly affirm Jesus to be the Messiah.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And Paul said, “John baptised with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on him who would come after him, that is, on Jesus.” ’
Then Paul explained to them that John’s baptism had pointed ahead to the need for a change of mind and heart about sin, so that they might receive the forgiveness of sins (Mar 1:4). And he reminded them that John had also pointed forward to the Coming One, calling on all his disciples to believe on Him (Mar 1:7-8; Joh 1:23-34). This Coming One, he informed them, was Jesus. So while Apollos was declaring that the Messiah was Jesus in Corinth, this group of disciples were learning the same truth from Paul in Ephesus.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Act 19:4 . ] See on Act 1:1 . Instead of following it up by an apodosis, such as: “but Jesus is the coming One, on whom John by his baptism bound men to believe,” Paul already inserts this idea by . . . into the sentence begun by , and, abandoning the , entirely omits to continue the construction by .
. . .] he baptized (administered) a baptism (which obliged) to repentance . See Mar 1:4 . On the combination of with a cognate noun, comp. Luk 7:29 ; Luk 12:50 ; Mar 10:38 .
. .] is with great emphasis prefixed to the . Comp. on Gal 2:10 ; Eph 3:18 .
.] is to be understood purely in the sense of design; saying to the people: (that he administered a baptism of repentance) in order that they should believe on Him who was to come after him , i.e. on Jesus . This terse information concerning the connection of the baptism of John , which they had received, with Jesus , decided these disciples to receive Christian baptism . The determining element lay in , which Paul must have more precisely explained to them, and by which they were transplanted from their hitherto indistinct and non-living faith into the condition of a full fides explicita from the morning dawn of faith to the bright daylight of the same.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
4 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.
Ver. 4. John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance ] That is, he taught the doctrine of repentance: See Trapp on “ Act 19:5 “ It is not to be thought that those were by Paul re-baptized who were formerly baptized by John; for if that had been necessary, Christ would have baptized his disciples again: but he baptized none himself, Joh 4:1-2 ; and they baptized not themselves.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
4. . . ] This peculiar inversion of words, see reff., seems to mark the hand of Paul. does not give (as Meyer) the mere purpose of his baptism (saying that he baptized in order that ), but combines, as in similar uses of and the like, the purport and purpose together: ‘He commanded them that they should (purport) and he spoke to them, that they might (purpose).’ See this discussed in note on 1Co 14:13 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Act 19:4 . : placed first before , perhaps for emphasis. The phrase had been a favourite one with the Baptist ( cf. Mat 3:1 ). John’s own words showed that his Baptism was insufficient. may express both the purport and the purpose (so Alford).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
verily = indeed.
baptized. App-115.
repentance. Greek. metanoia. App-111.
unto = to.
people. Greek. laos. See note on Act 2:47.
that = in order that. Greek. hina.
believe. App-150.
after. Gr. meta. App-104.
Christ Jesus. App-98. The texts omit “Christ”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
4. . .] This peculiar inversion of words, see reff., seems to mark the hand of Paul. does not give (as Meyer) the mere purpose of his baptism (saying that he baptized in order that ), but combines, as in similar uses of and the like, the purport and purpose together: He commanded them that they should (purport)-and he spoke to them, that they might (purpose). See this discussed in note on 1Co 14:13.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Act 19:4. , John) After this passage, no mention occurs of John the Baptist in the New Testament. Here at last (at this particular point) he wholly gives place to Christ. This was a great performance of Paul.- ) after him.- , that is, on Christ Jesus[111]) So Paul explained the testimony of John the Baptist.
[111] The word , according to the margin of both Editions and the Germ. Vers., ought to be omitted.-E. B.
The word is omitted by ABE Vulg. Memph. and later Syr. Dd read alone. Rec. Text, without very ancient authority, joins the the two, .-E. and T.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
John: Act 1:5, Act 11:16, Act 13:23-25, Mat 3:11, Mat 3:12, Mat 11:3-5, Mat 21:25-32, Mar 1:1-12, Luk 1:76-79, Luk 3:16-18, Joh 1:15, Joh 1:27, Joh 1:29-34, Joh 3:28-36, Joh 5:33-35
Reciprocal: Mal 3:1 – and he Mat 3:6 – were Mar 1:4 – did Mar 1:8 – he shall Luk 1:77 – give Luk 3:3 – preaching Joh 1:7 – a witness Joh 1:8 – that light Joh 1:19 – Who Joh 1:31 – therefore Act 2:38 – in Act 13:24 – General Act 13:25 – whom
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4
Act 19:4. The difference between “John’s baptism” and “Christian baptism” is indicated in this verse. When John baptized a man he was required to believe on Christ who was to come. He had not yet come and hence no person could be baptized into His name or by his authority. But John was dead and Christ had come when Apollos was preaching, hence it was unscriptural to use John’s baptism. Both baptisms were “for the remission of sins,” and both had to be preceded by repentance (Mar 1:4; Act 2:38). But the latter was by the authority of Christ which put the believer into His name.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Act 19:4. Then raid Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying onto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him. Dr. Hackett well paraphrases Pauls reply to them: John, indeed, preached repentance and a Saviour to come (as you know); but the Messiah whom he announced has appeared in Jesus, and ye are now to believe on Him, as John has directed. The whole purpose of Johns baptism was to prepare for another and more complete baptism, a rite far higher, and one that would confer, indeed, a grander blessing. His own words were, He that cometh after me shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
See notes on verse 1
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
4. Here we find that the baptism of John was a seal and confirmation of repentance. Do not forget that repentance and regeneration are inseparable. You may have much human repentance without regeneration; but Gods repentance is always unto life.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Paul explained to these disciples, as Priscilla and Aquila had undoubtedly explained to Apollos, that John’s baptism was good but insufficient. John had also instructed his disciples to believe in Jesus who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Spirit normally accompanied faith in Jesus.