Acts 19 - The Disciples Who Had Not Heard of the Holy Spirit!

Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when[a] you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
When Paul goes back to Ephesus, he meets some "disciples". For whatever reason Paul asks them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed.  They answer Paul by saying, "No, we have not even heard there was a Holy Spirit."  They had been baptized with water by John the Baptist, which was a baptism of repentance in preparation for baptism in Jesus' name. Paul then distinguishes John's baptism, with being baptized in the name of Jesus. After Paul lays hands on them, they receive the Holy Spirit, and begin prophesying and speaking in tongues.  
This story creates some good questions.  Luke says they are "disciples", yet they had not been baptized in the name of Jesus.  Were they Christians who had not been baptized?  Maybe.  Most of the time people come to faith in Jesus Christ by repenting from their sin and being baptized with water as a sign of cleansing and re-birth.  Mark 16:16 says, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved."  
And then there is the issue of the Holy Spirit.  In this case, the 12 men received the Holy Spirit after Paul laid hands on them. Was this part of the baptism, or a separate act Paul administered? Then, as a sign that the believers had received the Holy Spirit, the prophesied and spoke in tongues.  Prophesy was speaking God's word in an audible, understandable way relating to something God wanted to communicate to the body of Christ.  Speaking in tongues was speaking in a language unknown to the speaker, but known to God. Sometimes speaking in tongues was for the purpose of communicating the gospel in different languages for those present (Acts 2).  In this case it seems like a different purpose, possibly edifying the believers individually, or a tangible presence signifying the in-filling Holy Spirit. 
You can see there are a lot of moving parts here.  This is why our theology in these matters needs to be thought through carefully faithfully interpreting many stories in the book of Acts.  We can't put God in a box and especially in regard to the filling of Holy Spirit as it relates to baptism. 
So what might that mean to us?
The Holy Spirit is the power of God for those who believe.  Just like we are given the gift of faith, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Usually it is in connection with faith in Christ and being baptized with water.  There is no magic formula, but God gives us the Holy Spirit to assure us of our salvation, empower our lives and give us gifts to be used for ministry and mission.  Be open and receptive to the Holy Spirit.  In Ephesians Paul says, "Keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit".  Though we receive the Holy Spirit by grace through faith in Jesus and Holy Baptism, we need to be continually renewed by this same Spirit!  Come Holy Spirit fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love!      

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