Godbey's Commentary - Acts - Romans - Enter His Rest

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 God’s repentance is always “unto life.”
5. “And hearing, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Here you see baptism
repeated in the case of these Ephesian converts. Water baptism is a Jewish institution, constant and
exceedingly prevalent since the days of Moses, symbolizing the work of the Spirit, as the bloody
sacrifices the work of Christ. A Jew had to be baptized with water every time he contracted
ceremonial defilement before he was allowed to enter the tabernacle and enjoy its service. Doubtless
many a Jew was baptized a thousand times in his life, these expurgatory catharisms being frequent
as the bloody sacrifices. These Ephesian converts, Apollos and Paul were all Jews, accustomed from
time immemorial to baptize freely and repeatedly pursuant to the Levitical ritual. Apollos had
initiated them into the Johanic dispensation by water baptism, thinking it was still in vogue. Paul is
preaching in the dispensation of the Holy Ghost, who is given by the ascended and glorified Messiah,
whom it is pertinent that all publicly confess by baptism in His name.
6. “And Paul, laying hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them, and they continued to speak
with tongues and prophecy.” Conversion is indispensable to discipleship. Hence these disciples had
been converted under the ministry of Apollos. Paul not only leads them didactically and ceremonially
out of the Johanic into the Christian dispensation, but inaugurates a regular holiness meeting for their
sanctification, culminating in their spiritual illumination and preparation for the experience which
they, in due time, receive on their knees at the altar, while Paul prays for them and lays hands on
them. Here we have clear New Testament precedent and Apostolical authority for the second work
of grace. There is no evasion of the issue. The Holy Ghost calls no sinner “disciple.” Hence these
were all converted before Paul arrived. When, under the ministry of Paul, the Holy Ghost came on
them, even imparting His extraordinary gifts, i.e., “tongues and prophecy,” clearly confirming the
fact of their sanctification, as these spiritual gifts are normal only to the sanctified. We should still
retain the imposition of hands while praying for people, that they may be imbued with the Holy
Ghost. It is certainly safe to follow New Testament precedent and Apostolic practice. The innate
impressibility of the human spirit through the physical organism is beyond our comprehension. God
help us meekly to walk in the footprints of our predecessors.
8. A modern wiseacre would say, “Paul, there are five hundred thousand sinners going to hell in
Ephesus; you had better preach straight to sinners to get them converted, and not waste your time
preaching on sanctification.” Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, thought differently. So
he started a holiness meeting, preaching and working constantly on the line of the second work of
grace, until he got his little band (only twelve) gloriously sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost,
enjoying the wonderful availability of the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, thus turning all his
members into preachers to help him press the battle in a two years’ protracted meeting, rolling out
a mighty inundating wave of gospel grace, not only over that great heathen metropolis, but
throughout all Asia, “speaking and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.” Paul
was powerful in the kingdom, which was predicted by the old prophets, proclaimed by John the
Baptist, preached by the Savior and His apostles and their faithful successors still peregrinating the
globe, heralding the kingdom to all nations, calling out the elect (as no others will have it) and
getting them ready to welcome our glorious coming King to all the thrones of earth.