Acts 19:2 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

He said unto them, Have ye received, &c.— St. Paul found at Ephesus twelve disciples, who either had been converted there, or, as is more probable, had come to Ephesus out of some remote country since he had left that city;—for these men, it is most likely, were pious Jews, who, having waited for the kingdom of God, and being many years before baptized by John, or some of his disciples, had, on receiving something of the evidence of Christianity, believed in Jesus; but perhaps coming, as we have observed, out of some distant and obscure country, they had not enjoyed an opportunity before of being instructed in any thing relative to the Holy Spirit, more than might be learnt from the Old Testament. As it was his usual custom to impart the Holy Spirit to all the adult converts wherever he came, if they had not already received the divine gift, he asked these twelve, whether they had received the Holy Spirit since they believed? To which they answered, "We have not so much as heard that the Holy Spirit is poured out, or that any person has been favoured with that extraordinary gift, which the prophets foretold, and John the Baptist frequently intimated, would be granted." Ainsworth, on Exodus 28:30 has rightly observed, that by the Holy Spirit is here meant the gifts of the Spirit, in prophesy, tongues, &c. as it follows, Acts 19:6. The Holy Spirit came on them, and they spake with tongues, and prophesied; which gifts having before ceased, were restored by the gospel: an evident proof that Christ was come. See Joel 2:28; Joel 2:32. Acts 4:17-18.