The apostle Paul returned to Ephesus and found some disciples who had most likely been immersed by Apollos. We saw from Acts 18:24-28, Apollos did not know until meeting Aquila and Priscilla, that John the Immerser’s practice was no longer valid. Because Apollos had not known this, he had continued immersing those he taught as John did.

The questions Paul asked these disciples (Acts 19:2, 3) caused him to recognize that their immersion was not valid. Learning that, Paul explained to them that John had taught they should “believe on Him, who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”

No doubt, Paul also explained to them that Jesus had died for their sins and they needed to be baptized in His name for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), as we are next told that the disciples were then immersed in the name of the Lord Jesus.

We learn from this that one who has not been “baptized” as the scriptures teach, has been “baptized” improperly. Many are those who are in such a situation today. Some being “baptized” as infants without believing in Christ, some believing in Christ but without repenting of their sins, and some being immersed, but not for the forgiveness of their sins. They have not received “baptism” as the scriptures teach and should follow the example of these disciples in Acts 19.

Questions To Aid Your Spiritual Growth:
1. Can a person receive “baptism” today that is invalid as did these disciples in Acts 19?
2. In whose name, or by whose authority, must one be “baptized” today?
3. What should one do whose “baptism” is invalid according to the scriptures?