Acts 19:4
ESV
And Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus."
NIV
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."
NASB
Paul said, 'John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.'
CSB
Paul said, "John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus."
NLT
Paul said, 'John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.'
KJV
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.
NKJV
Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
What does Acts 19:4 mean?
John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament prophets. Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, prophesied his coming (Malachi 3:1). John preached that people needed to repent from their sin and turn back to God, thus returning "the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers" (Malachi 4:6). John's ministry was extremely popular—so much so that although John publicly attacked the morality of the Pharisees, the Pharisees still avoided criticizing him in public three years after his death (Matthew 3:7–10; Mark 11:27–33).John preached along the Jordan River, less than twenty miles east of Jerusalem. His spot was at or near the route Jews took from Galilee to Jerusalem when they came for sacrifices or feasts. When people heard and agreed with his message, he—or his disciples—baptized them. The people publicly announced that they agreed with John's message of repentance (Luke 3:1–6).
But John also said, "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Matthew 3:11). As Malachi said, John came to call people to repentance, but he also came to prepare the way for people to accept Jesus and His offer of salvation (Malachi 3:1; 4:5–6; Isaiah 40:3–5; John 1:23).
The twelve men in Ephesus understood and accepted John's message of repentance. Paul explains to them that John pointed to Jesus of Nazareth. John told his followers he would decrease so that Jesus could increase (John 3:30). Even here, decades after Jesus ascended into heaven, this is still happening. John's message prepared these men to recognize Jesus as their Savior.
Acts 19:1–7 continues the story of Paul's third missionary trip that began with his tour of the churches in central modern-day Turkey (Acts 18:23). Now, he is in Ephesus in the province of Asia in western Turkey. He had been in Ephesus for a short time before and will now stay for about three years (Acts 18:19–21; 20:31). His first encounter is with twelve men who know about John the Baptist and his baptism for repentance but not about Jesus, whom John promised would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11).
Acts 19 recounts Paul's three-year visit in Ephesus. He starts by revealing how Jesus of Nazareth has brought to life the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit validates Paul's message by healing those struck with physical ailments and demon possession. Amazed by Paul's authority over evil spirits, so many magicians turn to Christ that the craftsmen who make idols fear for their livelihoods. They nearly incite a riot before the town clerk settles them down. Paul realizes his time in Ephesus has ended, and he travels to Macedonia (Acts 20:1).
