"And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost." When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."
In the book of Acts, chapter 19, verse 2, the Bible poses the question: "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" This inquiry by Paul demonstrates his uncertainty regarding their spiritual condition and his genuine hope that all believers in the Lord Jesus would be filled with the Holy Spirit. Since all Christians are infused with the Holy Spirit at the moment of their salvation, their response indicated that they were not yet fully committed to Christianity. They had not undergone Christian baptism, having only received "John's baptism," further indicating their incomplete conversion. Paul's query is more accurately translated as: "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" The Book of Acts does not present a consistent pattern regarding the timing and manner of receiving the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is essential to consider the apostles' understanding of these circumstances rather than relying solely on one passage from this transitional book. Upon salvation, every individual receives the Holy Spirit without the need for laying on of hands or any external manifestation (Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Ephesians 1:13; 1 John 3:24; 4:13). When Paul inquired about their reception of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, they were perplexed as they were unaware of it. Their response revealed their lack of knowledge about the Holy Spirit's presence.
According to the Bible, when "Paul … laid his hands upon them," it symbolized their acceptance into the church or the body of Christ. The act of worshipping God through speaking in tongues and prophesying was seen as evidence of their membership into the church. They also required concrete proof that the Holy Spirit now resided within them, as they were unaware of His arrival. The phenomenon of "tongues" is specifically mentioned three times in Acts. Although it might have happened on other occasions, the text implies that it was not a common occurrence, even if it happened more frequently. Luke, guided by the Holy Spirit, has chosen to record only the instances at Pentecost (chapter 2), Cornelius's house (chapter 10), and here in Ephesus. In each of these instances, speaking in tongues was a sign for the Jews who were hesitant to believe in all of God's works. Furthermore, each of these three occurrences is associated with one of the regions involved in the church's expansion.
Initially in Jerusalem, God bestowed the gift of tongues as a sign for the unbelieving Jews, indicating the importance of heeding the apostles' message, which three thousand individuals indeed embraced. Subsequently, in Judea and Samaria, God utilized tongues through Cornelius to persuade the local Jews, along with Peter and later the Jerusalem community, that the Gentiles had received the same blessings as the Jews and were equal members in the church of God. Thirdly, in the distant city of Ephesus, God granted the gift of tongues for the edification of the speakers themselves. This sign was meant for all followers of John's teachings, signifying that there was more to learn and urging them to heed Paul's message. Notably, the Holy Spirit's fire (the baptism of the Holy Spirit) descended upon them when Paul laid his hands on them. This baptism was the one foretold by John the Baptist, who spoke of someone baptizing with the Holy Spirit and fire. Speaking in tongues served as proof of their baptism in the Holy Spirit. Finally the bible tells us in Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."