as the Holy Ghost thus present among them was not yet.
And this is what the twelve disciples at Ephesus say; not, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost, but whether the Holy Ghost is (come); they were John’s disciples, and he had spoken of baptizing with the Holy Ghost as one of the things which Jesus would do; he presents the work of Jesus as comprehended in the two things I have spoken of—the Lamb of God that takes away sin, and He that baptizes with the Holy Ghost. So the Lord Himself, “If I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you, if I go away I will send him unto you.” So again, “whom the Father will send in my name;” when He is come he will reprove (convict) the world of sin, and righteousness, and judgment, guide the disciples into all truth, shew them things to come. So Peter, when He was come according to promise, “being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost [note this reception of it for others on His exaltation], he hath shed forth this which ye now see and hear;” and when pricked in their hearts they asked, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” he replies, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” So, before the priests, “We are witnesses of these things, and so also is the Holy Ghost which is given to them that obey him.” So to Cornelius, God gives the proof that He will have the Gentiles by giving him the Holy Ghost, so that Peter could not forbid water. So at Samaria, they
