I don't care what scholars and theologians (please name them) You say you looked up. The text states Paul asked.
Have you received the HOLY Spirit since you believed That is the subject matter? You are telling me that Paul asked if they receive the
Holy Spirit since they believed it means water Baptism in Jesus' name?
Acts 19:1
19 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
This is the statement page I copied for you.
In Acts 19, Paul encounters twelve disciples of John the Baptist in Ephesus who had been baptized but hadn't received the Holy Spirit. Paul explains that John's baptism was a baptism of repentance, preparing people for the Messiah. He then baptized these disciples in the name of the Lord Jesus. After this water baptism, Paul laid his hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit, which is a separate and distinct event.
Elaboration:
John's Baptism:
John the Baptist's baptism was a baptism of repentance, urging people to believe in the coming Messiah, Jesus.
Paul's Baptism:
Paul baptized these disciples in the name of the Lord Jesus, which is a distinct act of baptism associated with the Christian faith.
Laying on of Hands:
After the water baptism, Paul laid his hands on the disciples, and they received the Holy Spirit. This act was not directly tied to the water baptism but rather a separate event signifying the receiving of the Spirit.
Purpose of Acts 19:
This passage in Acts highlights the importance of the water baptism in the name of Jesus and the separate gift of the Holy Spirit, which is received through the laying on of hands. It also demonstrates how the early church was moving from a previous understanding (John's baptism) to a fuller understanding of the Christian faith (baptism in the name of Jesus and receiving the Holy Spirit).