Acts 19
Disciples of John the Baptist at Ephesus
1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the inland regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples there,
Apollos was teaching in Corinth. This is the last that we hear of him in Acts, but he was referenced in other epistles. The inland regions were the upper countries, meaning that Paul did not take the major roads. Paul promised the Ephesians that he would return and teach them, so he was now keeping this promise. In Ephesus, he found some disciples of John the Baptist.
2 and said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
These disciples had less knowledge than Apollos. They had heard John the Baptist teach about a coming Messiah. They were baptized by John. However, they left the area before the identification, introduction, and baptism of Jesus. They did not know about the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ. They did not know about the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
3 So Paul said, “Into what then were you baptized?” “Into John’s baptism.” they replied.
They were disciples of John the Baptist, but they were not yet believers in Jesus. This was the last mention of John the Baptist in the Bible.
4 Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.”
John's baptism identified the people with the coming Messiah. However, these disciples had left the land before Jesus was revealed.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus,
They received water baptism in the name of Christ, identifying themselves directly with Christ.
6 and when Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy.
The disciples believed and they were baptized with the Spirit. They spoke in other languages and prophesied the future, authenticating that they were saved. Charismatics like to use this verse as modern day doctrine, but again, this is recorded history. The doctrine of the modern church is found in Paul's epistles.
7 (Now there were about twelve men in all.)
Twelve disciples became believers and were baptized with the Holy Spirit. When they spoke in tongues, they spoke in their own language, but every one present heard the language in their own birth tongue and dialect. Only God can do this type of miracle. This is not the type of tongues that is currently being practiced in the modern charismatic churches.
Paul Continues to Minister at Ephesus
8 So Paul entered the synagogue and spoke out fearlessly for three months, addressing and convincing them about the kingdom of God.
The Ephesian synagogue had a wealth of biblical knowledge. Apollos taught at Ephesus for a very long time. Paul taught there for three months. According to the Book of Ephesians, Paul taught the entire council of the word of God.
The Greek word for "addressing" is διαλέγομαι (dialegomai), meaning exchanging logic by reasoning back and forth through the Scriptures.
The Greek word for "convincing" is πείθω (peitho), meaning to persuade with facts that are trustworthy.
Paul reasoned back and forth by exchanging logic. His arguments were persuasive and trustworthy.
As for the Kingdom of God, Paul had to explain the present and future aspects of the Kingdom. He has to explain why Jesus had to die, identify the present church and its purpose, and then explain the prophetic future of the Church.
9 But when some were stubborn and refused to believe, reviling the Way before the congregation, he left them and took the disciples with him, addressing them every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
Only those chosen and called before the foundations of the world can believe the Gospel. "The Way" was an early name for Christianity. Paul pulled out the messianic Jews and believing Gentiles from the synagogue and opened the Church of the Ephesians. He taught them in the lecture hall of Tyrannus, which was a Greek school of higher learning.
10 This went on for two years, so that all who lived in the province of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.
Paul taught the entire counsel of the word of God to Ephesus for two years (plus the earlier three months), making them very mature Christians that would later be able to understand such a deep epistle as Ephesians. During this three year time period, Paul wrote two letters to the Church in Corinth.
The Seven Sons of Sceva
11 God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands,
Again, these miracles were not performed by believers. All of the miracles in the Book of Acts were performed by apostles or their legates. The purpose of these miracles was to authenticate that the apostle's messages came from God.
12 so that when even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his body were brought to the sick, their diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
The handkerchiefs were bands of linen that were worn around the head. The aprons were those worn by tentmakers. These head bands and aprons healed many who were sick. Some were ill due to physical ailments. Some were ill due to demonic influence.
Charismatics use this verse and apply it to the modern church. Television evangelists prey on the superstition of ignorant charismatics who are too lazy to study the entire counsel of the Word of God. They ask charismatics to send in money for handkerchiefs that they have touched and prayed. They pray that God's healing power will accompany this "anointed" handkerchief. This is nothing but charismatic superstition. Again, Luke was recording the history of the early church. The doctrine of the church is found in Paul's epistles.
13 But some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were possessed by evil spirits, saying, “I sternly warn you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”
The Greek word for "exorcists" is ἐξορκιστής (exerkidtais), meaning one who casts out demons by the use of spells or incantations. This was a violation of the Mosaic Law, yet these Jewish exorcists were violating the Law and using the name of Jesus in order to cast out demons. They were using the name of Jesus as a magic name, or part of a spell. They did not know Jesus, but they were copying the name that Paul was using.
14 (Now seven sons of a man named Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this.)
Sceva was a Latin name, but he was a Jew who had perverted Judaism with the occult. He would not be able to practice these occultic rituals if he lived close to Jerusalem.
15 But the evil spirit replied to them, “I know about Jesus and I am acquainted with Paul, but who are you?”
The Greek word for "know" is γινώσκω (gingko), meaning to know by experience. The demon knew Jesus by experience, but he did not know him as Savior. The demon also knew Paul and his authority by experience. The demons had to obey Jesus, because Jesus was God. The demons had to obey Paul, because he had the apostolic authority to cast out demons. The sons of Sceva had no authority, so the demons will toy with them and act like they are being cast out.
16 Then the man who was possessed by the evil spirit jumped on them and beat them all into submission. He prevailed against them so that they fled from that house naked and wounded.
The Greek word for "jumped" is ἐφάλλομαι (epholloma), meaning to leap on and assault like a panther. The demon possessed man was able to beat seven men into submission. He assaulted all seven of them, tore off their clothes, wounded them, and they all had to flee.
17 This became known to all who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks; fear came over them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised.
The Greek word for "praised" is μεγαλύνω (megaluno), meaning that the name of Jesus was to be magnified or held in high esteem. This was a great victory over demonism in Ephesus.
18 Many of those who had believed came forward, confessing and making their deeds known.
Many of the Ephesians came forward and confessed their activities in the occult.
19 Large numbers of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them up in the presence of everyone. When the value of the books was added up, it was found to total fifty thousand silver coins.
Ephesus was famous for its occult literature. Many of the Ephesians were into the occult. However, many of them confessed their sin and burnt the occult books, worth over $10,000 in today's currency.
20 In this way the word of the Lord continued to grow in power and to prevail.
The word of God was spreading and growing stronger in the occultic city of Ephesus.
A Riot in Ephesus
21 Now after all these things had taken place, Paul resolved to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. He said, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”
Paul had collected money from the Gentile churches. He planned to travel and give this collection to the Church of Jerusalem. Paul passed through Macedonia and Achaia. After delivering the collection to the Church in Jerusalem, Paul's human spirit wanted to visit Rome.
22 So after sending two of his assistants, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, he himself stayed on for a while in the province of Asia.
Paul sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia in order to prepare his way.
23 At that time a great disturbance took place concerning the Way.
The Way was an early name for Christianity.
24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought a great deal of business to the craftsmen.
Demetrius was the President of the silversmith guild in Ephesus. The silversmiths made a fortune selling silver shrines and necklaces of Artemis to her followers. Artemis was also known as Dianna. She was considered a goddess and sister to Apollo. She was beautiful, many breasted, the goddess of fertility, but actually the goddess of sex and prostitution. Her temple was four times larger than the Parthenon. It was used as a prostitution temple, a bank, and a refuge for unconvicted criminals.
25 He gathered these together, along with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that our prosperity comes from this business.
The problem was economic, not spiritual. Paul's teachings had cut into their profits.
26 And you see and hear that this Paul has persuaded and turned away a large crowd, not only in Ephesus but in practically all of the province of Asia, by saying that gods made by hands are not gods at all.
Paul had been dwelling in Ephesus for almost three years, teaching everyone to turn from idols.
27 There is danger not only that this business of ours will come into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be regarded as nothing, and she whom all the province of Asia and the world worship will suffer the loss of her greatness.”
The problem was economic, but Demetrius planned to turn it into a religious problem.
28 When they heard this they became enraged and began to shout, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
Paul was filled by the Spirit and taught by the resurrected Christ. The silversmiths were filled with rage and emotionally yelled out praise to a pornographic silver idol of a goddess.
29 The city was filled with the uproar, and the crowd rushed to the theater together, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, the Macedonians who were Paul’s traveling companions.
The Greek word for "uproar" is σύγχυσις (sugkusis), meaning that the crowd was filled with confusion. They were not thinking, but acting as a mindless mob. The mob dragged Paul's traveling companions into the theatre of the city.
30 But when Paul wanted to enter the public assembly, the disciples would not let him.
Paul was willing to face this mob, even though he knew it might mean a quick death.
31 Even some of the provincial authorities who were his friends sent a message to him, urging him not to venture into the theater.
These officials of the city of Ephesus were friends of Paul who respected him. They may or may not have been believers. They urged Paul to stand down.
32 So then some were shouting one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had met together.
The Greek word for assembly is ἐκκλησία (ekklaisa), meaning called-out ones, or church. Here it is used in its pagan form, meaning an assembly. This was a mindless mob-setting, not an organized assembly with elders and deacons.
33 Some of the crowd concluded it was about Alexander because the Jews had pushed him to the front. Alexander, gesturing with his hand, was wanting to make a defense before the public assembly.
Judaism also taught against idols. The Judaizers did not mind the mobbish desire to kill off the followers of the Way. However, the Judaizes may have realized that if the Christians were going to be persecuted for teaching against idolatry, then the same mob may come after them as well. Therefore, they pushed Alexander, one of their leaders of Judaism, to the front in order to state their point of view and calm down the crowd. This leader of Judaism may have possibly been Alexander the Coppersmith, who did so much harm to Paul while he was in Ephesus.
34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”, for about two hours.
The appeal of Alexander had no effect. The mob crowd saw Judaism and the Way both as enemies of the silver idolatry trade.
35 After the city secretary quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, what person is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is the keeper of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image that fell from heaven?
The city secretary was the most powerful political office in Ephesus. His physical presence was able to silence the mob. Ephesians believed that the temple of Artemis fell down from heaven. The temple may have been made from an actual meteor, but this is uncertain.
36 So because these facts are indisputable, you must keep quiet and not do anything reckless.
The city secretary commanded the mob to silence themselves, so that they will not do anything rashly that they may regret later.
37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of our goddess.
Paul's group had not robbed a pagan temple or blasphemied Artemis, so there was no crime against them.
38 If then Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have a complaint against someone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls; let them bring charges against one another there.
Instead of mob action, the silversmiths need to settle the issue in court. Pagan Roman law protected Paul's right to teach the Gospel.
39 But if you want anything in addition, it will have to be settled in a legal assembly.
Law was their only option.
40 For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause we can give to explain this disorderly gathering.”
Rome did not tolerate mob action. They may see it as a rebellion against Roman law.
41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
The assembly was dismissed. Roman law was created by Satan to promote paganism, but used by God to protect his witnesses.
