ACTS LESSON 41
We will begin this lesson in Acts 19:1 "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," Acts 19:2 "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."
We know that we studied in the last lesson that Apollos taught the
Scriptures. He was not acquainted with the baptism of the Holy Ghost
himself, so he did not bring the teaching of the baptism of the Holy
Ghost. He was a teacher of the Word of God, not the Spirit of God.
These people were strong believers in Jesus Christ, but they had not
been taught about the power of the Holy Ghost. When Paul asks them,
had they received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, they were confused,
because they did not know about it. The only answer they could give
was that they did not even know if there was a Holy Ghost.
Acts 19:3 "And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized?
And they said, Unto John's baptism."
We see here that these people in all sincerity have been baptized
in John's baptism. They did all they knew to do.
Acts 19:4 "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."
John the Baptist had gone through the land crying, repent and be
baptized. The Lord (Messiah) is coming. These people here at Ephesus
had done all of this in obedience to Apollos' teaching. They had just
stopped short of being baptized in the Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:5 "When they heard [this], they were baptized in the name
of the Lord Jesus."
We see, here, that they now have been buried in the watery grave
(water baptism) and will rise to new life in Jesus Christ.
Acts 19:6 "And when Paul had laid [his] hands upon them, the Holy
Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."
We see, here, that the fire of the Holy Ghost (the baptism of the
Holy Ghost) came upon them as Paul touched them. This is the baptism
that John the Baptist spoke of when he said, there was one among them
that would baptize them with the Holy Ghost and fire. The speaking in
tongues was evidence that they had been baptized in the Holy Ghost.
Acts 19:7 "And all the men were about twelve."
It appears there were twelve men who received this baptism of the
Holy Ghost here at Ephesus.
Acts 19:8 "And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for
the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things
concerning the kingdom of God."
It seems there were some things that were not pleasing to Paul in
this church, because we see the word (disputing). For three months,
Paul taught doctrine to these people. This, you remember, was in the
day when they were establishing the church.
Acts 19:9 "But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but
spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them,
and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one
Tyrannus."
We see, here, that many people did not accept this message of
Paul. Many of the people were already settled in the way they
believed, and they were not anxious to change. The word Tyrannus means
tyrant. It seems this Tyrannus had a school here and Paul lectured at
the school. Somehow this difference of opinion separated these
disciples. It seemed this argument went on every day. When Paul
could not win them over, he just left this area. It seems as if Paul
stopped these disciples from going to Synagogue with their unconverted
friends.
Acts 19:10 "And this continued by the space of two years; so that
all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both
Jews and Greeks."
It was not uncommon for the rulers of the Jews to get together and
debate a Scripture that was giving them problems. I am not sure
whether Paul stayed here in the city for the two years or went out
into other parts of Asia. He did talk to both Jew and Greek alike and
it does say all who dwelt in Asia. That would make you believe he
ventured out to other cities (unnamed), but made his headquarters here
in Ephesus.
Acts 19:11 "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of
Paul:" Acts 19:12 "So that from his body were brought unto the sick
handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the
evil spirits went out of them."
Paul prayed over these items of clothing, and God healed and
delivered the people these articles were sent. God is not limited.
This is just a show of God's power, just as Jesus spoke the word and
healed the demoniac girl at home when her mother came to Jesus for
help in Matthew 15:21-28. God's power is not limited to a certain
location. This power of God in Paul was very great, and Paul was not
afraid to use it.
Acts 19:13 "Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took
upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the
Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth."
These vagabond Jews were similar to Gypsies who traveled around in
covered wagons with no certain dwelling place. They cast spells and
supposedly delivered people from evil spirits. They did not know
Jesus, or believe in Him. They had heard that Paul preached of Jesus,
but they really did not know any details about this either. They knew
that Paul used Jesus' name to heal and deliver people, but they had no
idea where the power came from. They were really practicing magic.
Acts 19:14 "And there were seven sons of [one] Sceva, a Jew, [and]
chief of the priests, which did so."
These were not even devout Jews, much less believers in Christ.
They had a chief priest, because they were of Jewish birth, for no
other reason. They were not even living for either Judaism or
Christianity. They were trying to make money with this.
Acts 19:15 "And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know,
and Paul I know; but who are ye?"
This is true. These demons knew Jesus in heaven before they
became demons, while they were angels. They knew Paul because he
delivered demons from many people. They actually were afraid of Jesus'
name and of Paul, because of the power of Jesus in him. They didn't
know, and certainly were not afraid of, this priest of Sceva or his
seven sons. Many times the demons called out Jesus' name when they
came in contact with Jesus, such as in Mark chapter 5, especially
verse 7.
Acts 19:16 "And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on
them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled
out of that house naked and wounded."
Now remember, this is one man against seven men. The problem is
that this one man with the demons has super-natural strength. He
could have several thousand demon spirits inside him, as the insane
man did that Jesus cast 2,000 demons out of. Even one demon has
tremendous power, but someone with a number of them could cause a
whole city a problem. It would be no problem for him to destroy seven
men.
Acts 19:17 "And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also
dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the
Lord Jesus was magnified."
This would certainly get your attention. You can easily see how
this would cause a great move of the church. It leaves absolutely no
doubt who has the power. You see the only name that can cause
deliverance and healing is the name of Jesus Christ. You can see why
everyone magnified the name of Jesus Christ.
Acts 19:18 "And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed
their deeds."
We see, here, that these who heard believed and they repented of
their sins.
Acts 19:19 "Many of them also which used curious arts brought
their books together, and burned them before all [men]: and they
counted the price of them, and found [it] fifty thousand [pieces] of
silver."
We see that these people are willing to give up all of their
witchcraft books to be burned. They are serious about believing in
Jesus Christ. We could take a lesson from them. They didn't worry
about the cost, they just didn't want to have anything displeasing to
God. So many people who claim to be Christians today, are reading
their horoscope in the paper, they are contacting familiar spirits.
Many have Ouija boards, tarot cards, totem poles, Buddhas, and all
other sorts of witchcraft paraphernalia. If we are a Christian, we
ought to have a good old fashioned, spiritual house cleaning.
Silver means redemption. Whether that has any significance here, or
not, I do not know.
Acts 19:20 "So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed."
This is not because of the fear that the word grew, but because of
the teaching. The fear just caused the people to be more receptive to
hear. The Word grew, because it was the Truth.
Notes
Acts 41 Questions
1. While Apollos was at Corinth Paul passed through and went where?
2. What question did Paul ask the disciples here?
3. How did the disciples answer Paul?
4. Why did these disciples not know about the Holy Ghost?
5. What kind of teacher was Apollos?
6. Paul asked, to what then were ye baptized, and they answered what?
7. What was the baptism of John's?
8. Who had Apollos taught them to believe on?
9. In verse 5, they were baptized in whose name?
10. What came on them when Paul touched them?
11. What was their evidence that they had been baptized in the Holy
Ghost?
12. How many men were baptized?
13. How long did Paul speak boldly in the synagogue?
14. What did Paul teach for this time?
15. What one word lets us know that Paul was not pleased with what was
going on?
16. Why did Paul separate from them?
17. What school did he dispute in daily?
18. What does Tyrannus mean?
19. How many years did Paul teach in Asia?
20. Who heard the word of the Lord?
21. "And God wrought ______________ by the hands of Paul:"
22. What was carried from his body, which healed the sick and caused
evil spirits to go out?
23. What kind of Jews were the Exorcists?
24. What were these Jews doing?
25. Whose name were they using?
26. How many sons did the Jew, Sceva, have?
27. What was Sceva?
28. How did the evil spirits answer them, when they tried to cast them
out?
29. What did the man filled with evil spirits do to the seven sons of
Sceva?
30. What effect did this have on the Jews and Greeks at Ephesus?
31. Verse 18 says they did what, because of what had happened?
32. These books of curious art that were burned cost how much money?
33. What are some of the things that we should get out of our houses,
if we are Christians?
34. Verse 20 tells the results of all of these witchcraft items being
destroyed, what was the result?
Notes
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