Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

Acts 19

Paul at Ephesus

Acts 19:¹ And it happened, while Apollos (named after a Greek god) was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples

Acts 19:² he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

Acts 19:³ And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”

So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”

• John’s baptism is a baptism of repentance.

Acts 19:⁴ Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”

Acts 19:⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

• This is the Lord’s baptism. It is a baptism of “death to self” to follow the Lord according to His Will!

Acts 19:⁶ And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

Acts 19:⁷ Now the men were about twelve in all.

• Jesus also had twelve disciples. It is a number of governmental perfection:
  • 12 Tribes
  • 12 Disciples
  • 12 Apostles

Acts 19:⁸ And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.

• The number seven is often broken down in scripture into 3-1-3 totaling seven where the “1” is always found in the middle and it always has a connection to Jesus. It seems to be introduced, then followed by the pinnacle of 1, then the wrap-up of 3 again. The menorah has 7 branches. Three on the left, one in the middle, and three on the right. However, whenever there is a “three” mentioned with nothing more added it seems to be saying there is something incomplete and lacking. 

Acts 19:⁹ But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

• Tyrannus was the owner of a lecture hall or school in Ephesus. He is mentioned only once in Scripture.

Acts 19:¹⁰ And this continued for two years, so that ALL who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Miracles Glorify Christ

Acts 19:¹¹ Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,

Acts 19:¹² so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

Acts 19:¹³ Then some of the itinerant (wayfaring) Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We (Or: I) exorcise (adjure, solemnly command) you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.”

Acts 19:¹⁴ Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.

Acts 19:¹⁵ And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

• The Evil Spirits know Jesus.

Acts 19:¹⁶ Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, (and they overpowered them) overpowered them, and prevailed against (both of) them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

• Being naked and violent is a sign of being indwelt by Satanic forces.

Acts 19:¹⁷ This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

Acts 19:¹⁸ And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.

Acts 19:¹⁹ Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Acts 19:²⁰ So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

The Riot at Ephesus

Acts 19:²¹ When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.”

Acts 19:²² So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.

Acts 19:²³ And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way.

Acts 19:²⁴ For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana (Greek: Artemis), brought no small profit to the craftsmen.

Acts 19:²⁵ He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade.

Acts 19:²⁶ Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands.

Acts 19:²⁷ So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and (she be deposed from her magnificence) her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”

Acts 19:²⁸ Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

Acts 19:²⁹ So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions.

• Satan’s Tactic: Threatened a man’s income to create chaos.
• See {2 of 2} BIBLE: Acts Chapter 19 [v. 29]

Acts 19:³⁰ And when Paul wanted to go in to the people, the disciples would not allow him.

Acts 19:³¹ Then some of the (Asiarchs, rulers of Asia, the province) officials of Asia, who were his friends, sent to him pleading that he would not venture into the theater.

Acts 19:³² Some therefore cried one thing and some another, for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together.

Acts 19:³³ And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander motioned with his hand, and wanted to make his defense to the people.

Acts 19:³⁴ But when they found out that he was a Jew, all with one voice cried out for about two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

Acts 19:³⁵ And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess (Greek: Artemis) Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus (the heavens)?

• Goddess of the hunt, fertility, and the moon.

Acts 19:³⁶ Therefore, since these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rashly.

Acts 19:³⁷ For you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of your goddess.

Acts 19:³⁸ Therefore, if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a case (Literally: matter) against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another.

Acts 19:³⁹ But if you have any other inquiry to make, it shall be determined in the lawful assembly.

Acts 19:⁴⁰ For we are in danger of being (Or: charged with rebellion concerning today) called in question for today’s uproar, there being no reason which we may give to account for this disorderly gathering.”

Acts 19:⁴¹ And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

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Questions:

1. Can you identify one of Satan’s Tactics?
2. When chaos and confusion appear – what is that a sign of?
3. What is a sign of nakedness and violence?

1. See {1 of 2} BIBLE: Acts 19
2. See {2 of 2} BIBLE: Acts 19 Ephesus Theater Excavation v. 29