Coachlight Bible Study - Acts Chapter 19:8-41

Paul's Return Trip To Ephesis

 

Psalms 34:19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

 

Ephesus was a great city  in Asia.  It was famous for a temple built there to Diana,  which was one of the wonders of the world at that time. 

Paul left Acquila and Priscilla in Corinth on his first trip,  while he went back to Jerusalem for a feast.  The evidence of their contribution to the ministry was demonstrated in their teaching more perfectly a disciple of John the Baptist named Apollos. 

Paul having gone through the country of Galatia and Phrygia,  passing through the upper coasts through Pontus and Bithynia laying to the north,  finily returned to Ephesus.  

Paul came to Ephesis to preach the gospel while Apollos was at Corinth.  While Apollos was watering there,  Paul was planting at Ephesis.  Paul was not upset that Apollos  was building on his foundation. In fact, Paul rejoiced in it,  and went on to the new work at Ephesus.  While some had tried to cause a problem between them - Yet Paul had no jeolousy toward him. 

 

1 Corinthians 1:12  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

 

We will learn how Paul taught the people, his method and intentions, and see miracles performed.  We will read of  the result when unbelievers try the same miracles - a revival breaks out - and when they try to use the disciples in a gladiator spectacle, the Lord uses a secular townclerk to dismis the uproar

 

Remember last week we left Paul as he arrived in Ephesis, and met twelve disciples of John the Baptist.  Paul asked them if they had received the Holy Ghost since they believed.  They then replied that they had not heard of the Holy Ghost. Paul then layed hands on them and prayed.  The disciples spoke in tongues and prophesied.

 

I. Paul Preaches Three Months In The Synagogue. (Acts 19:8)

A. As usual, Paul begins his preaching in the synagogue

B. He Spoke boldly - A lesson on how to teach

1.He spoke of the things concerning the Kingdom of God

2. Paul's idea of the Kingdom is seen in Acts 20:28

 

Acts 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

 

 

 

C. How He Taught - Paul disputed with - Our word dialogue comes from

 

1256 dialegomai dialegomai dee-al-eg’-om-ahee

middle voice from 1223 and 3004; TDNT-2:93,155; v

AV-dispute 6, reason with 2, reason 2, preach unto 1, preach 1, speak 1; 13

1) to think different things with one’s self, mingle thought with thought

1a) to ponder, revolve in mind

2) to converse, discourse with one, argue, discuss

 

D. Paul's Intention - He spoke with intention to persuade

3982 peiyw peitho pi’-tho

a primary verb; TDNT-6:1,818; v

AV-persuade 22, trust 8, obey 7, have confidence 6, believe 3, be confident 2, misc 7; 55

1) persuade

1a) to persuade, i.e. to induce one by words to believe

1b) to make friends of, to win one’s favour, gain one’s good will, or to seek to win one, strive to please one

1c) to tranquillise

1d) to persuade unto i.e. move or induce one to persuasion to do something

2) be persuaded

2a) to be persuaded, to suffer one’s self to be persuaded; to be induced to believe: to have faith: in a thing

2a1) to believe

2a2) to be persuaded of a thing concerning a person

 

E. In a letter to the Corinthians, Paul described this way of persuading:

 

2 Corinthians 5:11  Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

 

II. Paul Teaches In Tyrannus's School (Acts 19:9-10)

A. The Jews were hardened in heart

1. They did not believe

2. They spoke evil of the Gospel 

B. Paul Departed From the Jews

C. Paul separated the Congregations - Jews and Gentiles

D. Taught Daily in the School of Tyrannus

1. For Two Years

2. All Asia heard The Word - Jews and Gentiles

   

 

III. Miracles Performed at Ephesis By Paul (Acts 19:11-12) 

A. God Confirmed Paul's Work With Miracles

1. We have not read of any miracle in Paul's ministry since the casting of the evil spirit out of the damsel at Philippi

2. There were evidently many miracles, however at Corinth

 

2 Corinthians 12:12  Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

 

B.Healing cloths from Paul's body given to the sick

C. Healing Cloths resulted In:

1. Sick healed

2. Evil spirits cast out

 

IV.  Seven Son's of Sceva Try and Perform Same Type of Miracles- (Acts 19:13-16)

A. Confusion made by Satan's Servants

1. Vagabond Jews

2. Exortists

3. Took the occation of Paul's preaching to make money

B. They were seven sons of Sceva

1. A Jew

2. A Chief Priest -house of Aaron

C.Called over them that were posessed by evil spirits

D. Attempted to talk to the spirits in the name of Jesus that Paul preached, not knowing Jesus

E. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

F. The possessed man then lept on them

1. Overcame them

2. Prevailed against them

G. They Fled out of the house

1. Naked - clothes pulled off their backs

2. Wounded - their heads broken

H. The Psalmist writes of these kind:

 

Psalms 50:16  But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?

Psalms 50:17  Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.

 

V. Revival Continues - (Acts 19:17-20)

A. Was known throughout the area - even in Ephesus

1. Fear fell on them

2. The name of Jesus was magnified

B. Results of revival - Others of Satan's servants were converted

1. Many that believed confessed and showed their deeds

2. Many of the curious arts burned their books - equal to 50,000 pieces of silver

3. The Word Grew Mightily and Prevailed

 

VI. Timothy and Erastus Sent To Macedonia - (Acts 19:21-22)

A. Paul wanted to visit the churches of Macedonia and Achaia, especially of Philippi and Corinth,  the chief cities of those provinces, to edify them

B. Paul also wanted to go to Jerusalem to salute the church and give report

C. Paul also wanted to go to Rome

 

Romans 1:11  For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

D. Paul sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia and he stayed in Asia Minor

1. To get them ready for Paul's visit

2. Get a collection for the poor in Jerusalem

E. Paul evidently decided to go himself after writing the first Epistle to the Corinthians:

 

1 Corinthians 4:17  For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

1 Corinthians 4:19  But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

 

F. For now, Paul remains in Asia planting churchs

 

VII. Demetrius Causes An Uproar - (Acts 19:23-27)

A. A complaint against Paul - gathering of Silversmiths

1. Drawing people away from the worship of Diana

2. Demetrius made his living by making shrines to Diana

3. Demetrius said Paul taught all over Asia that gods made by hands are false

B. Their trade was in danger - They made shrines for Diana

C. Diana and the temple would be despised

1. Her magnificence would be destroyed

2. All Asia Minor worshipped Diana

D. They cried out,"Great is Diana of the Ephesians."

 

VIII. Silversmiths Take Paul's Companions Into The Amphitheatre - (Acts 19:28-29)

A. The entire city was full of confusion

B. Took Paul's companions into the theatre

1. Guias

2. Aristarchus

 

 

 

D. According to Robertson's Word Pictures

 

{Into the theatre} (eiv to yeatron). A place for seeing (yeaomai) spectacles,  originally for dramatic representation (Thucydides,  Herodotus),  then for the spectators,  then for the spectacle or show:

 

1 Corinthians 4:9  For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. {us…: or, us the last apostles, as} {spectacle: Gr. theatre}

 

The theatre (amphitheatre) at Ephesus can still be traced in the ruins (Wood,  _Ephesus_) and shows that it was of enormous size capable of seating fifty-six thousand persons (some estimate it only 24,500). It was the place for large public gatherings of any sort out of doors like our football and baseball parks. In particular,  gladiatorial shows were held in these theatres.

 

{Having seized Gaius and Aristarchus men of Macedonia} (sunarpasantev gaion kai aristarcon makedonav). They wanted some victims for this "gladiatorial" show. These two men were "Paul’s companions in travel" (sunekdhmouv paulou),  together (sun) with Paul in being abroad,  away from home or people (ek-dhmouv,  late word, in the N.T. only here and II Corinthians 8:19). How the mob got hold of Gaius and Aristarchus we do not know.

 

 

2 Corinthians 1:9  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: {sentence: or, answer}

 

VII. Paul Forbidden to Enter The Theatre - (Acts 16:30-31)

A. Diana's masters saw that they would make no more money from her

B. Brought Paul & Silas before the magistrates

C. Accused them of troubling the city - being Jews

1. Teaching customs that are not lawful to Romans

2. Teaching observances that are not lawful to Romans

3. Romans did not like their subjects changing their gods

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VIII. Croud Brings Out Alexander - (Acts 19:32-34)

 

Evidently some of the Jews grew afraid that the mob would turn on the Jews as well as on the Christians. Paul was a Jew and so was Aristarchus,  one of the prisoners. The Jews were as strongly opposed to idolatry as were the Christians.

 

Alexandria had already disgraceful scenes of Jew-baiting and there was real peril now in Ephesus with this wild mob. So Alexander was pushed forward as the champion to defend the Jews to the excited mob. He may be the same Alexander the coppersmith who did Paul much evil

 

2 Timothy 4:14  Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

 

IX. The Townclerk Dismisses The Assembly - (Acts 19:35-41)

A. These men are not

1. Robbers of churchs

2. Blasphemers of Diana

B. Everyone knows that Ephesians worship Diana

1. This can not be spoken against

2. You ought to be quiet

3. You ought to do nothing rashly

C. If the complaint is of a private injury, go through the courts

1. If the silversmiths are grieved - let justice be done

2. Not Mob rule

D. If the complaint is of a public grievance,  relating to the constitution,  it must be handled,   by a convention of the states

E. The assembly was dismissed - when he had shown the absurdity of the riot and the consequences

F. See how God protects his people. 

1. Perhaps this town-clerk was no friend at all to Paul,  nor to the gospel he preached,  yet his human prudence is made to serve the divine purpose.

2. God delivers his people

 

Psalms 34:19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.