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,
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.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
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.
5 When they heard [this], they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid [his] hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7 And all the men were about twelve.
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.
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.
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.
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
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.
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.
14 And there were seven sons of [one] Sceva, a Jew, [and] chief of the priests, which did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
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.
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.
18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
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.
20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
21 After these things were ended, 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.
22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
24 For a certain [man] named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
28 And when they heard [these sayings], they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great [is] Diana of the Ephesians.
29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring [him] that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great [is] Diana of the Ephesians.
35 And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, [Ye] men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the [image] which fell down from Jupiter?
36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
39 But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
Summary of Acts Chapter 19
Acts Chapter 19 describes the Apostle Paul’s ministry in Ephesus, detailing significant events that occurred during his time there, including the spread of Christianity, miraculous healings, and conflicts with local practices and beliefs. This chapter highlights the transformative power of the Gospel and the challenges faced by early Christians.
Key Events
- Paul’s Arrival in Ephesus (Verses 1-7)
Paul encounters a group of disciples who had received John’s baptism but were unaware of the Holy Spirit. He explains the significance of Jesus and baptizes them in His name, leading to their receiving the Holy Spirit.
- Paul’s Teaching in the Synagogue (Verses 8-10)
Paul speaks boldly in the synagogue for three months, reasoning and persuading about the Kingdom of God. After facing opposition, he moves to the hall of Tyrannus, where he continues teaching for two years.
- Miracles and Healings (Verses 11-12)
God performs extraordinary miracles through Paul, including healings and the casting out of evil spirits, demonstrating the power of the Gospel.
- Confrontation with the Sons of Sceva (Verses 13-16)
Some itinerant Jewish exorcists attempt to invoke the name of Jesus without a personal relationship with Him, resulting in a violent confrontation with an evil spirit, which highlights the importance of genuine faith.
- Fear and Reverence for the Name of Jesus (Verses 17-20)
The incident with the Sons of Sceva leads to widespread fear and the acknowledgment of the power of Jesus’ name, prompting many to confess their sins and burn their magic books, symbolizing a significant turning away from pagan practices.
- Riot in Ephesus (Verses 21-41)
As Christianity spreads, the local silversmiths, led by Demetrius, incite a riot against Paul and his companions, fearing the economic impact on their trade related to the worship of Artemis. The chapter concludes with the town clerk calming the crowd and emphasizing the legality of their concerns.
Theological Themes
- The Power of the Holy Spirit
The chapter emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers and performing miracles, which validates the message of the Gospel.
- Transformation and Repentance
The conversion of the Ephesians, marked by the burning of magical scrolls, illustrates the transformative impact of accepting Christ and turning away from sin.
- Conflict with Paganism
Paul’s ministry leads to direct conflict with local religious practices, showcasing the tension between the early Christian movement and established pagan beliefs.
- Authority of Jesus’ Name
The failure of the Sons of Sceva highlights the necessity of a personal relationship with Jesus for effective ministry and the authority that comes from true faith.
Historical Context
Ephesus was a major city in the Roman Empire, known for its temple dedicated to Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The chapter reflects the cultural and religious dynamics of the time, where the spread of Christianity posed a threat to traditional practices and economic interests tied to pagan worship.
Conclusion
Acts Chapter 19 serves as a pivotal moment in the early church’s expansion, illustrating both the power of the Gospel and the resistance it faced. The chapter encourages believers to rely on the Holy Spirit, embrace transformation, and navigate conflicts with faith and courage.
