"ACTS OF THE APOSTLES" Chapter Nineteen OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER 1) Note that those only baptized in John's baptism, were taught to believe in Jesus and were baptized in His name 2) Examine how Paul taught in the area of Ephesus for some two years 3) Review what happened when false teachers (exorcists) attempted to cast out evil spirits in the name of Jesus 4) Examine the uprising caused by Demetrius and his fellow silversmiths SUMMARY When Paul arrived in Ephesus, he found some disciples who had only been baptized in John's baptism. He instructed them that they should believe on Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Paul laid his hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. They spoke in tongues and prophesied. (1-7) Paul spoke boldly about the kingdom of God in the synagogue in Ephesus for three months. Some were hardened and spoke evil of "the Way." Paul then went to the school of Tyrannus, reasoning daily with the disciples. Paul continued this for two years. [Galatians may have been written at this time.] All of Asia heard the Word of the Lord. (8-10) God worked miracles through Paul. Even handkerchiefs and aprons brought from Paul drove out diseases and evil spirits. Some itinerant Jewish exorcists called on the name of the Lord Jesus to drive out evil spirits. Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, did this as well. An evil spirit in a man recognized the name of Jesus and Paul, but did not recognize them. The man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them and prevailed against them. They fled naked and wounded. Both Jews and Greeks heard of this in Ephesus, and the name of the Lord was magnified. Many who practiced magic brought their books together and burned them. The books were worth about fifty thousand pieces of silver. The word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. (11-20) Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem and then to Rome. He sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia, while he remained in Asia. [1 Corinthians may have been written at this time.] A great commotion occurred about the Way. Demetrius, a silversmith, called together those of similar occupation. Recognizing they prospered greatly from this trade of making idols, he warned that Paul was preaching that the idols were "not gods which are made with hands." He proclaimed that their trade was in danger, and even the temple of the goddess Diana was in danger. He claimed this preaching was happening throughout Ephesus, and across most of Asia. The people were stirred up, became angry, and cried out, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" They seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's traveling companions. Paul wanted to go into the crowd, but the disciples would not allow it. The crowd was in great confusion. The Jews put Alexander forward to speak, but when the crowd realized he was a Jew, they cried out for about two hours, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" The city clerk calmed the crowd. He told Demetrius and his fellow craftsman to take their cases to the open courts, and that any other inquiry should be made in a lawful assembly. This assembly was a disorderly gathering, and they were in danger of being called in question. He then dismissed the assembly. (21-41) OUTLINE I. PAUL IN EPHESUS (1-41) A. PAUL FOUND SOME DISCIPLES IN EPHESUS (1-7) 1. Paul discovered they had only been baptized in John's baptism 2. They needed to "believe" on Christ Jesus [implies obedience] 3. They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus 4. Paul laid his hands on them to impart gifts of the Holy Spirit on them - spoke in tongues and prophesied B. PAUL SPOKE IN THE SYNAGOGUE (8-10) 1. Paul spoke boldly in the synagogue for 3 months about the kingdom of God 2. Some were hardened and did not believe - spoke evil of "the Way" 3. Paul departed from them, withdrew the disciples and taught in the school of Tyrannus 4. Paul continues there 2 years - all in Asia heard the Word of the Lord C. MIRACLES AND THE SEVEN SONS OF SCEVA (11-20) 1. Handkerchiefs and aprons brought from Paul drove out diseases and evil spirits 2. Traveling Jewish exorcists called on the name of the Lord Jesus to cast out evil spirits 3. Seven sons of Sceva did the same - man with evil spirit overpowered them - exposed them as false 4. This caused many to believe and magnify Jesus 5. Many magicians came together to burn their magic books 6. The Word of the Lord "grew mightily and prevailed" D. AN UPROAR AT EPHESUS (21-41) 1. Paul planned to go to Jerusalem, and then to Rome. 2. He sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia, while he remained in Asia. 3. Demetrius, a silversmith, stirred up the people, because Paul was preaching that the idols were "not gods which are made with hands." 4. The people became angry, rushed into the theater, and cried out, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" 5. The city clerk calmed the crowd a. He told Demetrius and the others to take their cases to the open courts b. He then dismissed the assembly REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER 1) What are the main events in this chapter? - Paul taught those who were only baptized in John's baptism (1-7) - Paul taught in the synagogue and the school of Tyrannus (8-10) - Miracles performed by Paul and the seven sons of Sceva (11-20) - Uproar brought on by Demetrius and the other silversmiths (21-41) 2) What two questions did Paul ask the disciples he first encountered in Ephesus? (2-3) - Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? (2) - Into what then were you baptized? (3) 3) When Paul told them they should "believe on Jesus," what did they do? (5) - They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (5) 4) Paul taught in the synagogue and in the school of Tyrannus for more than 2 years. What were the results of his efforts? (10) - All who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks (10) 5) What were brought from Paul's body to heal the sick and drive out evil spirits? (12) - Handkerchiefs or aprons (12) 6) What did the itinerant Jewish exorcists take upon themselves to do, when driving out evil spirits? (13) - Call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits (13) 7) What resulted when the seven sons of Sceva attempted this? (14-16) - Evil spirit said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" (15) - The man in whom the evil spirit resided leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them. They fled out naked and wounded. (16) 8) When this became known to those in Ephesus, what resulted? (17-20) - Fear fell on them all and the Lord's name was magnified (17) - Many who practiced magic brought their books together and burned them (19) - The word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed (20) 9) Where did Paul purpose in the Spirit to go? (21) - Jerusalem and then to Rome (21) 10) Where did Paul send Timothy and Erastus? (22) - Macedonia (22) 11) What did Demetrius tell his fellow silversmiths that Paul had persuaded almost all Asia? (26) - "They are not gods which are made with hands" (26) 12) What did Demetrius say could happen as a result? (27) - Their trade was in danger of falling into disrepute (27) - The temple of Diana may be despised (27) - Diana's magnificence may be destroyed (27) 13) When the crowd rose up, what did they cry? (28) - "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" 14) When the crowd rushed into the theater, what did Paul want to do? Was he allowed? By whom? (30) - Paul wanted to go in to the people (30) - The disciples would not allow him (30) 15) Who finally quieted the crowd? (35) - The city clerk (35) 16) How did the city clerk say the image came to be in Ephesus? (35) - The image fell down from Zeus (35) 17) Where did the city clerk tell Demetrius and his fellow silversmiths to take their cases? What if there were other inquiries? (38-39) - To the open courts and proconsuls (38) - Other inquiries were to be determined in the lawful assembly (39) 18) What was this assembly in danger of? (40) - May be called in question for today's uproar (40) - There was no reason for this disorderly gathering (40) 19) What did the city clerk then do? (41) - Dismissed the assembly (41)