Acts 19:21-28 ESV

21 Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” 22 And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

23 About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. 24 For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. 25 These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. 26 And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. 27 And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.” 28 When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

THE GOSPEL DISTURBS

For almost three years (Acts 20:31), Paul has been ministering in Ephesus, a city well known for demonic activities and witchcraft. When the people who practiced witchcraft realized Paul's power was greater than the demons they served, they renounced their beliefs and burned their books (Acts 19:11–20). As a result, in the province of Asia, particularly at the southwest modern-day Turkey, people were not only abandoning the demon worship, but also the Greek gods.

This meant they stopped worshipping the goddess Artemis or Diana. Thus, they were not buying her idols and shrines anymore. The craftsmen, led by Demetrius should had not cared that Paul is rescuing people having been enslaved to demons if it was not a threat to their livelihood. Thus, Demetrius incited a mob under the guise of concern for Artemis worship and regional patriotism. The city was in chaos, as the mob marched to protest to the theater. Many joined in their chant—"Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" —although they have no idea what's going on (see v.24–34)

The gospel is a radical truth. Should people receive the gospel, there would be transformations in their lives and culture. One couldn’t be a follower of Jesus and idols simultaneously. Jesus demands absolute loyalty unto Himself. It’s either Jesus or idols. It couldn’t be both. As the saying goes, “ If Jesus isn’t the Lord of all, He isn’t Lord at all.” People who are radically changed would radically change their culture also.

Jesus has warned us, by saying, “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.”[John 7:7] He added, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”[John 15:18,19]

The craftsmen livelihood was at stake. Obviously, they won’t be happy and allow their business to vanish in thin air. As hornests whose nest was destroyed, they attacked and persecuted the believers. These believers left worshipping idols to serve the living and true God. Indeed, those who lived godly in Christ will be persecuted. [2 Tim 3:12] Thus, the persecutions reveal the genuineness of a believer’s spirituality. Do we?

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Acts 19:17-20 ESV

17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. 18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

THE RENOUNCING OF SINFUL PRACTICES

When the exorcists were humiliated, fear came upon those who saw it, even to all the people in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, who heard about it. This had prompted the believers to renounce their wicked practices of magic arts and divinations.

They came and humbly were confessing and divulging their practices. A great number of magic arts practitioners brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. The total value is fifty thousand pieces of silver. If these were silver drachma, the value would be more than $10,000 today.

This demonstrates that the people of Ephesus was saturated with paganism as part of the Roman Empire. They even had household idols and city gods and was known for the temple of Artemis[Diana]. A culture of witchcraft, which attracts demons and Jewish exorcists was prominent. But sometimes people are just waiting for rescue to hear the truth. They were ignorant until they heard Paul preached and saw the power of God through him. Let’s remember that ‘faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.’ [Rom 10:17]

Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. ….So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”[John 8:34,36] They renounced in public that they abandoned their old beliefs. Like the Thessalonian believers, they turned from idols to serve the living and true God. Paul even said, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”[2 Cor 5:17] One couldn’t claim that he loves the Lord and practices sin at the same time, could he? John said, “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God.”[1 John 2:9]

Today, let’s confess, repent and renounce the sin that beset us. Let’s uproot it from our lives as a gardener who loves flower should uproot the weeds in his garden.

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Acts 19:11-17 ESV

11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.

A FRAUD EXPOSED

God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul at Ephesus, a city famous of the worship of Artemis and witchcraft. These miracles were directly identified as acts of power of the Holy Spirit who is working through him. "Extraordinary" is from the Greek root word tynchanō and has the idea of "accurate," "effective," or "hitting the target." "By the hands of Paul" means the miracles came through Paul, not necessarily only from his hands but even those who touched his skin were healed.

In the Gospels, some people were healed by touching Jesus' robes (Mat 9:20–22; 14:34–36). However, this does not validate the modern practice of "prayer handkerchiefs." There are televangelists who sell pieces of cloth they claim to have the power to heal, earn money, or otherwise send God's blessings. Demanding money for a magical piece of fabric is for frauds and the greedy for money.

Seeing what Paul did, some itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits. They were the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest. They used the name of Jesus. Fraudsters often take advantage of the search for a deeper connection to the spirit world. During their first missionary journey, they had encountered one in Cyprus named Bar-jesus.

However these exorcists use the sounds that identify the Jesus Paul worships, they don't use Jesus' name. Why? His name includes His power, sovereignty, character, and authority. When we are baptized in Jesus' name, we submit ourselves to Him. To use Jesus without really knowing Him is to risk His rejection. Clearly, Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ [Matt 7:21-23]

It's also to risk being ignored, even worse to be attacked by the demons being addressed. The man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.[v.16] The evil spirit could make their lives miserable. As Mark wrote, “And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid.”[Mark 9:18]

In other words, God would expose the fraud. Ironically, He even used the demon to expose their folly and extoll the integrity of Paul. The spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” The people in response feared God. Thereby, their wicked ways was turned around as a means for God’s glory. In the Old Testament, He even could use an animal, a donkey spoke and exposed Balaam’s wickedness. God can turn things around for He is in control. God and the Spirit’s work could neither be misappropriated nor duplicated.

Acts 19:8-10 ESV

8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he waithdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

THE HALL OF TYRANNUS

For three months in the synagogue , Paul had tried to reason and persuade the Jews about the kingdom of God, that is, the gospel of the kingdom of God. He was persuasive. But, some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation.

Paul deemed it was not wise to continue. It was a signal to shake the dust off from his feet and move on. There was no use to spend time with people knowing they were hardening their hearts. The more they resist the truth, the more they thickened the wall of their unbelief.

Hence, Paul withdrew from them and took the disciples with him to the hall of Tyrannus. It was here that he was reasoning daily in the next two years. Through this, all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks. That is, everyone from all walks of life had the opportunity to hear the gospel.

There are school of thoughts who was Tyrannus. His name in Greek means “prince” or “ruler.” Was he a believer or not? Was he a teacher, businessman, orator or philosopher? Perhaps, he has this hall rented to traveling philosophers and teachers like Paul. Was he a Jewish scholar or rabbi who had his own private synagogue or operated a school? The place could have been called “Tyrannus Lecture Hall” in the same way that a university today might christen a building “Jose Rizal Hall.”

It is believed that Paul taught in this hall “from the 5th- 10th hour [11:00 AM - 4:00 PM.] This period typically was when workers had their lunch and rested from their work and the heat of the day. As a tentmaker, It’s possible that Paul would have worked during the other parts of the day (cf. Acts 18:3) and had utilized this midday period of rest to ‘reason and persuade’ everyone about the gospel.

He was hitting two birds with one stone through his teaching ministry at the school of Tyrannus, notably. While preaching the gospel to others, he was observed by his disciples, who should have caught his skills first hand. It was life-on-life experience for them.

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Acts 19:1-7 ESV

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all.

THE BAPTISM OF JOHN

To begin with, the Jews had already practiced baptism in ritual cleansing ceremonies of Gentile proselytes. John applied it to those who received his message of cleansing for both Jewish and Gentiles. He clearly declared the purpose of baptizing, that is, “I baptize you with water for repentance.” [Matt 3:11a] Paul had affirmed this saying, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”

It was a recognition of one’s sin, a desire for spiritual cleansing, and a commitment to follow God’s law in anticipation of the Messiah’s arrival. In other words, John prepared the way for Christ by calling people to acknowledge their sin and their need for salvation. His baptism was a purification ceremony meant to ready the peoples’ hearts to receive Jesus, the Messiah. It foreshadowed what Jesus would accomplish, resembling much to the Old Testament sacrificial system did.

Notedly, John had emphasized the exaltation of Christ. He said, “He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”[Matt 3:11] When he knew that Jesus was baptizing as He began His public ministry, he was elated to say, “ You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”[John 3:28-30]

Christian baptism, however, is a mark of one’s identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It symbolizes of a cleansing that is complete and a commitment that is the natural response of one who has been made new. The sarifice of Jesus only on the cross does completely wash away our sins, and we are raised to new life empowered by the Holy Spirit (see 2 Cor 5:17–21; Rom 6:1–11).

Paul met these twelve Jewish disciples at Ephesus, who were baptized in John’s baptism only. The problem was not that they did not want it. They did not know about it, even hear about the Holy Spirit. They believed, were baptized and spoke in tongues. This does accentuates the need of discipleship, does it not? Today, many become believerss and receive the Holy Spirit with little understanding of who Jesus is and who the Trinity is.

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Acts 18:24-28 ESV

24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

APOLLOS

Apollos was an evangelist, apologist, church leader, and friend of the apostle Paul. Apollos was a Jew from Alexandria, Egypt, described as “eloquent,” “mighty in the Scriptures,” “fervent in the spirit” and “instructed in the way of the Lord” (see v.24). His academic excellence is not a surprise. Alexandria was known for being an academic center. Its had a library that its loss was a historical tragedy. In the 3rd and 4th BC, 70 Jewish scholars in Alexandria translated Hebrew Scriptures into Greek. This version called the Septuagint has been largely quoted by Jesus and the other New Testament characters.

Apollos was a close follower of John the Baptist. He knew something about Jesus, but it's unclear if he only knows what John had taught (Mark 1:2–8) or if he heard more from believers later. If he knew that Jesus is the Messiah, he didn't quite understand what that means (see v.25). He preached repentance and faith in the Messiah—even had believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah—but he did not know the full essence of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Definitely, his zealousness showed that it doesn’t need that we know so much before God could use us.

When Apollos arrived at Ephesus, the synagogue leaders invited him to speak. Priscilla and Aquila, the couple incharge to take care the church in Ephesus by Paul (Acts 18:19), realized he needed more help to know Jesus more. Thus, they took him aside and showed him who Jesus is and what He came to do. Apollos had enthusiastically accepted their explanation, became a powerful evangelist. Like him, let us be teachable. He was a dynamic speaker but was humble enough to recognize his need to grow.

Eventually, he took the role of Paul in leading the church at Corinth (see v 26–28). He made an impact on the Corinthian church for some were claiming ultimate loyalty to him. The others had expressed their loyalties to either Paul or Peter, even to Jesus (1 Cor 1:12). In other words, he was considered as one of their great leaders. But, he remained humble. In fact Paul commented the significance of his humility and giftedness, by saying, “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”[1 Cor 3:5-8]

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Acts 18:12-17 ESV

12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal, 13 saying, “This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law.” 14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. 15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” 16 And he drove them from the tribunal. 17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.

VINDICTIVENESS

Inorder to stop Paul and company, the Jews sought legal sanction against them in the court of Gallio, the preconsul of Achaia. But Gallio, the preconsul of Achaia, drove them out. Why? It was because he found it unlawful or illegal, saying, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint. But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things.” That is, a religious Jewish law could not be entertained in the Roman court. They were wasting his time.

But, the Jews won’t satisfy and stop. They were vindictive. Just think of what they did next. They seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. This was pure madness, plain and simple. Gallio, however, paid no attention. He did not care when the Jews took the law in their hands. By doing nothing, he approved their atrocities not for a crime but for preaching the gospel. God had allowed this for a reason.

What are we going to do if we suffer for doing right, that is, by preaching Jesus?

Peter had articulated, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And

“If the righteous is scarcely saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”[1 Pet 4:12-19]

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Acts 18:5-11 ESV

5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. 6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” 7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue. 8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized. 9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

SALVATION IS OF THE LORD ALONE

Paul was occupied with the word [gospel], testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. He put his heart out in proclaiming the Jesus in the Christ. Why? He loved them. He expressed it by saying, “ I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.”[Rom 9:1-5]

But, the Jews opposed and reviled him except Titius Justus[ a worshiper of God, a proselyte] and Crispus, the synagogue leader, with his family. Sadly, their continual rejection to the message had hardened their hearts even more. Similarly, Pharaoh had hardened his heart by seeing God’s power yet he rejected Him all the time. The Spirit brings conviction of sin. But, if a person keeps on resisting against the truth, he is hardening his heart up to the point of numbness or in becoming unconscionable.

Hence, Paul found it useless to continue. He gave them up. Thus, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” He did his part. The blame was on them solely, because of their rejection to his message. In other words, we must not err ourselves in failing to preach the gospel faithfully. This is our solemn responsibility as His messengers. Salvation is the work of God alone. Thus, let’s be discerning not to waste our little time to where the Holy Spirit isn’t working.

Certainly, this has opened the opportunity for Paul to preach the gospel for the Gentiles. About this, Paul did express, “So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!”[Rom 11:11,12]

Where Paul was frustrated, God did encourage him through a vision. God said, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” God is in control.

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Acts 18:1-4 ESV

After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, 3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. 4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.

AQUILA AND PRISCILLA

At Corinth, Paul met the Jewish couple Aquila and Priscilla. Their meeting was a divine appointment. Claudius, the Roman emperor, commanded that all Jews must leave Rome. Had it not been for their eviction from Rome, they won’t go to Corinth. Could we accept that the diaspora of Filipinos all over the world is working for the advancement of the gospel?

And, they and Paul were of the same trade – tentmakers. Having heard of their faith in Christ, Paul lived and worked with them while founding the Corinthian church. They served together in the synagogue every Sabbath. They tried to persuade Jews and Greeks to believe the gospel. This was the beginning of their long friendship.

After a year and a half, Paul left for Ephesus and took Aquila and Priscilla with him. The couple stayed in Ephesus when Paul left and established a church in their home (1 Cor 16:19). Then, an eloquent preacher named Apollos arrived at Ephesus. Apollos was mighty in the Scriptures, but he only knew the baptism of John. That is, he knew Christ had come and fulfilled John’s prophecies. But, he didn’t know the significance of Christ’s death and resurrection, the ministry of the indwelling Holy Spirit, or the mystery of the church consisting of both Jews and Gentiles. Priscilla and her husband took Apollos aside and explained these things to him (Acts 18:24-26). Because of their association with Paul, both Aquila and Priscilla possessed an in-depth understanding of doctrine learned from the apostle. Indeed, this husband and wife team was able to mentor or disciple another Christian and build him up in the faith.

What could we learn from them today?

A great example of hospitality. They had opened their home to Paul and used their house as a meeting place for the church. Also, we learned about their passion for Christ and their hunger for knowledge of Him.

One notable hallmark of their lives was their desire to help others grow in the faith. Paul’s last reference to them is in his last letter to Timothy. Young Timothy was pastoring the church at Ephesus. Notedly, Aquila and Priscilla were there with him, still faithfully ministering (2 Tim 4:19). Undoubtedly, Aquila and Priscilla were offering hospitality to other Christians, spreading the gospel they had learned from Paul, and had rendered faithful service to the Master. Are we?

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