THE WORD OF GOD GREW IN POWER
Acts 19:1-20
But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. (9,10)
chapter 19
1. While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples
2. and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
3. So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John’s baptism," they replied.
4. Paul said, "John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus."
5. On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
7. There were about twelve men in all.
8. Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.
9. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.
10. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.
11. God did extraordinary miracles through Paul,
12. so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
13. Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out."
14. Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.
15. One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?"
16. Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
17. When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.
18. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done.
19. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.
20. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1. Paul’s stint in Ephesus as we see in this text happened during his third missionary journey. He had been there earlier during his second missionary journey but could not spend enough time there at that time (18:20,21). Some disciples Paul found there had been instructed mainly about John’s baptism by Apollos (18:24). It meant Apollos did not know “the whole counsel of God” (20:27) to instruct his Bible students. Paul had to fill in the gap.
2. Paul’s ministry in Ephesus lasted two years and three months in total (19:8-10). This is the longest time Paul spent in one place, according to Luke’s records. It was part of Paul’s missionary strategy. He planted churches to serve as strategic centers where the gospel radiated out to surrounding areas. Other church examples are Antioch in Pisidia (13;14), Thessalonica (17:1), Athens (17:15) and Corinth (18:1). Paul had a similar plan for Rome (19:21). God blessed Paul’s ministry in Ephesus abundantly “so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord” (19:10). And there was a mighty work of God through the power of the Holy Spirit (19:17-20).
Prayer: Father, thank you for Apostle Paul, who taught God’s flock of sheep “the whole counsel of God.” Help me study the Bible diligently that I may do the same. Help me also depend on the power of the Holy Spirit to do God’s work. Amen.
One Word: the whole counsel of God