Acts 19: Paul at Ephesus

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Parent Category: Division 5. The Gospels of Jesus & Acts of Apostles
Category: Acts

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Overview of Acts Chapter 19

In Acts chapter 19, Paul meets some disciples who had not heard about the Holy Spirit. He baptized them and they spoke in tongues.

God's power is seen through miracles.

Paul faced much opposition, and a riot was instigated by a silversmith.

The chapter emphasizes the impact of the Gospel, and the challenges faced by Paul and the fellow workers who were with him.

Verses 1-7: Paul meets Disciples in Ephesus!

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul journeyed to Ephesus and met some disciples there.

He asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed, and they replied that they hadn't even heard of the Holy Spirit.

Paul then inquired about their baptism, and they mentioned they had been baptized with John's baptism.

Paul explained that John's baptism was a preparation for believing in Jesus.

Upon understanding this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Afterward, when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. In total, there were about twelve men.

Verses 8-12: Miracles in Ephesus!

In the synagogue, Paul boldly preached about the kingdom of God for three months.

However, some remained stubborn and resistant, even speaking against "The Way."

Paul decided to separate from them. He took the disciples with him, and began daily discussions the Scriptures, in the hall of Tyrannus.

This continued for two years, resulting in the message of the Lord reaching all the residents of Asia, including both Jews and Greeks.

Verses 13-20: The Sons of Sceva, & the Burning of Books!

During this time, God worked through Paul in extraordinary ways.

He performed miracles and even items like handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were used to heal the sick and cast out evil spirits.

This miraculous power became well-known in Ephesus.

However, some Jewish exorcists, who traveled around attempting to cast out evil spirits, decided to speak the name of the Lord Jesus.

They were saying, "I command you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches."

These exorcists were the seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva.

The evil spirit inside the possessed man replied, "I know Jesus, and I recognize Paul, but who are you?"

The evil spirit then overpowered the exorcists-causing them to flee from the house, naked and wounded.

News of this spread throughout Ephesus, putting fear in both Jews and Greeks, and the name of the Lord Jesus was highly praised.

Many who had become believers came forward, confessing their previous practices.

Moreover, some who had practiced magic arts gathered their books and burned them openly, and the value of the books amounted to fifty thousand pieces of silver.

The influence of the Lord's message continued to grow and prevail mightily.

Verses 21-22: Paul's Plan, & the Riot in Ephesus!

Paul felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to travel through Macedonia and Achaia and eventually reach Jerusalem. He expressed his intention to visit Rome as well.

To aid in his travel, he sent two of his companions, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia, while he remained in Asia for a period of time.

Verses 23-41: Riot in Ephesus, & Paul's Departure!

In Ephesus, a big riot arose, because of the increase of believers, who were referred to as "the Way," by the unbelievers.

The riot was due to concerns raised by Demetrius, a silversmith, who was worried about losing his profits from the idols he crafted.

The assembly was dismissed by the town clerk, preventing further turmoil.

Summary!

In Acts Chapter 19, Paul arrives in Ephesus and meets disciples who hadn't received the Holy Spirit.

He baptizes them in the name of Jesus, and they receive the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues.

The confrontation with the sons of Sceva, underscores consequences, for misusing the name of Jesus.

Paul teaches in the synagogue and the hall of Tyrannus so that all of Asia heard the Gospel.

A disturbance arises when a silversmith named Demetrius, is concerned about the impact of Paul's preaching, on the profit of his business of crafting idols.

There is a riot in Ephesus, and Gaius and Aristarchus are dragged into the chaos, but Paul is prevented from entering the theater.

The town clerk intervenes, dismisses the charges, and calms the crowd.

Paul then leaves for Macedonia, continuing his Gospel travels.

Paul in Ephesus

19 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.

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 withdrew 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 Sons of Sceva

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. 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.

A Riot at Ephesus

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!” 29 So the city was filled with the confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel. 30 But when Paul wished to go in among the crowd, the disciples would not let him. 31 And even some of the Asiarchs, who were friends of his, sent to him and were urging him not to venture into the theater. 32 Now some cried out one thing, some another, for the assembly was in confusion, and most of them did not know why they had come together. 33 Some of the crowd prompted Alexander, whom the Jews had put forward. And Alexander, motioning with his hand, wanted to make a defense to the crowd. 34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew, for about two hours they all cried out with one voice, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

35 And when the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, “Men of Ephesus, who is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from the sky? 36 Seeing then that these things cannot be denied, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. 37 For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius and the craftsmen with him have a complaint against anyone, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls. Let them bring charges against one another. 39 But if you seek anything further, it shall be settled in the regular assembly. 40 For we really are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion.” 41 And when he had said these things, he dismissed the assembly.

Q&A

Acts 19:1-7
Q1: What did Paul find in Ephesus, and how did he respond to the disciples he encountered, as mentioned in Acts 19:1-7?
A1: Paul found some disciples in Ephesus who had been baptized into John's baptism. He explained the Holy Spirit and baptized them in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Acts 19:8-10
Q2: How did Paul spend his time in the synagogue in Ephesus, and how long did he continue this ministry, as mentioned in Acts 19:8-10?
A2: Paul spoke boldly in the synagogue for three months, reasoning and persuading about the kingdom of God. When some became stubborn, speaking evil of the Way, Paul withdrew and continued his ministry in the hall of Tyrannus for two years.

Acts 19:11-12
Q3: What extraordinary events occurred through Paul in Ephesus, and what was the result, as mentioned in Acts 19:11-12?
A3: God was doing extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons touched by him were carried to the sick, and diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out.

Acts 19:13-16
Q4: Who tried to imitate Paul's exorcism, and what happened to them, as mentioned in Acts 19:13-16?
A4: Some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits. The evil spirit responded, "Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?" The man with the evil spirit overpowered them, and they fled naked and wounded.

Acts 19:17-20
Q5: How did the fear of the Lord spread in Ephesus, and what did many of the believers do, as mentioned in Acts 19:17-20?
A5: The fear of the Lord fell upon the residents of Ephesus, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Many who had practiced magic arts brought their books and burned them publicly, and the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

Acts 19:21-22
Q6: What were Paul's plans, and who did he send to Macedonia, as mentioned in Acts 19:21-22?
A6: Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. He sent Timothy and Erastus ahead to Macedonia while he stayed in Asia for a while.

Acts 19:23-27
Q7: What uproar occurred in Ephesus regarding the Way, and who was involved, as mentioned in Acts 19:23-27?
A7: A great uproar arose concerning the Way. Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver shrines of Artemis, stirred up a crowd of craftsmen against Paul and his companions, fearing the decline of their trade.

Acts 19:28-34
Q8: How did the crowd react in Ephesus, and what did they shout for about two hours, as mentioned in Acts 19:28-34?
A8: The crowd in Ephesus shouted, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" for about two hours. The city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's companions.

Acts 19:35-41
Q9: How did the town clerk address the situation in Ephesus, and what was the outcome, as mentioned in Acts 19:35-41?
A9: The town clerk calmed the crowd, explaining that the men brought forward were neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of their goddess. He dismissed the assembly, and the city was quieted.