Acts 19

Acts 19:1-7

We have here Paul’s return to Ephesus according to his promise, and his imparting the Holy Ghost to some who had known only John’s baptism, preaching the gospel to the Jesus three months, and being persuaded by them, he turns to the Gentiles, preaching the gospel to them in the school of one Tyrannus during two years, and confirming his preaching by miracles, ver. 1—12. 2. What was the feast of his labour, ver. 13—20. 3. What propels he had of further usefulness, ver. 21, 22, and what trouble at length he met with at Ephesus from the Silversmiths, which forced him thence to pursue the miracles he had had; how a mob was raided by Demetrius to cry up Diana, ver. 23—34, and how it was suppressed and dispersed by the town-clerk, ver. 35—41.

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 Ghosts, since ye believed? And they laid unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any holy Ghosts. 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 that, 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 speak with tongues, and prophesied. 7. And all the men were about twelve.

Whilst Apollos was at Corinth, labouring in the vineyard which Paul had planted, he was travelling through Phrygia and Galatia towards Ephesus, where he arrived.

1. He found there certain disciples, who had been baptised either by John or some of his followers, with a reference to the Messiah as ready to appear, and who, till now, seem to have been out of the way of receiving farther information concerning him. Paul therefore enquired of them, as they made profession of their faith, Have ye received the Holy Ghost, since ye believed in his miraculous gifts? They own they had not, nor even heard that any such were bestowed by him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. They knew there would be an abundant effusion of his mighty influences, according to the promise, in the days of the Messiah; but as yet they had received no intelligence that any such extraordinary gifts had been bestowed. The Apostles, with some surprise, then asked them, Unto what then were ye baptised? on what account, in whose name, or to the profession of what doctrine? They said, Unto John’s baptism, in the faith of the Messiah, who was quickly to be revealed. Now, (1.) Though we may not look for the miraculous powers, we may, we must, be partakers of the mighty influences of the Spirit in our hearts. If we made profession of our faith, we should therefore seriously enquire into its reality, and whether the Holy Ghost witnesses to his own work in our souls. (2.) They who are baptised, and have received the outward and visible sign, should often examine themselves, whether they possess the inward and spiritual grace; else the washing of water will be a merely unprofitable ceremony.

2. Paul hereupon set himself to explain the true intent of John’s baptism. John verily baptised with the baptism of repentance, engaging and encouraging men to turn to God, from the views of the riches of his grace, shortly about to be displayed in the kingdom of the Messiah, saying unto the people, that they should believe in him which should come after him, that is, on Jesus Christ, as the only Saviour from guilt and misery. And when the people, who attended John’s ministry, heard this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus, as devoted to the Messiah’s service, who was then just appearing, and professing their faith in him. This Messiah was now come; had accomplished the work of redemption; was exalted to the right hand of God; and had already poured out his Spirit in a miraculous manner upon his disciples.

3. When the Apostle had thus informed them of the grand intention of John’s baptism, and they gladly embraced his word, he laid his hands upon them, and the Holy Ghost came on them, enduring them with miraculous gifts, and they spoke with tongues

and prophesied, as the disciples did at the first effusion of the Spirit. They were twelve in number, and probably deduced for the ministry of the word at Ephesus, for which they were hereby eminently qualified.

8. And he went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disposing 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, disposing 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.

Acts 19:8-12

Paul having thus opened his ministry, and produced such authentic evidences of his mission, we find him,

1. According to his custom in the synagogue, where, during three months, he continued speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, preaching his gospel, and disposing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God, reasoning with them on the subject, reckoning their militance notions, answering their objections, earnestly and affectionately urging them to accept the professed grace of the Redeemer, and commence subjects of that happy kingdom which the adored Messiah was come to erect here below, that they might be admitted hereafter to partake of his glory in a better world.

2. When, after so long a season, the generality seemed but more riveted in their pride and prejudices, and hardened in their sins, not only obstinately rejecting the gospel themselves, but seeking to prejudice others against it, speaking evil of that way before the multitude, to them departed from them, abandoning them to their determined infidelity, and separated the disciples from such incorrigible blasphemers, erecting them into a Christian society, and laying the foundation of the Ephesian church, afterwards to renowned, disposing daily in the school of one Tyrannus, whether all, both Gentiles and Jews, might resort to him, and hear the gospel which he preached detended by the most convincing arguments. Two years he continued there his daily labours, so that all they that dwelt in Asia, who resorted on various accounts to this famed city, first or last heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jesus and Greeks, either from Paul himself, or from those who spread the report of his preaching on their return into the country; as perhaps some of his assistants made excursions into parts adjacent, and helped to spread abroad the glad tidings.

3. In confirmation of the doctrine which Paul preached, and to give greater weight to his discourse, God wrought special miracles by his hands, such as were not only out of the common course of nature, but which none of the other qualities had wrought; so that even handkerchiefs or aprons, either such as he wore at his trade, or which were sent to him, were brought from his body unto the sick; and with such miraculous efficacy were they as it were impregnated by his touch, that the diseases were instantly cured, and the devil disposified. An emblem of the greater cures which the gospel he preached was designed to work, even to deliver the souls of sinners from their more fatal spiritual maladies, and to rescue them from the bondage of sin and Satan.

4. 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, leapt 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 also of them 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.

Acts 19:13-16

We have here,

1. The profane attempt of certain vagabond Jews, exorcists, who pretended by charms to cure diseases and tell fortunes.

Observing

ferances, where they have none of those things to plead which might be urged in his excuse.

3. Paul raises him again to life. It served for a momentary interruption to the assembly, but in the office contributed to the furtherance of their faith and joy. The apostle immediately went down, and fell on him, and endearing him, as Eliph first had himself on the dead couple of the widow of Sarepta’s son, 1 Kings xviii. 21. Jacob, Trouble not yourselves, for his life is in him, refused by divine power. Then he returned to the room where they had assembled, and, after the administration of the Lord’s Supper, spent the remainder of the night, till break of day, in sweet communion and conversation; when, in the most affectionate manner, he took his leave. But, before they parted, they decided the young man adver into the assembly; and were not a little comforted, as some reproach might have been cast upon them, had he thus died; but now it tended to the credit of the gospel. Note, (1.) They who know the sweetness and profit of Christian conference, are glad to improve every moment of the company of their faithful ministers whose discourse so greatly tends to quicken and comfort them. (2.) Providences that appear at first were very effective, God can and often doth over-rule to the increase of our joy.

4. ¶ And we went before to ship, and failed unto Affos, there intending to take in Paul: for so had he appointed, minding himself to go afloat. 14. And when he met with us at Affos, we took him in, and came to Mitylene. 15. And we failed thence, and came the next day over against Chios; and the next day we arrived at Samos, and carried at Trogllium; and the next day we came to Miletus. 16. For Paul had determined to fail by Ephefus, because he would not spend the time in Affos: for he halted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.

Paul now without delay hastened to Jerusalem. His companions went by ship before to Affos, where they were to take in Paul, who for some important reasons, which we are not told, resolved to go thither a foot. There embarking, they all sailed for Mitylene, the chief city of the site of Lefson, from whence, without stopping, they proceeded the next day as far as the site of Chios, and the next, arriving at Samos, they made a short day at Trogllium, a harbour in the promontory of Mycels in Affos, and the next day arrived at Miletus, failing by Ephefus, because he would not spend the time in Affos: for he halted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost; and he apprehended the importunity of his Ephehan friends might have delayed him. Note, When the glory of God, and the busins of our Station, calls for our attendance, pleasant and delightful as it is to enjoy the company of our dear friends, we must forego that satisfaction.