Acts 18:23-19:20 (Wednesday Evening Bible Study)

Acts 18:23-19:20

• Context:
• What we are going to see tonight is the beginning of Paul’s third missionary journey.  This is the longest of Paul’s missionary journeys we have recorded in scripture. It covers the better parts of five years.  In this Paul has a long stay at Ephesus using it like a base of operations. We don’t have a mention of Silas. But I doubt Paul traveled alone.
• Acts 18:23-28
• 23 After spending some time there, he set out, traveling through one place after another in the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. 24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was competent in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only John’s baptism. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately. 27 When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers and sisters wrote to the disciples to welcome him. After he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.
  • Where did Paul go first and what did he do?
    • Went to the places he has established congregations… What was he doing? Strengthening the disciples.  How did he do that? Teaching, preaching. The region of Galatia and Phrygia make up a large portion of central Turkey.
  • What do we know about this man named Apollos?
    • He was a Jew from Alexandria Egypt, he knew the scriptures (probably mean he had them memorize…the O.T.) He was very enthusiastic, he knew about John’s Baptism…(He knew what John the Baptist taught about Jesus being the Messiah).
  • What was missing from Apollos preaching?
    • He only knew of John’s baptism which was a baptism for repentance. John encouraged people to get ready for the Kingdom of God. Repent, Stop sinning.  It could be that Apollos knew some of the teaching of Jesus but many think that he did not know Jesus had raised from the dead…did not know even of the church  had been established. Which means that Apollos did not know of the new birth the Holy Spirit or the justifying work of the cross.
    • Apollos’ preaching may have been summarized as this… Repent- live a responsible life toward God- social justice all these are good but it missed the atoning death of Christ and connection to it.
  • How did you think about the way Priscilla and Aquila handles the situation with Apollos?
    • They did not criticize in public but took him to their home and instructed him where he was lacking.
  • Armed with the full gospel message what does Apollos do?
    • Goes to Achaia which is Greece, to preach. We know that Apollos went to Corinth and preached some there…He becomes very effective in proving Jesus is the Christ.
• Acts 19:1-7
• While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” “No,” they told him, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 “Into what then were you baptized?” he asked them. “Into John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized into 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 to speak in tongues and to prophesy. 7 Now there were about twelve men in all.
  • Paul runs into 12 men they were called disciples but whose disciples were they?
    • Were these men presenting themselves as followers of Jesus…Something must have been said to make Paul ask the question…”Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?  It seems to me that Paul is trying to see their understanding and their spiritual condition.
    • It sounds like they were in the same place as Apollos, they knew of John the Baptist and knew some things about Jesus but were lacking in full knowledge of the gospel.
  • What was defective about their baptism?
    • It was only for repentance it was not into the name of Jesus Christ.
  • What does Paul do for them to confirm baptism in the name of Jesus?
    • Impart miraculous gifts of the Spirit to them.
• Acts 19:8-10
• 8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly over a period of three months, arguing and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became hardened and would not believe, slandering the Way in front of the crowd, he withdrew from them, taking the disciples, and conducted discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.
  • Where does Paul go next looking for people to share the gospel with?
    • Synagogue.
  • What eventually drives Paul away from the Synagogue?
    • Some of the Jews refused to believe Paul proved that Jesus was the Messiah in Scripture. Once they stop discussing and start attacking, Paul takes the Christians and leaves.
  • How fruitful is Paul ministry in Ephesus?
    • all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord
• Acts 19:11-12
• 11 God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, 12 so that even facecloths or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.
  • What is the purpose of the Holy Spirit working these great miracles thru Paul?
    • It shows Paul is approved by God that His message is true so when Paul preached about the resurrection of Christ people would be inclined to believe it.
  • Did these healing miracles save anybody from sin?
    • No, not in themselves…but if people would believe in the miracles…they may be open to believe in the One who made it possible. Were these healings based on the faith of the peopled healed?
• Acts 19:13-16
• 13 Now some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus that Paul preaches!” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this. 15 The evil spirit answered them, “I know Jesus, and I recognize Paul—but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them, overpowered them all, and prevailed against them, so that they ran out of that house naked and wounded.
  • How do we know the church is growing having more of an influence in Ephesus?
    • Other Jews in this case were trying to cast out evil spirits using the name of Jesus preached by Paul.
  • How did this failed attempt of trying to drive out evil spirits exalt the name of Jesus?
    • It was not something to be taken lightly…there was real power in His name…more than some incantation…The name of the Lord Jesus was held in honor…that name was respected.
• Acts 19:17-20
• 17 When this became known to everyone who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, they became afraid, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high esteem. 18 And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices, 19 while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So they calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread and prevailed.
  • Verses19-20 what proof of change to we see here?
    • $50,000 up in smoke. This should give us an indication of why there was so many dealing with evil spirits… a bunch of people were messing with sorcery also there was idol worship which Paul connected to demons…There is a spiritual battle taking place here and Satan is losing this city.
  • What impact do you think the gospel had on the community?  
  • What impact on the economy?
• TAKE AWAY
  • How should we handle those who may not teach or understand the complete gospel?
  • What would you say to someone who said baptism is not that important?
    • When and how do we receive the Holy Spirit? Repentance is wonderful but it by itself is not enough…
  • Is there a time to walk away from those who refuse to believe and take the gospel message elsewhere?
  • Can the gospel still change communities today?