PAUL TRAVELED THROUGH THE INTERIOR OF THE PROVINCE. He took the less traveled but shorter mountainous route. Ephesus was on the coast, near sea level. THERE HE FOUND SOME DISCIPLES. These disciples BELIEVED in Christ as the Messiah, yet did not have a complete knowledge of him, and they had not rece... [ Continue Reading ]
DID YOU RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN YOU BELIEVED? Paul's question must refer to the special gifts, since a believer would be expected to have the Spirit living (indwelling) in him (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Their answer shows a defect in their basic relationship to Christ, WE HAVE NOT EVEN HEARD THAT... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT KIND OF BAPTISM DID YOU RECEIVE? Their ignorance immediately causes Paul to question their basic obedience in baptism. Note he does not question their faith. This implies that receiving the Spirit as a gift (indwelling) is to be associated with "Christian baptism." Compare Acts 2:38; Acts 5:32;... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY HEARD THIS. Paul explained the difference between John's baptism and Christian baptism. They immediately were baptized into the union with Christ (Galatians 3:27). This example shows it is not wrong to correct a defect in obedience, upon learning the will of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL PLACED HIS HANDS ON THEM. The special _gifts_ the Spirit gives were only transmitted in this way [through an apostle, or with an apostle present]. Paul lays his hands on them (_compare_ Acts 8:17; Romans 1:11.) THEY SPOKE IN STRANGE TONGUES. Languages sound strange to one who does not understan... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE ABOUT TWELVE MEN IN ALL. These men appear here and nowhere else. Perhaps this type of thing happened many times, but God included this one to show the contrast between John's baptism and Christian baptism. John's baptism expired at the Cross.... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL WENT INTO THE SYNAGOGUE. This is the one he spoke in before (Acts 18:19-20).... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT SOME OF THEM WERE STUBBORN. Those who refused to believe severely opposed the Good News of Christ. So Paul left, taking all the believers with him, and began using the lecture hall of Tyrannus as a base of operations. This is very much like the case of Titus Justus (Acts 18:7).... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS WENT ON FOR TWO YEARS. He used this lecture hall for two years. His total time in Ephesus was three years (Acts 20:31). SO THAT ALL THE PEOPLE. Paul's preaching had strong influence in the province of Asia. We know this from: (1) the effect on those who practiced magic; (2) from what Demetrius... [ Continue Reading ]
SOME JEWS. These were "professional exorcists" who made their living by driving out evil spirits. _Justin Martyr_ says that most of these Jewish exorcists had adopted the same superstitions and magic-aids as the heathen. ALSO TRIED TO USE THE NAME. They thought the name of "Jesus Christ" was an _inc... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE JEWS AND GENTILES. Ephesus was a center of magic and the black arts. This happening would have a strong effect on those who sold magic charms, etc., and would honor the Christ whom Paul preached. MANY OF THE BELIEVERS CAME. Many had believed in Christ, but secretly continued to hold on to th... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THESE THINGS HAD HAPPENED. The things just mentioned. He is now ready to move on to other places. He sends Timothy and Erastus on ahead to Macedonia. Compare 1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 16:10-11_. Erastus_ is mentioned in Romans 16:23 as the "city treasurer" of Corinth [although it might... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THERE WAS SERIOUS TROUBLE. Things had been peaceful up to now. Notice trouble starts from a Gentile source. MADE SILVER MODELS OF THE TEMPLE. The temple of Artemis [Diana] was one of the wonders of the world. The third temple then stood, built of white marble, 425 feet long by 220 feet wide, wi... [ Continue Reading ]
AT LAST THE CITY CLERK. He ranked next to the mayor, and was sometimes "acting mayor." He is able to calm them and reason with them. OF THE SACRED ATONE. Meteorites were believed to be supernatural, and heathen priests often built religions around them. This one may have been carved into an image of... [ Continue Reading ]