A STUDY GUIDE ACTS 19:1-20
1. A Study Guide
a) A study guide of Acts of the Apostles. It is intended to be expository — to explain and bring out the meaning of the original text. You may use this for your personal bible study or even group bible study.
2. Acts 19:1-20
a) The verses describe Paul’s experiences and work in Ephesus during his third missionary journey.
#1) Acts 19:1-7
19 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. 7 There were in all about twelve men.
i) Came to Ephesus. On his second missionary journey, Paul had visited Ephesus briefly as he was going from Corinth to Syrian Antioch. Members of the Jewish synagogue in Ephesus had wanted Paul to stay, but he said that he would return another time if God willed (Acts 18:18-21). Now the record of Paul’s third missionary journey, which starts at Acts 18:22-23, tells us that he came by land to Ephesus ready to stay and work there at length (Acts 19:1).
ii) Found some disciples. Before going to the synagogue that he'd previously visited, Paul found a dozen or so disciples who were believers in Jesus. How he found them, we don't know, but by some means God led him to them. Priscilla and Aquila had come to Ephesus with Paul on his voyage from Corinth to Syria, and he'd left them in Ephesus (Acts 18:18-19). But they didn't find these disciples. Apollos was preaching in Ephesus, but he hadn't found them, otherwise, before he went to Achaia, he'd have gone to these disciples in Ephesus to tell them that he'd learned the way of the Lord more perfectly (Acts 18:24-28). So the origin of these disciples is unclear —although this incident shows that knowledge of Jesus was spreading apart from the work of the apostles and preachers associated with them.
iii) Paul’s first question. Paul did not seem to know these disciples, and he inquired whether they received the Holy Spirit when they believed. Paul apparently had in mind miraculous powers received through the laying on of an apostles’ hands (cf Acts 8:17-18). Since Paul recognized these people as disciples and believers, he would not question whether they had received the gift of the Holy Spirit which all believers receive when their sins are forgiven at baptism (Acts 2:38). Rather, he would question whether any spiritual gifts had been imparted to them.
iv) Paul’s second question. The reply to Paul’s first question was unexpected: "No, we have not heard that the Holy Spirit has been given*." (Acts 19:2). This immediately made Paul question their baptism because the gospel when preached correctly will include the promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). So Paul asks, "Into what were you baptized then?" (Acts 19:3).
v) Note: Some translations render the reply to Paul’s first question as: “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit”. This is incorrect, just as in John 7:39 it would be incorrect to translate “The Spirit was not” without supplying the implied word “given”. The reply should be rendered, “No, we have not even heard whether the Holy Spirit has been given.” (Acts 19:2).
vi) John’s baptism. The reply to Paul’s second question was, "Into John’s baptism" (Acts 19:3). This made Paul understand the problem. He explained that the baptism of John the Baptizer was preliminary, and should be followed by baptism in the name of Jesus (Acts 19:4-5). On the day of Pentecost, Peter said, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ..." (Acts 2:38). He made no exception of those who had been baptized with John’s baptism.
vii) The Holy Spirit. John the Baptist was the herald of Jesus Christ. He preached and baptized, and his baptism was "a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins". (Mark 1:4). However his baptism lacked the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 7:39). The baptism of John was to give way to baptism in the name of Christ in order to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39).
#2) Acts 19:8-10
8 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
i) Into the synagogue. Paul next goes to the synagogue. This time he teaches there for three months. This shows that he was still welcome there as he was previously when he'd been asked to stay longer (Acts 18:19-21).
ii) Kingdom of God. One of the umbrella phrases for the Way of Christ is “the kingdom of God” or “the kingdom of heaven”. Jesus himself used that phrase when he told parables, and his own preaching is said to be "preaching the kingdom of God" (Luke 8:1, Luke 16:16). A kingdom has a king; laws; subjects or citizens; a culture; an economy; an army; and territory. Of course these aspects of a kingdom will be of a different nature in kingdom of God compared to a kingdom of this world. We remember that Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36).
iii) Hardened and rebellious. It took longer in Ephesus, but eventually the Jews who were against the Way of Jesus Christ started to agitate as they had in most of Paul’s experiences preaching Christ. And, as happened in other places, he had to leave the synagogue and find somewhere else to encourage the new disciples and persuade others to become disciples of Jesus (Acts 19:9-10).
iv) School of Tyrannus. Paul moved his work to the school of Tyrannus. If this was a school as we understand the word, then Tyrannus would possibly be the headmaster, but we hope he was not a tyrant as his name might suggest! Probably the word “school” here (Acts 19:9) means a place where people met for discussions and debates. This would suit Paul’s purpose very well and be more open for Gentiles to learn the gospel from him. He did not have the opposition here as he had in the synagogue where he lasted three months. In the school of Tyrannus, he carried on his ministry for two years with an excellent outreach into Asia Minor without having to travel around (Acts 19:10).
#3) Acts 19:11-16
11 God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. 13 But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16 And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
i) Extraordinary miracles. A miracle by definition is extraordinary, but those which Paul did in Ephesus were especially so. These miracles drew attention to Paul and the Jesus he preached; these miracles gave proof that he was preaching truth and the kingdom of God was real and powerful; these miracles also blessed the city greatly and showed that Paul’s God was a God of grace, mercy, and love.
ii) Evil spirit. The account of the seven sons of Sceva speaks for itself. You don't invoke the name of Jesus unless you are dedicated to him. Jesus doesn't jump just because you call his name. He didn't jump in this case. We are not told what happened to the demon possessed man, but no doubt Paul would not leave him in that condition.
#4) Acts 19:17-19
17 This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. 18 Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. 19 And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
i) Burning of the Books
@1. The city of Ephesus was very religious, being devoted to magic and occult arts. As far as we know, these arts included divining the palm of the hand or reading signs in a great many other ways. They included talking to spirits of various kinds. They included drawing magical power from numbers, mixtures, amulets, and other objects.
@2. Religions commonly employ similar arts today, and this is encouraged in our society. Isn't this religious genre as good as any other? Paul did not think so. When he showed Ephesus the superior power and the truth of his religion, numbers of people burned their religious books (Acts 19:11-20).
@3. The value of the burned books was 50,000 pieces of silver. It is thought that the silver pieces were drachmas —each worth about a day's wages. When they burned these rare and hand-written books, a huge fortune went up in flames.
@4. The people who burned those books made a very strong statement. They demonstrated how well Paul had convinced them that it matters what religion you practice, and only one religion will do.
#5) Acts 19:20
20 So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.
i) With this progress report (Acts 19:20). Luke concludes his description of the spread of Christianity into Asia, Macedonia, and Greece. Paul has completed his second missionary journey and has set out on his third. He has spent more than two years in Ephesus. In the sixth section of Acts, Paul revisits Macedonia and Greece and then goes to Jerusalem. He is imprisoned in Samaria, and then taken to Rome.
a) A study guide of Acts of the Apostles. It is intended to be expository — to explain and bring out the meaning of the original text. You may use this for your personal bible study or even group bible study.
2. Acts 19:1-20
a) The verses describe Paul’s experiences and work in Ephesus during his third missionary journey.
#1) Acts 19:1-7
19 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. 7 There were in all about twelve men.i) Came to Ephesus. On his second missionary journey, Paul had visited Ephesus briefly as he was going from Corinth to Syrian Antioch. Members of the Jewish synagogue in Ephesus had wanted Paul to stay, but he said that he would return another time if God willed (Acts 18:18-21). Now the record of Paul’s third missionary journey, which starts at Acts 18:22-23, tells us that he came by land to Ephesus ready to stay and work there at length (Acts 19:1).
ii) Found some disciples. Before going to the synagogue that he'd previously visited, Paul found a dozen or so disciples who were believers in Jesus. How he found them, we don't know, but by some means God led him to them. Priscilla and Aquila had come to Ephesus with Paul on his voyage from Corinth to Syria, and he'd left them in Ephesus (Acts 18:18-19). But they didn't find these disciples. Apollos was preaching in Ephesus, but he hadn't found them, otherwise, before he went to Achaia, he'd have gone to these disciples in Ephesus to tell them that he'd learned the way of the Lord more perfectly (Acts 18:24-28). So the origin of these disciples is unclear —although this incident shows that knowledge of Jesus was spreading apart from the work of the apostles and preachers associated with them.
iii) Paul’s first question. Paul did not seem to know these disciples, and he inquired whether they received the Holy Spirit when they believed. Paul apparently had in mind miraculous powers received through the laying on of an apostles’ hands (cf Acts 8:17-18). Since Paul recognized these people as disciples and believers, he would not question whether they had received the gift of the Holy Spirit which all believers receive when their sins are forgiven at baptism (Acts 2:38). Rather, he would question whether any spiritual gifts had been imparted to them.
iv) Paul’s second question. The reply to Paul’s first question was unexpected: "No, we have not heard that the Holy Spirit has been given*." (Acts 19:2). This immediately made Paul question their baptism because the gospel when preached correctly will include the promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). So Paul asks, "Into what were you baptized then?" (Acts 19:3).
v) Note: Some translations render the reply to Paul’s first question as: “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit”. This is incorrect, just as in John 7:39 it would be incorrect to translate “The Spirit was not” without supplying the implied word “given”. The reply should be rendered, “No, we have not even heard whether the Holy Spirit has been given.” (Acts 19:2).
vi) John’s baptism. The reply to Paul’s second question was, "Into John’s baptism" (Acts 19:3). This made Paul understand the problem. He explained that the baptism of John the Baptizer was preliminary, and should be followed by baptism in the name of Jesus (Acts 19:4-5). On the day of Pentecost, Peter said, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ..." (Acts 2:38). He made no exception of those who had been baptized with John’s baptism.
vii) The Holy Spirit. John the Baptist was the herald of Jesus Christ. He preached and baptized, and his baptism was "a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins". (Mark 1:4). However his baptism lacked the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit (John 7:39). The baptism of John was to give way to baptism in the name of Christ in order to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39).
#2) Acts 19:8-10
8 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
i) Into the synagogue. Paul next goes to the synagogue. This time he teaches there for three months. This shows that he was still welcome there as he was previously when he'd been asked to stay longer (Acts 18:19-21).
ii) Kingdom of God. One of the umbrella phrases for the Way of Christ is “the kingdom of God” or “the kingdom of heaven”. Jesus himself used that phrase when he told parables, and his own preaching is said to be "preaching the kingdom of God" (Luke 8:1, Luke 16:16). A kingdom has a king; laws; subjects or citizens; a culture; an economy; an army; and territory. Of course these aspects of a kingdom will be of a different nature in kingdom of God compared to a kingdom of this world. We remember that Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36).
iii) Hardened and rebellious. It took longer in Ephesus, but eventually the Jews who were against the Way of Jesus Christ started to agitate as they had in most of Paul’s experiences preaching Christ. And, as happened in other places, he had to leave the synagogue and find somewhere else to encourage the new disciples and persuade others to become disciples of Jesus (Acts 19:9-10).
iv) School of Tyrannus. Paul moved his work to the school of Tyrannus. If this was a school as we understand the word, then Tyrannus would possibly be the headmaster, but we hope he was not a tyrant as his name might suggest! Probably the word “school” here (Acts 19:9) means a place where people met for discussions and debates. This would suit Paul’s purpose very well and be more open for Gentiles to learn the gospel from him. He did not have the opposition here as he had in the synagogue where he lasted three months. In the school of Tyrannus, he carried on his ministry for two years with an excellent outreach into Asia Minor without having to travel around (Acts 19:10).
#3) Acts 19:11-1611 God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out. 13 But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16 And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
i) Extraordinary miracles. A miracle by definition is extraordinary, but those which Paul did in Ephesus were especially so. These miracles drew attention to Paul and the Jesus he preached; these miracles gave proof that he was preaching truth and the kingdom of God was real and powerful; these miracles also blessed the city greatly and showed that Paul’s God was a God of grace, mercy, and love.
ii) Evil spirit. The account of the seven sons of Sceva speaks for itself. You don't invoke the name of Jesus unless you are dedicated to him. Jesus doesn't jump just because you call his name. He didn't jump in this case. We are not told what happened to the demon possessed man, but no doubt Paul would not leave him in that condition.
#4) Acts 19:17-19
17 This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. 18 Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. 19 And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
i) Burning of the Books
@1. The city of Ephesus was very religious, being devoted to magic and occult arts. As far as we know, these arts included divining the palm of the hand or reading signs in a great many other ways. They included talking to spirits of various kinds. They included drawing magical power from numbers, mixtures, amulets, and other objects.
@2. Religions commonly employ similar arts today, and this is encouraged in our society. Isn't this religious genre as good as any other? Paul did not think so. When he showed Ephesus the superior power and the truth of his religion, numbers of people burned their religious books (Acts 19:11-20).
@3. The value of the burned books was 50,000 pieces of silver. It is thought that the silver pieces were drachmas —each worth about a day's wages. When they burned these rare and hand-written books, a huge fortune went up in flames.
@4. The people who burned those books made a very strong statement. They demonstrated how well Paul had convinced them that it matters what religion you practice, and only one religion will do.
#5) Acts 19:20
20 So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.
i) With this progress report (Acts 19:20). Luke concludes his description of the spread of Christianity into Asia, Macedonia, and Greece. Paul has completed his second missionary journey and has set out on his third. He has spent more than two years in Ephesus. In the sixth section of Acts, Paul revisits Macedonia and Greece and then goes to Jerusalem. He is imprisoned in Samaria, and then taken to Rome.
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