Acts 19:1-10 Paul at Ephesus
“And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”
And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”
So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”
Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all.
And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Apollos has moved from Ephesus to Corinth; however, before leaving Ephesus, he has baptized a number of people for repentance from sins, copying John the Baptist. Evidently, these events have occurred prior to Priscilla and Aquila teaching him about the Holy Spirit. Now Paul arrives, baptizing them in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul lays hands on these men, they receive the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and prophesying.
Paul returns to the synagogue at Ephesus and teaches there for three months until religious leaders begin trying to undermine his teachings. At this point, Paul withdraws to a local gathering place, the school of Tyrannus, where he teaches daily for two years. It’s likely that Tyrannus is presiding over a lecture hall, rather than a formal school. Such places are common at this time and afford anyone interested the chance to hear philosophers of various persuasions. Paul’s two years of teaching there indicates his popularity. Ephesus is a major trading center and a communications hub, so both Jews and Greeks have the opportunity to hear the Gospel during those two years.
Acts 19:11-20 Miracles Glorify Christ
“Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.
And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.”
God is allowing major miracles to occur on the streets of Ephesus, for the Holy Spirit is graciously using handkerchiefs and aprons that have touched Paul’s body to deliver those suffering illnesses or demonic oppression. Although we might think such events have been limited to the days of Paul, there are Christians in many parts of the world who continue to be used by God in this fashion. Unfortunately, there are also would-be miracle workers who sell items that have allegedly been anointed, giving this practice a bad name. But the Holy Spirit continues to work, and people continue to be healed.
Evidently, there are itinerant Jewish exorcists attempting to cast out evil spirits. Why these men have had any success at all is a mystery, for they don’t have the power of God backing them. Now these men are calling on the Name of the Lord Jesus “whom Paul preaches.” One such group, the seven sons of a Jewish priest named Sceva, are humiliated when they try this tactic on a demon-possessed man, only for the demon to say, ““Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the demoniac attacks these men, beating them and stripping them so they flee naked and bleeding. There’s no room for fakery in the spirit world.
We might think that this incident is simply a small disaster, but it has wide-reaching effects. “This (the incident with the sons of Sceva) became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.”
Look at the enormous number of people who have been practicing magic, now coming to confess under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. Not only have these people repented, but they are also bringing their books of magic to be burned at a time when books of any kind are both rare and expensive. Magicians copy incantations from these books, giving out small slips of parchment or paper of some kind to their clients for success in business, athletics, love, etc. There is even an ancient complaint about an athletic contest in which one wrestler was winning until close inspection revealed that he had incantations bound around his heels. When the incantations were removed, the opponent triumphed. It is vitally important that these instruments of magic are burned rather than being buried or preserved where someone else can get hold of them. What is the value of these books? One source claims that 50,000 pieces of silver would represent 150 years’ wages for a working man. Other sources vary arguing as to the origin of the coins, whether Jewish or Roman. But the lowest estimate for the value of this silver is several hundred British pounds sterling. (https://www.studylight.org/commentary/acts/19-19.html)
“So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.” Consider the amount of evil previously concentrated in Ephesus. Revival among the Ephesian magicians paves the way for explosive church growth as those previously blinded by these people now learn the truth of Jesus Christ.
Make no mistake; magic is nothing to be toyed with. Wiji boards, Tarot cards, chanting slogans in hopes of summoning spirits, or playing “Mary Worth” in which the practitioner looks in a mirror and summons a spirit named Mary Worth-all these things are dangerous. I recall one Sunday in our Children’s Church in Southaven, MS, when a thirteen-year-old girl tearfully confessed how frightened she had become the night before. Evidently, this young lady was at a sleep-over with several other girls when someone initiated the “Mary Worth” game. But it quickly turned into something more frightening when a face actually appeared in the mirror and began talking to the participants. We prayed with this girl and counseled her about the power of Jesus to protect her from the evil to which she had innocently been exposed.
Here in Ghana, it is common for those leading people out of witchcraft to have them burn their equipment as a demonstration of repentance. We also advise tourists to be careful when buying souvenirs, particularly carvings. When we returned from Ghana in 1990, we found a carving of a drummer with a strange hairstyle among the things we had shipped. Neither of us could remember receiving this carving. We began feeling very uncomfortable in the presence of this carving, as if the eyes were following us around the room. We moved the carving from our living room into my office; however, eventually, my husband beat the thing into pieces and burned it, giving us a sense of extreme relief.
Dean Sherman, who has taught spiritual warfare for YWAM for years, declares that “There is more power in one drop of the blood of Jesus than in all the forces of hell.” But we must be wise and not bring something associated with those forces into our homes. May God give us discernment and wisdom as we live for Him! PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You and not to become involved in anything having to do with the occult. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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