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Acts 19

Commentary · verses 1-41

This chapter continued Paul's third missionary journey.

Map: Paul's Third Missionary Journey Antioch, then Tarsus, then Derbe, then Lystra, then Iconium, then Antioch (Pisidia), then Ephesus, then Troas, then Neapolis, then Philippi, then Thessalonica, then Berea, then Corinth, then Berea, then Thessalonica, then Philippi, then Neapolis, then Troas, then Assos, then Mitylene, then Chios, then Samos, then Miletus, then Cos, then Rhodes, then Patara, then Tyre, then Ptolemais, then Caesarea, then Jerusalem. Achaia Asia Galatia Cilicia Syria Cyprus Crete Mediterranean Sea Aegean Sea Antioch Tarsus Derbe Lystra Iconium Antioch (Pisidia) Ephesus Troas Neapolis Philippi Thessalonica Berea Corinth Mitylene Chios Samos Miletus Cos Rhodes Patara Tyre Ptolemais Caesarea Jerusalem
Paul's Third Missionary Journey · Acts 18:23–21:17 Antioch → Tarsus → Derbe → Lystra → Iconium → Antioch (Pisidia) → Ephesus → Troas → Neapolis → Philippi → Thessalonica → Berea → Corinth → Berea → Thessalonica → Philippi → Neapolis → Troas → Assos → Mitylene → Chios → Samos → Miletus → Cos → Rhodes → Patara → Tyre → Ptolemais → Caesarea → Jerusalem

1And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper country came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples:

1And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

Commentary · verse 1

Paul went to Ephesus.

2and he said unto them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed? And they said unto him, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given.

3And he said, Into what then were ye baptized? And they said, Into John’s baptism.

2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.

Commentary · verses 2-3

The believers Paul met in Ephesus had not heard about the gift of the Holy Spirit. They were baptized only in John's water baptism.

4And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus.

5And when they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.

4Then 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.

5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Commentary · verses 4-5

Paul taught the baptism of Jesus Christ, who came after John the Baptist.

6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Commentary · verse 6

Doctrine: Paul laid his hands upon them and the Holy Spirit came on them. These believers were baptized in the Holy Spirit and the sign of this was speaking in tongues and prophesying.

7And they were in all about twelve men.

8And he entered into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, reasoning and persuading as to the things concerning the kingdom of God.

7And all the men were about twelve.

8And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

Commentary · verses 7-8

Paul spoke boldly in the synagogue for three months.

9But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

9But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

Commentary · verse 9

Because of some people's unbelief and wickedness against "the Way," Paul took the disciples with him and taught in the school of Tyrannus.

10And this continued for the space of two years; so that all they that dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

10And 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.

Commentary · verse 10

Paul taught in this school for two years and all of Asia heard the Gospel.

11And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12insomuch that unto the sick were carried away from his body handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.

11And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

12So 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.

Commentary · verses 11-12

Special miracles were done by Paul. Even Paul's handkerchiefs and aprons were a source of faith for people to be healed and released from evil spirits.

13But certain also of the strolling Jews, exorcists, took upon them to name over them that had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

13Then 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.

Commentary · verse 13

Notice, these exorcists attempted to "adjure" the evil spirits. The word "adjure" meant "to force to take an oath."

14And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, a chief priest, who did this.

14And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

Commentary · verse 14

The seven sons of a chief priest did their spiritual warfare by making a statement where they themselves were the subject ("I adjure you"). They did not state a will for the evil spirit, but tried to reach agreement with it through an oath. They also made this statement by Paul's faith, not their own. Finally, they did not do it by the Name of Jesus, but they attempted to do this by Jesus Himself. We have seen a correct way to have done this spiritual warfare would have been, "I charge thee in the Name of Jesus Christ, come out of him." Instead, they said the wrong words in the wrong order. What happened?

15And the evil spirit answered and said unto them, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

16And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and mastered both of them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

15And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

16And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Commentary · verses 15-16

The evil spirit overcame them. The evil spirit first asked a question and then caused the man to physically "master" two men.

17And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, that dwelt at Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

18Many also of them that had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.

19And not a few of them that practised magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all; and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

17And 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.

18And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

19Many of them also 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.

Commentary · verses 17-19

Books on witchcraft were burnt, so many of them that the price was 50,000 pieces of silver. Each of these pieces of silver was equivalent to a day's wage. This would be several million dollars today. Notice, what was burned: books that taught how to do evil spiritual warfare. How was that done? Through words.

20So mightily grew the word of the Lord and prevailed.

20So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

Commentary · verse 20

From the beginning of the New Testament Church, we see that words are powerful and important.

21Now after these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

21After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

Commentary · verse 21

Paul knew this journey would end in Jerusalem, and that after this journey he must see Rome.

22And having sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

22So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

Commentary · verse 22

Paul sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia but Paul stayed in Asia.

23And about that time there arose no small stir concerning the Way.

24For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no little business unto the craftsmen; 25whom he gathered together, with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this business we have our wealth.

26And ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they are no gods, that are made with hands:

23And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

24For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

25Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

26Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

Commentary · verses 23-26

The idolatry in Asia brought a lot of money to the men who made these gods.

27and not only is there danger that this our trade come into disrepute; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana be made of no account, and that she should even be deposed from her magnificence whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

28And when they heard this they were filled with wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

27So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

28And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

Commentary · verses 27-28

The silversmiths gathered together and were angry about losing business.

29And the city was filled with the confusion: and they rushed with one accord into the theatre, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel.

29And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

Commentary · verse 29

Companions of Paul were captured.

30And when Paul was minded to enter in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

31And certain also of the Asiarchs, being his friends, sent unto him and besought him not to adventure himself into the theatre.

32Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was in confusion; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

30And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

31And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

32Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

Commentary · verses 30-32

Paul's friends tried to prevent Paul from entering the theatre. The mob was chaotic and confused. Many of the people did not even know why they were there.

33And they brought Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made a defence unto the people.

34But when they perceived that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

33And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

34But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

Commentary · verses 33-34

The people chanted "Great is Diana of the Ephesians" for two hours when they realized Alexander, who was a Jew, was going to speak.

35And when the townclerk had quieted the multitude, he saith, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there who knoweth not that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of the great Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

36Seeing then that these things cannot be gainsaid, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rash.

37For ye have brought hither these men, who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.

35And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

36Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

37For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

Commentary · verses 35-37

The townclerk quieted the people and helped them see that the men they seized had done nothing legally wrong. He also appealed to their beliefs: if Diana was truly a God, then these men couldn't dispute this.

38If therefore Demetrius, and the craftsmen that are with him, have a matter against any man, the courts are open, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another.

39But if ye seek anything about other matters, it shall be settled in the regular assembly.

40For indeed we are in danger to be accused concerning this day’s riot, there being no cause for it: and as touching it we shall not be able to give account of this concourse.

38Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.

39But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

40For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.

Commentary · verses 38-40

The townclerk recognized there was no just cause for the riot that started and told people they would end up being guilty because they would not be able to explain their behavior.

41And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

41And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

Commentary · verse 41

The people realized the townclerk was right and everyone left.

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