The Work in Ephesus
Acts 19
Acts 19
Acts 19. In this chapter we have Paul’s three-year ministry at Ephesus, which brought remarkable blessing and fierce opposition. The Spirit’s power was displayed as disciples of John were brought into full Christian truth, signs were done confirming the gospel, and many publicly repented by burning their occult books. Yet Satan stirred up a riot through the silversmiths, showing how the truth of Christ not only exposes idolatry but also threatens the world’s interests. Yet God overruled it all to preserve His servant Paul and advance His Word. There is a turning point in this chapter, where Paul determines to go to Jerusalem, which we will later see was not according to the mind of God.
Paul’s Ministry at Ephesus (19:1-22)
CHAPTER 19
1 And it came to pass, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper districts, came to Ephesus, and finding certain disciples, 2 he said to them, Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye had believed? And they said to him, We did not even hear if the Holy Spirit was come. 3 And he said, To what then were ye baptised? And they said, To the baptism of John. 4 And Paul said, John indeed baptised with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on him that was coming after him, that is, on Jesus. 5 And when they heard that, they were baptised to the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And Paul having laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. 7 And all the men were about twelve.
vv.1-7 Paul and the Twelve Disciples of John. When Paul returned to Ephesus, he found “about” twelve men who were disciples of John the Baptist. They had believed John’s message of repentance and expectation of the coming Messiah, but they had not heard the full gospel of the risen Christ or that the Holy Spirit had come. Their reply, “We have not so much as heard whether the Holy Spirit has come,” did not mean ignorance of His existence, but ignorance that the promised gift had been given. Paul explained that John’s baptism pointed forward to Jesus, who had now died, risen, and completed redemption. On hearing this, they were baptized “to the name of the Lord Jesus”, and when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. These men illustrate the transitional state of many Jews at that time. They had spiritual life but not the indwelling Spirit, for the Spirit is given only when the “gospel of our salvation” is believed (Eph. 1:13). The baptism of John did not have the same object for faith: a risen Christ, having finished the work of redemption. Their immediately receiving the Spirit by the laying on of the apostle’s hands showed divine approval and the unity of the body of Christ. They were brought onto full Christian ground, and they were brought into a unity that already existed.
8 And entering into the synagogue, he spoke boldly during three months, reasoning and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were hardened and disbelieved, speaking evil of the way before the multitude, he left them and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 And this took place for two years, so that all that inhabited Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
vv.8-10 Paul’s Public Teaching and Separation from the Synagogue. When Paul came to Ephesus, he first entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews for three months, persuading them concerning the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God has to do with the basics of Christianity. Those who rejected it became antagonists, being “hardened” against the truth. When these opposers arose and spoke evil of “the Way,” Paul withdrew the disciples and began teaching daily in the school of Tyrannus. This is a new thing. Previously, the synagogue was Paul’s base of operation, but here he arranges a public building for use in preaching and teaching, showing that the Christian testimony now stood distinct from Judaism, with the truth of the kingdom proclaimed openly to all. Yet he does so without abandoning his mission to reach both Jews and Greeks. For two years he continued this public ministry, and the Word of the Lord spread throughout all Asia Minor, perhaps leading to the formation of many local assemblies (Rev. 1:4). This was a long period of time for Paul to stay in one place, and he refers to it saying “a great door and effectual is opened unto me” (1 Cor. 16:8-9). During this time Paul wrote Galatians and 1 Corinthians.
11 And God wrought no ordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even napkins or aprons were brought from his body and put upon the sick, and the diseases left them, and the wicked spirits went out.
vv.11-12 Miracles by the Hands of Paul. God confirmed Paul’s ministry at Ephesus through extraordinary miracles. Even cloths that had touched his body such as handkerchiefs or aprons from his work as a tentmaker, were carried to the sick, and they were healed, and evil spirits went out from them. These were not magical acts, but signs of power that God give to show that the gospel Paul preached was of God. It was the Lord’s way of publicly demonstrating His power over Satan in a city filled with superstition and occult practice. These signs were especially common in the time of transition, when the authority of Christ and the apostles was being established.
13 And certain of the Jewish exorcists also, who went about, took in hand to call upon those who had wicked spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, I adjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preaches. 14 And there were certain men, seven sons of Sceva, Jewish high priest, who were doing this. 15 But the wicked spirit answering said to them, Jesus I know, and Paul I am acquainted with; but “ye”, who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the wicked spirit was leaped upon them, and having mastered both, prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who inhabited Ephesus, and fear fell upon all of them, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
vv.13-17 The Failure of the Jewish Exorcists: The Seven Sons of Sceva. Certain itinerant Jewish exorcists, seeing Paul’s success in casting out demons, tried to use “the name of Jesus” as a formula for power. It was the first of two attacks by Satan against the work. Among them were the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest. When they attempted to command an evil spirit “by Jesus whom Paul preaches,” the demon responded, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” The possessed man then overpowered them, leaving them hurt and humiliated. This exposed the difference between true spiritual authority and mere imitation. The authority of Christ can only be used in faith and by one who is truly sent of Him. News of the incident spread quickly, and fear fell on the people of Ephesus. The name of the Lord Jesus was magnified, His triumph over Satan, as even unbelievers recognized the reality of His authority and the emptiness of religious pretension, especially of the Jewish religious elite.
18 And many of those that believed came confessing and declaring their deeds. 19 And many of those that practised curious arts brought their books of charms and burnt them before all. And they reckoned up the prices of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 Thus with might the word of the Lord increased and prevailed.
vv.18-20 Repentance and Burning of Magical Books. The exposure of false spiritual power brought deep conviction among the new believers in Ephesus. Many who had practiced magic came forward, confessing their deeds openly. Those who possessed occult books gathered them publicly and burned them, choosing to suffer the financial loss rather than compromise with evil. The total value of the destroyed books was enormous: about fifty thousand pieces of silver, the modern equivalent of between 5 and 10 million USD. This also reveals the hold that superstition had long maintained over the city. Their action displayed true repentance, “fruits worthy of repentance” (Luke 3:8), not merely an emotional reaction but a decisive break with Satan’s influence. As a result, “the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed,” showing that the gospel’s power not only to save but also to transform lives, separating believers “out of darkness into his marvellous light” (1 Pet. 2:9).
21 And when these things were fulfilled, Paul purposed in his spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, After I have been there I must see Rome also. 22 And having sent into Macedonia two of those ministering to him, Timotheus and Erastus, he remained himself awhile in Asia.
vv.21-22 Paul’s Purpose in His Spirit. After this season of great blessing, Paul “purposed in his spirit” to travel through Macedonia and Achaia, then go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” His plan marked a turning point in his ministry: the close of his extended work at Ephesus and the beginning of his final phase of apostolic service. However, it is notable that Luke does not say the Holy Spirit directed him to go, but that Paul purposed it “in his spirit,” suggesting the decision arose from his own heart rather than direct divine instruction. Meanwhile, he sent Timothy and Erastus ahead into Macedonia while remaining in Asia for a time longer, continuing to strengthen the saints. In his writings, we learn that Paul hoped Timothy’s ministry would help the Corinthians to correct their errors (1 Cor. 4:17). Paul delayed going to Corinth to give the assembly opportunity for repentance (2 Cor. 1:23). This brought his time in Asia to a total of three years (Acts 20:31). Paul’s deep affection for Israel and desire for their blessing may have influenced this choice to turn back toward Jerusalem (Rom. 9:1-5; 10:1). This moment shows the mingling of Paul’s zeal and human affection, his great love for both the Gentile assemblies and his own nation.
Decline Begins. There is a marked change at this point. B. Anstey points out that “from this point forward in the book, there are things that are conspicuous by their absence and which indicate a decline” and gives the following evidences: almost no conversions, no one filled with the Spirit, and no mention of the Word of the Lord growing and multiplying.1 It was the start of decline in church history. This decline is connected with Paul missing the mind of the Spirit to go to Jerusalem as we will see in the following chapters. I believe it is an illustration of how the decline in church history, which consumed most of the centuries, was linked with the unwillingness of the Church to leave Judaism in principle. This is foreshadowed by the failure of Paul in missing the mind of the Lord.
The Uproar at Ephesus (19:23-41)
23 And there took place at that time no small disturbance about the way. 24 For a certain man by name Demetrius, a silver-beater, making silver temples of Artemis, brought no small gain to the artisans; 25 whom having brought together, and those who wrought in such things, he said, Men, ye know that our well-living arises from this work, 26 and ye see and hear that this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great crowd, not only of Ephesus, but almost of all Asia, saying that they are no gods which are made with hands. 27 Now not only there is danger for us that our business come into discredit, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis be counted for nothing, and that her greatness should be destroyed whom the whole of Asia and the world reveres. 28 And having heard this, and being filled with rage, they cried out, saying, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.
vv.23-28 The Riot of the Silversmiths. No doubt Satan saw the gospel destroying his stronghold in Ephesus. He stirred up opposition through self-interest and superstition. A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Diana (Artemis), gathered his fellow craftsmen, warning that Paul’s message “that they are no gods which are made with hands” was endangering their trade and the honor of their goddess. His appeal was really greed cloaked with religious zeal, and it quickly inflamed the crowd to attack Paul. The issue was not actually theological but economic; their profits were threatened by the spread of the gospel. How entwined idolatry was with the very fabric of the Roman world! The temple of Artemis in Ephesus was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, being listed as the most grand.2 Thus, the preaching of Christ not only exposed spiritual darkness but also struck at the roots of the world-system. Demetrius’ words had a great effect on the other silversmiths, and they were filled with rage, and cried out praises for “Artemis of the Ephesians”.
29 And the whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed with one accord to the theatre, having seized and carried off with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, fellow-travellers of Paul. 30 But Paul intending to go in to the people, the disciples suffered him not; 31 and some of the Asiarchs also, who were his friends, sent to him and urged him not to throw himself into the theatre. 32 Different persons therefore cried out some different thing; for the assembly was tumultuous, and the most did not know for what cause they had come together. 33 But from among the crowd they put forward Alexander, the Jews pushing him forward. And Alexander, beckoning with his hand, would have made a defence to the people. 34 But, recognising that he was a Jew, there was one cry from all, shouting for about two hours, Great is Artemis of the Ephesians.
vv.29-34 The Mob in the Theater. The riot of the silversmiths overflowed to the whole city, bringing it into confusion. Soon a mob formed, seizing Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s companions in travel, and dragging them into the vast Ephesian theater. Paul wanted to enter and speak to the crowd as an opportunity in the gospel, but the disciples and even some Asiarchs (influential officials) who were his friends, urged him not to risk his life. Inside the theater, the uproar was chaotic; some shouted one thing, some another, and most didn’t even know why they were there. When the Jews tried to dissociate themselves by putting forward Alexander to speak, the crowd, realizing he was a Jew, shouted him down for two straight hours. The scene revealed both the power of religious frenzy and the utter irrationality of idolatry. Superstition and greed, once stirred, can drive men to blind rage against the truth. They repeated the rallying cry for two hours straight: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians”. In this first epistle to Corinth, Paul would reflect on this as having “fought with beasts at Ephesus” (1 Cor. 15:32). In the second epistle, he said these events pressed them “out of measure”, so that they “despaired even of life” (2 Cor. 1:8). It was one of the most violent and vivid outbursts of Satanic power that Paul ever experienced.
35 And the townclerk, having quieted the crowd, said, Ephesians, what man is there then who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper of Artemis the great, and of the image which fell down from heaven? 36 These things therefore being undeniable, it is necessary that ye should be calm and do nothing headlong. 37 For ye have brought these men, who are neither temple-plunderers, nor speak injuriously of your goddess. 38 If therefore Demetrius and the artisans who are with him have a matter against any one, the courts are being held, and there are proconsuls: let them accuse one another. 39 But if ye inquire anything concerning other matters, it will be settled in the regular assembly. 40 For also we are in danger to be put in accusation for sedition for this affair of to-day, no cause existing in reference to which we shall be able to give a reason for this concourse. 41 And having said these things, he dismissed the assembly.
vv.35-41 The Town Clerk’s Defense and Dismissal. At last, the town clerk, who was a respected civic officer, quieted the mob with a calm appeal. He reminded the crowd that everyone knew Ephesus was the guardian of the temple of Diana (Artemis) and of the image said to have “fallen from heaven.” Ironically, he reasoned that since these facts were unquestioned, he urged them not to act rashly. He pointed out that Paul’s friends Gaius and Aristarchus were neither temple robbers nor blasphemers of their goddess, and that if Demetrius or his guild had a complaint, the Roman courts were open and lawful assemblies could be called. To continue the riot might bring Roman punishment on them all for disorder. His words sobered the multitude, and he dismissed the assembly. Thus God used an unbelieving official to restrain the violence of men and protect His servants. God can and does use civil governments to restrain evil (Rom. 13:1-4). In this way, Paul’s life was spared, and the work could continue. It may have been in the brief interlude after this riot that Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, referring to men as beasts in Ephesus.
- B. Anstey. The Book of the Acts: Divine Record of the First 30 Years of Christianity.
- I have set eyes on the wall of lofty Babylon on which is a road for chariots, and the statue of Zeus by the Alpheus, and the hanging gardens, and the colossus of the Sun, and the huge labour of the high pyramids, and the vast tomb of Mausolus; but when I saw the house of Artemis that mounted to the clouds, those other marvels lost their brilliancy, and I said, “Lo, apart from Olympus, the Sun never looked on aught so grand”. – On The Seven Wonders, from Greek Anthology, by Antipater of Sidon.