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MESSAGE SERIES: “CHURCH ON THE MOVE”
Acts 19:1–22

INTRODUCTION: We have been following Paul on his various missionary journeys, and we are now in the middle of his third journey as recorded in Acts 18–20. We saw how Paul began this third journey by revisiting the churches in the Galatian area. After leaving these churches, he now makes his way to the city of Ephesus. (Read Acts 19:1–2 and pray.)

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When we last left Paul, he was revisiting the churches he and Barnabas had planted on the first missionary journey. As you may recall, Paul visited them again on the second missionary journey and afterward continued through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. Remember, they tried to turn left into Asia, and then they tried to turn right into Bithynia, but God kept leading them straight ahead into Europe. However, this time after visiting the churches, the Holy Spirit allows Paul to turn left, and he makes his way to the city of Ephesus.

When Paul first visited Ephesus near the end of the second missionary journey, he was on his way back to Antioch and he only stayed a short time. When they asked him to stay longer, he declined, but he promised them, “I will come back if it is God’s will.”

Apparently, it was God’s will because Paul came back to the city on this third missionary journey, and this time he stayed much longer. In fact, Paul spent more time at Ephesus than any of the other cities he visited on these missionary trips. He spent a little over a year and a half at Corinth, but he spent about three years at Ephesus. This long-term ministry resulted in a very effective ministry as Paul established a strong base for ministry in Asia through the church at Ephesus.

I. Twelve disciples at Ephesus (1–7)

Paul’s visit to Ephesus this time around begins with an unusual incident involving twelve disciples at Ephesus.

   A. Disciples in name (1–2)

Although Luke calls them disciples, it appears they were disciples in name only. Somehow, they had heard of John the Baptist and Jesus, but they had never truly been taught the gospel. Look at verses 1–2 with me now:

While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” (Acts 19:1–2)

Paul asks them a test question: “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” It seems an odd question to ask, but I imagine he began talking with them first, and as they spoke, he realized they did not fully understand what it means to put your faith in Jesus.

This was further confirmed when they told Paul they had not even heard there was a Holy Spirit. Every true believer receives the Holy Spirit the moment they put their faith in Christ. The fact that they did not even know there was a Holy Spirit shows they had been preached an inadequate gospel.

   B. John’s baptism and Jesus’ baptism (3–5)

After further questioning Paul learns they were never taught the difference between John’s baptism and Jesus’ baptism. Look at verses 3–5 next:

So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 19:3–5)

Now things begin to make more sense. You may recall when the Christian worker Apollos first arrived in Ephesus, he began teaching about Jesus, but he also only knew about John’s baptism. That was when Priscilla and Aquila invited him to their home and explained the way of God to him more adequately (Acts 18:24–26). These men had probably learned from Apollos before he was taught more fully about Jesus.

Paul explains to these men that John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance in preparation for Christ. Jesus’ baptism is different. Being baptized in Jesus’ name means identifying with Jesus in his death, burial and resurrection.

John’s ministry was preliminary to Christ and meant to prepare people to believe in Jesus when he came. Apparently, John’s baptism had prepared them well, because when Paul tells them about Jesus, they all believe, and then they are all baptized into the name of Jesus.

   C. Another mini-Pentecost (6–7)

That’s when they receive the Holy Spirit. Look at verses 6–7:

When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all. (Acts 19:6–7)

Paul lays his hands on them, and they begin to speak in tongues and prophesy. It’s another mini-Pentecost. This is now the fourth incident in the book of Acts where people receive the Spirit in a dramatic and visible fashion.

      Acts 2 – original Jewish Pentecost
      Acts 8 – Samaritan Pentecost
      Acts 10 – Cornelius and his household
      Acts 19 – incident at Ephesus

The first was the original Jewish Pentecost in Acts 2. They were all gathered in the Upper Room. Jesus had told them to wait for the Spirit. The Spirit came, and they all spoke in tongues.

Then there was the Samaritan Pentecost in Acts 8. This was when the gospel first went from the Jews to the Samaritans. In order to mark this transition, God gave a visible outpouring of the Spirit again so that the Jewish believers would recognize that the Samaritans who believed in Jesus also received the Spirit.

Then there was another mini-Pentecost when the gospel came to Cornelius and his household in Acts 10. This was the first time the gospel went to the Gentiles. Once again, God gave the Spirit in a visible way so that the Jewish believers would recognize that the Gentiles who believed in Christ received the Spirit just like they had. The Gentiles didn’t need to do anything extra. They didn’t need to get circumcised or become Jews first. They just believed in Jesus and received the Spirit. It had to be visible so the Jewish believers could see that.

And now we have this fourth incident here at Ephesus. Together these four incidents mark the outward progression of the gospel from Jerusalem to all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the world. This was what Jesus promised in Acts 1:8. The gospel began in Jerusalem, then went to Judea and Samaria, then went to the Gentiles, and now it was getting ready to go to the whole world. We’re going to hear about Paul’s intention to visit Rome in just a moment. Rome represented the gateway to the rest of the known world, so we have this fourth incident here in Ephesus as the gospel gets ready to go to the world.

By the way, these are the only four incidents in the book of Acts where the Spirit is given in this dramatic and visible fashion. This incident at Ephesus is the last one. Now that the progression is complete and each of those markers have been crossed, you will not find this happening again throughout the rest of the book of Acts.

Luke tells us there were about twelve men in all, which of course is reminiscent of Jesus’ original twelve disciples. Just as the gospel spread and grew through the original twelve disciples, the gospel is about to grow and spread through the whole province of Asia beginning with these twelve disciples.

II. Paul’s ministry in Ephesus (8–12)

So that was Paul’s arrival in Ephesus. Next Luke tells us about Paul’s ministry in Ephesus.

   A. From the synagogue to the lecture hall (8–10)

You can divide Paul’s ministry in Ephesus into two distinct stages. It began in the synagogue and then moved to the lecture hall. Look at verses 8–10 with me now:

Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. (Acts 19:8–10)

Paul returns to the synagogue where he previously taught on the way home from his second missionary journey (Acts 18:19–21). The last time he was just passing through. This time he stays three months, speaking boldly and persuasively about the kingdom of God. This is the same expression Jesus used when he came proclaiming that the kingdom of God had arrived in his person. Now Paul tells them the kingdom of God has arrived in the person of Jesus.

Some were clearly persuaded, but others refused to believe and publicly maligned what Luke calls the Way. This is a term that shows up several times in the book of Acts (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). It’s a word that means a road or pathway. It recalls the words of Jesus in the gospel of John: “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). It also recalls Old Testament language of following in God’s path or way (Ps. 1:6, 16:11; Prov. 3:5–6; Jer. 6:16). In Acts 18:26 Priscilla and Aquila invited Apollos into their home to explain the way of God more adequately. Taken together, it refers to the whole Christian faith and way of life centered on Jesus Christ as Messiah and King.

When the Jews at the synagogue publicly maligned the Way, Paul left them. He had fulfilled his responsibility of bringing the gospel first to the Jews, and now he turned his attention to the Gentiles. He moved his ministry from the synagogue to the lecture hall, and for the next two years he had daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. These were such effective years of ministry, as the gospel went out to all the Jews and Greeks in the province of Asia.

   B. Miraculous signs (11–12)

This was also a phase of Paul’s ministry marked by miraculous signs. Look at verses 11–12 next:

God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. (Acts 19:11–12)

Just as God had earlier used miraculous signs to confirm the preaching of Jesus and the apostles, so he now works these miraculous signs through Paul to confirm Paul’s preaching of the gospel. People were healed and demons cast out from a distance through physical objects that Paul had merely come into contact with. This was highly unusual, and even Luke calls them not just miracles but “extraordinary miracles.”

III. Seven sons of Sceva (13–20)

It is in this context of healing and the casting out of demons that we encounter the seven sons of Sceva.

   A. Demonic encounter (13–16)

Apparently, there were Jewish exorcists in those days who sought to drive out demons, and the sons of Sceva have a demonic encounter of their own. Look at verses 13–16 with me now:

Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. (Acts 19:13–16)

These Jewish exorcists were not believers in Jesus, but when they saw Paul had success in driving out demons in the name of Jesus, they tried to do the same. Exorcists in those days would often recite a long list of names to make sure they got the right “god” to get rid of the particular spirit they were dealing with, so these exorcists added “the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches” to the list. They were trying to gain control over the demons through the use of Paul’s and Jesus’ names.

That’s what these sons of Sceva tried doing. Sceva was a Jewish chief priest, and his sons tried the whole “in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches” trick with a demon. But the demon talked back to them: “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”

This incident did not end well, as the man with the evil spirit attacked them. Seven against one isn’t usually a fair fight, but apparently when the “one” has a demon, one against seven isn’t a fair fight either. The man with the demon overpowered them with supernatural strength, giving them such a beating that they all ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

   B. Gospel advance (17–20)

God actually used this incident with the demon to advance the gospel in Asia further. We read in verses 17–20:

When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. (Acts 19:17–20)

As word spread of this incident, there was a newfound respect for the name of Jesus. Previously they were maligning the Way. They were putting down the name of Jesus. Now they were holding the name of Jesus in high honor.

A new spirit of revival and repentance broke out among the believers. They went public with their faith and openly confessed their sins. A number who had practiced magic arts brought their scrolls together and burned them as a public witness. The total value of the scrolls was calculated at about 50,000 drachmas. A drachma was worth a day’s wage. Think how much you earn in a day. Multiply it by 50,000. That’s what these scrolls were worth. It would be equivalent to millions of dollars today.

Luke tells us in this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. When Christians get serious about their faith and serious about turning away from sin, that is when the church on the move really gets moving. Changed lives are the best advertisement for the gospel. This whole incident should make us ask ourselves, “How can we live out our Christian faith in such a way that there is a newfound respect for the name of Jesus?”

IV. On to Jerusalem (21–22)

Paul had an extraordinarily effective ministry in Ephesus, but eventually it was time to return to Jerusalem. We read in verses 21–22:

After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.” He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer. (Acts 19:21–22)

Paul does some long-range planning here. Instead of sailing directly across the Mediterranean Sea to Jerusalem as he had done previously, he decides to work his way back through Macedonia and Achaia. This is the area where he and Silas planted the churches in Europe during the second missionary journey. He wanted to see how these churches were doing.

For the first time he also expresses his desire to visit Rome. So Paul’s itinerary, at least at this time, was Macedonia, Achaia, Jerusalem, and then Rome. He sends Timothy and Erastus on ahead to Macedonia, while he takes a little more time to finish out his stay in Ephesus.

CONCLUSION: That mostly wraps up Paul’s ministry in Ephesus. We still have the riot in Ephesus to look at next time. But in the meantime, let’s look at some applications for ourselves from this period of Paul’s ministry.

1) Share the gospel fully and clearly. First, we need to share the gospel fully and clearly. The disciples Paul met at Ephesus did not even know there was a Holy Spirit. It’s not enough simply to tell people to believe in Jesus. We need to explain who Jesus is and what he did. In some ways, a false convert is worse than no convert, because they have a false assurance of their salvation. The signs of a true believer include repentance, faith in Jesus, water baptism, and then of course, the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

2) Be careful with demonic forces. Secondly, be careful with demonic forces. The sons of Sceva learned this the hard way. As believers we do not need to be afraid of Satan. 1 John 4:4 tells us: “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (KJV). But we should not take our position in Christ for granted either, especially when dealing with demonic forces.

James 4:7 cautions us: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” What do you do first? Submit yourself to God. Make sure that you’ve confessed sin. Make sure you’ve turned away from that sin. Make sure that you are following Christ sincerely. Make sure that you are leaning on the Lord. Never seek to resist the devil in your own strength. Always submit yourself to God first.

3) Make a clean break with sin. Thirdly, we need to make a clean break with sin. The people of Ephesus not only believed in Jesus. They also burned all those scrolls at great cost to themselves.

This reminds me of a scene in the movie Fireproof. The husband in the film is struggling with pornography. He really wants to break free but finds himself going back to the computer again and again. Finally he takes a baseball bat and smashes the computer and leaves a note on it for his wife saying, “I love you more.”

True revival always begins with repentance. What scrolls do you need to burn or computers do you need to smash in your life? Can you leave a note for Jesus saying, “I love you more?”

4) Long-term ministry often results in more effective ministry. And then finally, long-term ministry often results in more effective ministry. Paul spent longer ministering in Ephesus than any of the other cities on his missionary journeys. It was also one of the most effective ministries he had in any of the cities. There is something to be said for long-term ministry, for staying in one place for a length of time.

There is no guarantee of increased fruitfulness. Some missionaries have spent decades in various areas with little fruit. Their commitment and determination in the face of rejection should be an inspiration to us. Many times, the fruit came later or after they left.

But even this shows the power of staying and ministering in one place over a long period of time. You build connections and a reputation that open new doors for the gospel, and even your commitment to stay for the long term is a powerful witness itself. Long-term ministry often results in more effective ministry.

Paul spent a long time in Ephesus, but we have only spent a short time in our passage today. I pray as a result of this message that you will know the importance of sharing the gospel fully and clearly. I pray you will be careful with demonic forces. I pray you will make a clean break with sin. And I pray you will be challenged to commit to long-term ministry and change wherever God has placed you.

© Ray Fowler

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