<< Previous | Index | Next >>"THE BOOK OF ACTS" Paul's Ministry At Ephesus (19:1-41) INTRODUCTION 1. Paul's third missionary journey began in Antioch of Syria... a. Where he started all three journeys - Ac 13:1-3; 15:36-41 b. As with his second journey, it began by visiting churches established on his first missionary journey - Ac 15:41; 16:1-5; 18:22-23 2. The first major stop on Paul's third journey with the city of Ephesus... a. Where he had briefly stopped on his second journey - Ac 18:19-20 b. Where he had promised to return, God willing - Ac 18:21 [Paul's stay at Ephesus on his third journey proved to the longest of any recorded by Luke. It lasted about three years (52-55 A.D., ESV Study Bible), and was a very productive ministry by Paul...] I. PAUL'S MINISTRY AS RECORDED BY LUKE A. CONVERTING TWELVE DISCIPLES... 1. Who needed to be baptized again (see previous lesson) - Ac 19:1-5 2. Who received the Spirit, spoke in tongues and prophesied, after Paul laid his hands on them - Ac 19:6-7 B. TEACHING IN THE SYNAGOGUE... 1. As was Paul's custom when allowed - Ac 17:2; 18:4 2. This Paul did at Ephesus for three months - Ac 19:8 3. This was longer than at other places - cf. Ac 13:42-45; 14:1-2; 17:1-10,11-15; 18:4-6 C. TEACHING IN THE SCHOOL OF TYRANNUS... 1. As happened elsewhere, Paul was forced to leave the synagogue - Ac 19:9; cf. Ac 18:4-6 2. He then taught in the school of Tyrannus for two years - Ac 19:9-10; cf. Ac 18:7 3. During this time, all in Asia (western Turkey) heard the word of the Lord - Ac 19:10 4. Probably through the aid of men like Epaphras - Col 1:7; 4:12-13 D. WORKING UNUSUAL MIRACLES... 1. Involving handkerchiefs or aprons from his body to heal others - Ac 19:11-12 2. Prompting Jewish exorcists to try and use Jesus' and Paul's names - Ac 19:13-16 3. The evident contrast between true and false miracle workers led many to believe - Ac 19:17 4. Those who believed were willing to confess and repent at great cost - Ac 19:18-19 5. Thus the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed - Ac 19:20 E. THE RIOT AT EPHESUS... 1. Toward the end of his ministry, as Paul began making plans to leave - Ac 19:21-22 a. Purposing in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia - cf. Ac 20:1-5 b. Then returning to Jerusalem, followed by a trip to Rome - cf. Ac 20:5-21:17; 27:1-28:16 c. In preparation for his departure, he sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia - Ac 19:22 2. The Diana incident - Ac 19:23-41 a. A great commotion, brought on by Demetrius and other silversmiths - Ac 19:23-28 b. In which a mob takes two of Paul's companions, Gaius and Aristarchus - Ac 19:29 c. Paul was restrained by officials from Asia from addressing the mob - Ac 19:30-31 d. The Jews put forth Alexander, which further enraged the mob - Ac 19:32-34 e. The riot was barely controlled by the city clerk, who exonerated Paul's companions - Ac 19:35-41 [Paul soon left Ephesus and went on to Macedonia as planned (Ac 20:1). Luke's account of Paul's ministry in Ephesus records great success (Ac 19:10,20). But we can glean even more about his time in Ephesus from other New Testament sources...] II. PAUL'S MINISTRY AS INDICATED ELSEWHERE A. A QUICK TRIP TO CORINTH... 1. Paul made a short visit to Corinth, his second - cf. 2Co 12:14; 13:1 2. His first visit was during the second journey - Ac 18:1 3. His third visit was later on the third journey - Ac 20:1-3 4. The book of Acts is silent about this second visit, but most place it sometime during his stay at Ephesus B. EPISTLES TO CORINTH... 1. A letter to the Corinthians (now lost), only alluded to - 1Co 5:9 2. Another letter what we now know as First Corinthians - 1Co 16:5-8,19 C. EMISSARIES TO CORINTH... 1. Timothy a. Sent from Ephesus to Macedonia - Ac 19:22 b. Who would arrive after First Corinthians - 1Co 4:17; 16:10-11 2. Titus and "a brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches" (Luke?) a. To encourage the Corinthians concerning the collection - 2Co 8:6,16-19 b. To bring Paul word as to how the Corinthians received the first letter? - 2Co 12:17-18 c. Whose delayed return would later give Paul concern - 2Co 2:12-13 d. But who would eventually bring Paul good news - 2Co 7:5-7, 13-16 D. ADDITIONAL DETAILS ABOUT PAUL'S STAY IN EPHESUS... 1. Sosthenes was there, joining Paul in writing to the Corinthians - 1Co 1:1 2. Paul had been visited by Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus - 1Co 16:17 3. Aquila and Priscilla hosted the church in their house - 1Co 16:19 4. Paul's sufferings while at Ephesus - Ac 20:17-19; 1Co 15:30-32; 2Co 1:8-11 5. Paul's preaching while at Ephesus - Ac 20:21-21,25-27,31 6. Paul's manual labor while at Ephesus - Ac 20:33-35; 1Co 4:11,12 CONCLUSION 1. Harmonizing Luke's account with what is written elsewhere, we learn that... a. The gospel spread throughout Asia (SW Turkey) - Ac 19:10,20 b. Paul's three years in Ephesus was very productive - Ac 20:17-21,31 c. His influence spread even further through epistles and emissaries 2. Reflecting on Paul's ministry in Ephesus, we glean many things, including... a. The importance of scriptural baptism - Ac 19:1-7 b. The power of the gospel to transform lives - Ac 19:18-20 c. The resistance of many who put money and tradition above the will of God - Ac 19:23-34 May Paul's example of faithful ministry in Ephesus encourage and inspire us to be faithful in our own service to the Lord...!<< Previous | Index | Next >>
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