Acts
Chapter
19
{Paul's
arrival back at Ephesus}
1-2~~And
it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having
passed through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus. And finding certain
disciples {Old Testament Saints}, 2~~ he {Paul} said face to face
with them, "Having believed, did you receive the Holy Spirit {at
that point}?" And they said unto him, "We have not so much
as heard whether there be any Holy Spirit."
{Note: Remember that Old Testament Believers did not automatically receive the Holy Spirit - if they were saved before the dispensation changed to the Church Age. In the Church Age, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is immediate to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.}
3~~And he {Paul} said unto them, "On what basis then did you receive baptism?" And they said, "On the basis of John's {John the Baptist} baptism."
4~~Then said Paul, "John truly baptized with a baptism characterized by repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him Who should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."
{Note: John's water baptism was unique in that it indicated the interruption of the Jewish Age. It was only for those who changed their mind about 'the one who would follow him." Christ's baptism was also unique in that it was the acceptance and reaffirmation by Jesus of being subordinate to the will of the Father and His agreeing to be our substitute on the cross.}
{Note: In the Church age, water baptism is a ritual to demonstrate we understand Positional Truth. When we go under the water, we are demonstrating that we understand that salvation by human work is impossible. Instead, we demonstrate that we have accepted the work of Christ on the Cross for our salvation (Retroactive Positional Truth with Christ on the Cross). When we rise up from the water, we are demonstrating that we are in Union with Christ (Current Positional Truth) and when filled with the Holy Spirit, our productions are divine good.}
5~~When they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
6~~And when Paul had laid his hands upon them {which identified them with an Apostle of the Church Age}, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied.
{Note: In the Church Age, at the point of salvation, we receive the Holy Spirit and He gives us spiritual gifts. These Old Testament Saints are now moving into the Church Age dispensation and received the temporary gifts of tongues and prophecy.}
{Note: This is the fourth of four Pentecosts in Acts: 1) The Jewish Pentecost in Jerusalem - Acts 2 - Jews are in Union with Christ 2) The Samaritan Pentecost - Acts 8 those half Jewish and half Gentile are also involved 3) The Gentile Pentecost - Acts 10 Gentiles have equal rights in the Church age, and now 4 ) The Old Testament Saints' Pentecost - where people who were saved before the Church age can be brought into the Church Age.
7~~And all the men were about twelve.
8~~And he went into the synagogue, and spoke with confidence {dogmatically} for the space of three months, arguing using logic and analogies and presenting the things {bible doctrine} concerning the kingdom of God.
9~~But when some {Jews} began to receive negativism {negative volition}, and believed not, but used offensive language in denouncing the Way before the multitude; he {Paul} departed from them {the negative unbelievers}. And separated the disciples {new believers}, having discussions daily in the {Medical} school of one Tyrannus.
{Note: Paul separates from the legalists and goes to a lecture hall in a medical school and people come from all over Asia to hear him. Paul has one of the best ministries of his life.}
10~~ And this continued by the space of two years, so that all they which dwelt in {the Roman Province of} Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
11~~And The God did special {not by chance - deliberate, with a purpose} miracles through the instrumentality of the hands of Paul.
{Note: Purpose of miracles was to concentrate attention on the study of bible doctrine. They were not of the primary purpose of stopping suffering. Otherwise, Christ would have healed ALL sick people as He could have! Remember the Canon of Scriptures ('that which is perfect') is not complete when this was happening. God uses miracles and tongues, etc until the writing was complete.}
12~~So that from the ultimate source of his body were carried away from him unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons {sweat cloths and linens used in tent making}, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
13~~Then certain of the traveling Jews {traveled to make money}, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "We command/conjure you by {the name of} Jesus, Whom Paul keeps on preaching."
{Note: There were seven sons of one of the Chief Priests in Jerusalem that traveled from place to place making money as exorcists - all unbelievers. They saw the success Paul had in removing demons invoking the name of Christ - so they thought they would use the 'magic words' also.}
14~~And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
15~~And
the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know from
experience . . . and Paul I know from experience - but
YOU
. . . WHO in the blazes are you?"
16~~And the man in whom the evil spirit dwelt sprung on them {used 'for the spring of a Panther'}, and overcame them, and prevailed against them {demon strength - 1 man beat up the 7}, so that they fled out of that house naked, traumatized, and wounded.
17~~And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus. And as a result, fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus kept on being magnified.
{Note: This was like throwing a stone in a lake and watch the ripples grow.}
18~~And many that believed in the past {and were at this point in carnality} . . . came and confessed out from their situation, and showed their deeds {demon related books etc.}.
{Note: I John 1:9 'confessed' is homologeo. Confess here is the even stronger 'hex-homologeo' - out from a situation - stated their case.}
19~~Many of them also which used curious arts {sorcery - demon related} 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.
{Note: In Ephesus was the temple of Diana. She was worshiped through the phallic cult (fornication with priestesses in the temple) and many Ephesians had books on how to become possessed or to remove possession. Paper was scarce. All books were handwritten. Very expensive and prized possessions that were destroyed.}
20~~So according to the norm or standard of power, constantly grew the word of God and constantly prevailed.
{Paul's
future plans}
21~~After
these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit {it was HIS
desire}, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to
Jerusalem, saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome."
{Note: a great failure of Paul begins. God wanted him to go to Rome via Spain. Paul longed to be in Jerusalem and ends up going and offering a vow in the temple. He is allowed to be imprisoned for 4 years as discipline and cursing turned to blessing with the prison epistles.}
22~~So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus {Timothy} and Erastus. But he {Paul} himself stayed in Asia for a season.
{Note: Erastus was a Corinthian believer and member of the city counsel who reported their problems to Paul. The report resulted in the two Corinthian epistles.}
23~~And the same time there arose a great catastrophe about "the Way".
{Note: Christianity was really stirring things up in Ephesus.}
24~~For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines for Diana {Artemis}, brought a fantastic profit unto the craftsmen.
{Note: As part of the phallic cult experience, many heathens bought souvenirs of their great time. There were no post-cards or tee shirts so they bought silver miniatures of the statue of Diana/Artemis.}
25~~Whom he {Demetrius} called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, "Sirs, you know that by this craft we have our wealth."
{Note: He gathered the union members together whose living depended on the worship of Diana.}
26~~"Moreover you see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, THIS PAUL {means Paul was very famous} has persuaded by clear presentation; and turned away many people, saying that there are NO GODS WHICH ARE MADE WITH HANDS."
{Side Note: Paul taught bible doctrine. The people became self-sufficient spiritually and made the decision to stay away from idols from their own free will.}
27~~"So that not only this, our craft, is in danger to be regarded as nothing, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana {Artemis} should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed . . . whom all Asia and the world worshiped!"
{Formation
of a mob}
28~~And
when they heard these sayings, they were full of ANGER, and
shouted and shouted and shouted, saying, "Great is Diana
{Artemis} of the Ephesians."
{Note: Throughout history to incite a riot, sayings are chanted - HELL NO, WE WON'T GO!}
29~~And the whole city was filled with confusion {mob violence}. And having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the amphitheater.
{Note: Paul was probably ill and in the house of Aquila and Priscilla. It is likely that they faced down the mob here. See in Romans 16:3-4, where Paul says they risked their lives for him.}
30~~And
when Paul
'desired
from the mentality of his soul' {boulomai}
to
enter in unto the people,
the
disciples/students kept on not allowing it.
{Note:
Boulomai is the strongest Greek word for volition. It is a desire
based on careful consideration and thought. Thelo is the word for a
desire from the emotions.}
31~~And
certain rulers of the Asia
{Asiarches -10 of the greatest leaders in the Roman province of
Asia},
who
were his personal friends,
sent
unto him,
exhorting
or ordering him
that
he would NOT expose himself into the theatre.
{Note: In the Greek this is stated such that if Paul goes, they are saying they can do nothing for him, he would be killed.}
{Note: During the May festival for Diana, the Asians elected 10 wealthy men to represent them in the month long event. They funded dramas, sports games, and public speaking contests (debates). And, during this month, these 10 men were in charge of these events - including about 5000 'Neokoros' (worshipers) who were girls dedicated to the temple and had sex with all the visitors to the temple (fornication) - 'and a good time was had by all'! A well liked false religion of the day!}
32~~Some therefore kept on shouting one thing, and some kept on shouting another . . . for the assembly received confusion {typical mob - minus lucid thought} . . . and the majority of them did not know why they were there!
{Note: The majority of a mob are pawns! Don't even know why they are there!}
33~~And they shoved forward Alexander {a Jewish lawyer} out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander raised his hands for silence, and would have made his defense unto the people.
{Note: Alexander tried to talk, but the mob would not quiet down.}
34~~ But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours kept on shouting, "Great is Diana {Artemis} of the Ephesians."
35~~And when the mayor {A grammateus - the highest man in this town at this time} had silenced the people, he said, "You Noble Men of Ephesus {puffs them up}, what man is there who knows not how that the city of the Ephesians is the 'official place' for the worship of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?"
36~~"Seeing then that these things cannot be contradicted, you ought to be orderly, and to do nothing rashly."
{Note: This is an official Roman decree and no one can deny this or you may risk what you have.}
37~~"For you have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess."
{Note: Paul preached Christ! He did NOT knock Diana. Just state the facts and don't malign. People leaving the worship of Diana was a result of people accepting Christ! Paul did not HAVE to tell them this!}
38~~"Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are Proconsuls. Let them try the case one to the other before them."
39~~"But if you have other charges, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly."
40~~"For we are in danger to be called in question {possible violators of Roman Law} for this day's uproar, there being no excuse whereby we may give an account of this conspiracy."
{Note: The great strength of law and order of the Roman Empire was the perfect time for Christ to come and Christianity to spread.}
41~~And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
{Note: Example of rationalism triumphing over the mob.}
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