*Acts 19:1-20
Arriving in Ephesus, Paul encounters disciples of John the Baptist, baptizes them in the name of Jesus, and bestows the Holy Spirit upon them.
- Paul in Ephesus:
- Paul arrives in Ephesus and encounters twelve disciples.
- He inquires if they received the Holy Spirit when they believed, and they respond that they have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.
- Baptism and Reception of the Holy Spirit:
- They explain they were baptized into John’s baptism. Paul clarifies that John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance, telling people to believe in Jesus.
- Paul baptizes them in the name of the Lord Jesus, and when he lays his hands on them, the Holy Spirit comes upon them, manifesting through speaking in tongues and prophesying.
- Paul’s Ministry in the Synagogue and the Lecture Hall:
- Paul enters the synagogue and speaks boldly for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.
- Some become obstinate and publicly malign the Way, so Paul leaves the synagogue and takes the disciples to lecture daily in the hall of Tyrannus.
- This continues for two years, allowing all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, to hear the word of the Lord.
- Extraordinary Miracles by Paul:
- God performs extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that have touched him heal the sick and drive out evil spirits.
- Incident with the Seven Sons of Sceva:
- Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva attempt to cast out demons by invoking the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches.
- The evil spirit answers them, acknowledging Jesus and Paul but not recognizing them, and the man possessed by the demon overpowers and beats them, forcing them to flee.
- Impact of the Incident and Growth of the Word:
- News of this incident spreads fear, leading many to publicly confess their practices.
- Numerous practitioners of magic collect their scrolls and burn them publicly, with the value of the scrolls estimated at fifty thousand drachmas.
- The word of the Lord grows mightily and prevails in influence and power.
19:1 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, 19:2 He 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.
19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
19:4 Then 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.
19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
19:7 And all the men were about twelve.
19:8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
19:9 But 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.
19:10 And 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.
19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 19:12 So 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.
19:13 Then 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.
19:14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 19:16 And 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.
19:17 And 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.
19:18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
19:19 Many 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.
19:20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.