*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.
Acts 19:1-20 teaches us the power of truly knowing Jesus. Some people tried to use His name without really believing in Him, but they failed because they didn’t have a real relationship with Him. Meanwhile, those who sincerely followed Jesus saw God work in amazing ways. This reminds us that faith isn’t just about words—it’s about knowing and trusting Jesus personally. We can apply this by making sure our faith is real, seeking to grow in our relationship with God, and living in a way that reflects His power and love.
Acts 19:1-20 (WEB)
19:1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus and found certain disciples. 2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”They said to him, “No, we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”3 He said, “Into what then were you baptized?”They said, “Into John’s baptism.”4 Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Christ Jesus.”5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke with other languages and prophesied. 7 They were about twelve men in all.8 He entered into the synagogue and spoke boldly for a period of three months, reasoning and persuading about the things concerning God’s Kingdom.9 But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.11 God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out. 13 But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this.15 The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” 16 The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18 Many also of those who had believed came, confessing and declaring their deeds. 19 Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted their price, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.