Paul is teaching for two years in Ephesus Acts 19:10 “so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks”. Then something else happens, people separate themselves from magic. The gospel is first about the gift of life through Jesus Christ, but it is also about repentance and turning from our old ways. The Lord wants us to mature and to live the righteous and holy lives He desires of us and the believers in Ephesus are growing. Paul sets himself to go to Jerusalem and then on to Rome which is new territory for him, but first returns to Macedonia, in Acts 20:2 “And after he had gone through those regions and encouraged them at length, he came to Greece”. Then turns himself toward Jerusalem.
Jesus I know, But Who Are You
Acts 19:11-16
The Word of the Lord Was Growing
The gods Made By Hands Are Not gods
Acts 19:21-29
Paul comes to Ephesus in Acts 19:1 “and found some disciples” and in Acts 19:5 “they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus”. Paul continued for two years in Acts 19:10. During this time, Paul was preaching the gospel of the kingdom and people were coming to Christ and in Acts 19:11 “God was performing extraordinary miracles”. God is confirming his word in Acts 19:12 “and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.”
Then, we find something new happening, people are separating themselves from magic in Acts 19:19 “many of those who practiced magic brought together their books and burned them”. This time was so powerful that in Acts 19:20 “In this way the word of the Lord was growing in power and was prevailing”.
Now, Paul sets a new direction, Rome, but by way of Jerusalem as it says in
Acts 19:21 “Now when these things were completed, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, “After I have been there, it is necessary for me to see Rome also.””
Yet, Paul still, in Acts 19:22 “stayed some time in Asia”. During this time, Paul faced accusation from in Acts 19:24 “Demetrius, a silversmith who made silver replicas of the temple of Artemis” who in Acts 19:24-25 “the craftsmen. These he gathered together, and the workers” and said in Acts 19:26 “not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asian this man Paul has persuaded and turned away a large crowd by saying that the gods made by hands are not gods”.
This accusation was true, many had turned to the Lord. And, it was also true, that this had a significant affect on the income of silversmiths because many had given up their, in Acts 19:24 “replicas of the temple of Artemis” and, based on “Another popular form of magic … (people gave up) the use of amulets and symbols designed to protect the wearer from sorcery, evil spirits, and the evil eye (Luck, Arcana Mundi, 19; Elliott, “Fear of the Leer,” 47–51)”.1
It Will Be Settled In the Lawful Assembly
He Had Gone Through Those Regions and Encouraged Them
Acts 20:1-6
Even though Paul had set himself to go to Jerusalem and then to Rome, he is still in Ephesus. After dealing with the accusations from the silversmiths in
Acts 20:1 “Now after the turmoil had ceased, Paul summoned the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed to travel to Macedonia.
It was Paul’s custom to revisit churches and encourage them so he continues through Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, and then on to Corinth in
Acts 20:2 And after he had gone through those regions and encouraged them at length, he came to Greece.
Yet, his trip was delayed again, this time because of a plot by the Jews in
Acts 20:3 and stayed three months. Because a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he came to a decision to return through Macedonia.
He Extended His Message Until Midnight
To Be In Jerusalem On the Day of Pentecost
Acts 20:13-16
Paul has wanted to get to Jerusalem, and his trip has been delayed, now though, in
Acts 20:6 “And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread and came to them at Troas within five days, where we stayed seven days.
Paul wants to spend time with those along the way but is pressing to get to Jerusalem in fifty days for Pentecost. Since Paul also needed to include in Acts 21:27 “the seven days” for purification when he arrived, travel time was short in
Acts 20:16 “For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not be having to spend time in Asia. For he was hurrying if it could be possible for him to be in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost”.
Study Verses
- Acts 19:21-29 The gods Made By Hands Are Not gods
- Acts 20:1-6 He Had Gone Through Those Regions and Encouraged Them
- Acts 20:13-16 To Be In Jerusalem On the Day of Pentecost
Today’s Reading
- Acts 19:11-40
- Acts 20:1-16
References
- 1. Roberts, R. D. (2016). Magic. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
