ACTS 19
Act 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,
Act 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.
Act 19:3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said,
Unto John's baptism.
Act 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.
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on
them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Act 19:7 And all the men were about twelve.
In the days of the apostles the receiving the Holy Spirit after salvation was as
natural as eating food when one was hungry. There wasn't a question of "Is this
from God? Do I need this to be saved? Do I have to speak in tongues?" Whatever
God wanted to do in their lives was okay and welcomed.
Paul saw something was needed in these believers and they needed to be baptized
with the Holy Spirit that Jesus foretold that we were to receive. Perhaps being
baptized with John's baptism, he didn't use the words, "In the name of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost" so that is why they had never heard of any
Holy Ghost. However, it is clear that they were believers and were saved from
sin but in order to serve the Lord more fully, they needed to be full of the
Holy Spirit. Evidently tongues are given for a sign that the Holy Spirit has come
to reside in the believers.
Prophesying is giving forth messages by the utterance of the Holy Spirit in the
language of the one that is speaking but tongues are a foreign or unknown
language by the one speaking. The tongues here probably didn't need to be
interpreted because they were speaking praise and they were worshipping as they
were receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. Usually when the Holy Spirit comes
and fills a believer he or she will speak in an unknown tongue as the spirit
gives utterance. This is a sign that He has come to dwell in a believer. I
suppose that if someone who never gave a message of prophecy before and started
to do so, it would also be a sign that the Holy Spirit has come.
Some confuse prophesying and think it is preaching. Actually it can be preaching
but usually it is short messages rather than lengthy ones and they do not have
to be prophetic, they can be exhortation, praise and other messages to the
church similar to a message in tongues with an interpretation but a message of
prophecy does not have a message in tongues preceding it
All these things must be remembered as gifts from God. I cringe when I hear
people reject these gifts and say they are no longer necessary. They often quote
Paul's message to the Corinthian church about it. Paul was dealing with a
problem in that church. That church had many problems that needed correction. I
picture them interrupting Paul's preaching and desiring to take up the whole
service with speaking in tongues instead of allowing the word to be preached so
the church can be edified. Some have taken this to extremes and think all
speaking in tongues is wrong unless it is interpreted. This
same Paul also said not to forbid the speaking in tongues yet some churches have
done just that.
Remember it is a gift of God. If it is not the time for preaching and everyone
is praying together and some are speaking in tongues (praying in the spirit)
there is nothing wrong with that and there is no need of an interpreter. If the
church is quiet and one speaks in tongues in a different way, very loud and
usually we can tell if a message is to be given. This is the gift of tongues in
operation a little different than the tongues of praise and worship. This type
needs to be interpreted for all to understand. If no one is prayed up and
obedient to the Holy Spirit and fails to give the interpretation, then the
person speaking in tongues has done nothing wrong but he should stop and not
repeat it seeing that no one could interpret the message. Many overreact to
Paul's exhortation and take it to extremes the other way and forbid worship and
praise in tongues, just as the Corinthians were taking it to extremes in the
opposite direction. If we were perfect in love though we would not be quick to
be judgmental and accuse someone of being out of order. The sum of what I'm
trying to say is that, It is a gift of God.
Here is when it could be out of order. Suppose a preacher called of God was
burning with a message for the congregation and he started preaching under that
anointing of the Holy Spirit. Someone in the congregation gets all excited and
speaks in tongues. If it is just a short phrase, no harm done but if he keeps up
and does not stop thereby hindering the speaker from preaching his message, then of
course the one speaking in tongues is out of order. That is what Paul was trying
to stop. It doesn't mean anyone is of the devil necessarily but it means they
need to be taught more perfectly. Usually a person who does that just needs to
learn to love souls and love God's word enough to know when to speak and when to
keep silence. As we grow in God, we learn these things as we pray and study the
word.
The opposite extreme of forbidding the gifts of the spirit will cut God out
entirely. To reject His gifts are spiritual suicide. We will become dead, dry
and boring. The teaching of the word needs the spirit to quicken that word to
our hearts. We need more of God, not less.
Some say this disappeared after the death of the apostles. If they did
disappear, it is not because God withdrew them; it would have been because
people were not seeking them and perhaps being born again by the spirit was
substituted with just conversions to Christianity. There is a difference. All we
have to do is read church history to discover that something happened that
ruined Christianity. Some blame Constantine and that may be true but I believe
that they stopped seeking the spiritual gifts and relied on their own education,
talent, flesh or religious persuasion. One by one the word of God was laid aside
and commandments of men replaced it.
How did we get from worshipping in spirit and truth to praying down before a
statue of Mary or one of the apostles which Jesus never instructed us to do? I
think it is because we kicked the spirit of God out and substituted religion and
sensual feelings of a counterfeit religious spirit similar to the Christmas
spirit we feel at Christmas. It is a good feeling but I don't believe it is the
same spirit as the Holy Spirit. There is a difference. Music can stir up
feelings and imaginations also but it isn't always the Holy Spirit. Our own
fleshly feelings is not the Holy Spirit. We need to learn the difference.
Anything from the Holy Spirit will produce fruits of righteousness, holiness,
pure love, humility (not a false humility), kindness, forgiveness, love for
enemies etc.
When the church began to persecute and kill dissenters and so-called heretics,
they no longer knew God at all but just had a religious spirit. This can happen
to us if we don't walk in the love of God that is shed abroad in our hearts by
the Holy Spirit.
Act 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.
Here is the fruits of the Spirit in action. Paul knew he could be killed, jailed
and beaten for preaching the gospel but he did it anyway because he loved the
souls of these people and didn't want any of them to be lost. The spirit of God
drove him.
Act 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.
Paul was obedient to the command not to give that which is holy to the dogs.
Once the pure gospel message is rejected and refused in a disrespectful way, we
are to move on.
Act 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.
The church in that day was mixed with both Jews and Gentiles. We see that
happening again today. As many messianic congregations have rose up. They
usually have a mixture of both Jews and Gentiles.
Act 19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
Act 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.
This can be done but it must be done in a way that gives all glory for the
healing to God and not to the man being used by the spirit. We must never make
merchandise of this and charge money to send an anointed cloth. All the gifts of
the spirit including healing and such are done to bring people to Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the foundation and the main focus. We must never get away from that.
Act 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.
A fake or a counterfeit cannot stand before something real. We must never try to
copycat a work of God. We have to have the real goods ourselves.
Act 19:14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the
priests, which did so.
Act 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know;
but who are ye?
Act 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.
The only explanation I can come up with for this is that these men tried to copy
Paul without being true believers in Jesus that had been filled with God's
spirit.
Act 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.
This must be the result of all genuine revivals. Jesus must be magnified. He
must continue to be the only foundation of any church.
Act 19:18 And many that believed came, and confessed, and showed their deeds.
Act 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.
The devil and God cannot dwell together. True conversions to Jesus Christ will
separate us from the world around us. We can't hold onto God and love the world.
Act 19:20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
Act 19:21 After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he
had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I
have been there, I must also see Rome.
Act 19:22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him,
Timothy and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
Act 19:23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
Act 19:24 For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver
shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
If someone was making money making this shrines, it should have been proof that
they were not really God.
Act 19:25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said,
Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
Act 19:26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost
throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people,
saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
Act 19:27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at naught; but
also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her
magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
Act 19:28 And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried
out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
Act 19:29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius
and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with
one accord into the theater.
That statue of Diana could do no good or evil but the devil behind false
worship can deceive people and give them a false religious feeling that fools
them into thinking their religion or god is real.
The men stirring up the crowds were only concerned about their wealth being
taken from them. They didn't care about the souls of the people.
Act 19:30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples
suffered him not.
How great a love Paul had. The disciples had to stop him from going among the
people and trying to reason with them. If they had not have stopped him, Paul
would have walked right in their midst and tired to preach being stampeded in
the process. .
Act 19:31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto
him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theater.
Act 19:32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was
confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
Act 19:33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him
forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defense
unto the people.
Act 19:34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the
space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
Act 19:35 And when the town clerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of
Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians
is a worshiper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from
Jupiter?
Act 19:36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be
quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
Act 19:37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of
churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
Act 19:38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a
matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them
implead one another.
Act 19:39 But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be
determined in a lawful assembly.
Act 19:40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar,
there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
Act 19:41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
These people remind me of those that want to hear of Jesus and even in a way
receive Jesus but it brings forth no fruit because they want to hold onto their
own gods. The conversion is not complete and they are like seed falling on
thorny ground. The world chokes the word and it is strangled out.
If we really want to live for Jesus we have to forsake our old sins, the love of
the world and follow Him. When we become born again by His spirit, we can then
be baptized in His spirit. We must not hold nothing back or think we don't need
everything God has for us. The baptism in the Holy Spirit is needed today just
as they first needed this gift of God. All God's gifts are good.
Acts 20
