1.     The apostle Paul took three missionary journeys.  The first is recorded in Acts 13; the second in Acts 15:36ff; and the third is found here in Acts 19.

2.     Ephesus was one of the great cities of the ancient world, surpassed only by Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch. Ephesus was a busy trade center, strategically located at the center of commerce between the East and the West.

3.     As the Roman Empire stretched eastward across the Mediterranean Sea, Ephesus's large and sheltered harbor became a major communication hub.

4.     Tourists came to Ephesus to worship at the famous Temple of Artemis, considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

5.     Artemis was an ancient goddess of fertility (the Romans called her Diana), and attached to her worship were grotesque and filthy practices making Ephesus one of the most immoral cities of its time.

6.     Ephesus was also known for sorcery, magic, and all sorts of superstitious fakery and mumbo-jumbo.

7.     In Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare says this about Ephesus:

“They say this town is full of cozenage,
As, nimble jugglers that deceive the eye,
Dark-working sorcerers that change the mind,
Soul-killing witches that deform the body,
Disguised cheaters, prating mountebanks,
And many such-like liberties of sin.”

8.     Into this wicked city came the apostle Paul.  He remained in Ephesus longer than at any other place in his missionary travels. 

9.     About ten years later, Paul wrote an epistle from his prison cell in Rome to the church at Ephesus.

10. Then about 40 years after the events recorded in Acts 19, we have the seven letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor, and the first is written to the church of Ephesus (Rev. 2:1-7).

I. THE BEGINNING OF PAUL’S MINISTRY IN EPHESUS

1.     This passage about the “certain disciples” (19:1) has caused much debate among Christians.   Scofield (and others) assumed that these disciples were not saved (see his notes).

2.     However, Luke always uses the word “disciples” to describe genuine believers (cf. Acts 1:15; 6:1; 9:1, 10, 26).

3.     A person can be saved and be ignorant of the Holy Spirit (19:2).  Even today, nearly 2,000 years later, there are some Christians who are ignorant of the Holy Spirit.

4.     This is why it is important to disciple new believers.  Illustration: Naomi being badgered by a Pentecostal friend.

5.     The Holy Spirit is a Person, and the Holy Spirit is God (cf. Acts 5:1-4).

6.     The Holy Spirit can be grieved.   Ephesians 4:30 says, “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

7.     The Holy Spirit seals all genuine believers – whether they understand this or not.

8.     First Thessalonians 5:19 says, “Quench not the Spirit.”

9.     First Corinthians 12 refers to some of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  And then verse 11 says, “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.”

10. I believe all new believers should be taught about the Holy Spirit.  We certainly would have more success in soulwinning if Christians understood the power of the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:8).

11. Without spending too much time on Acts 19:2, it should be pointed out that “received” and “believed” are both in the same tense (aorist).  Therefore, the question could be stated, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost when ye believed?”  (Cf. margin).

12. It is very likely that these disciples were led to the Lord by Apollos (cf. Acts 18:24-28).  Both Acts 18:25 and 19:3 refer to John’s baptism.

13. John the Baptist preached repentance and he pointed sinners to Christ (Acts 19:4; cf. John 3:27-36).

14. It was John the Baptist who said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).

15. John’s baptism anticipated Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection; whereas today our baptism looks back to the cross.

16. So why then were these disciples rebaptized?    This is the only record of rebaptism in the Bible.  It is unusual but sometimes necessary. 

17. This is the last reference to John the Baptist in the NT.  Before moving on, let me remind you how fortunate we are to have the complete Bible.  John the Baptist didn’t.  The apostle Paul didn’t.

II. THE DEVELOPMENT OF PAUL’S MINISTRY IN EPHESUS

1.     Acts 19:7 says Paul had “about twelve” men working with him in Ephesus.  Much was accomplished with these twelve dedicated men!

2.     Acts 19:26 refers to Paul’s influence in the province of Asia, but he could not have done it without good coworkers.

3.     The Gospel seed was sown all throughout Asia and verse 10 tells us that within two years, the entire province of Asia “heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.”

4.     Verse 20 says, “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”

5.     Whenever you have such success in soulwinning you can expect to face opposition.  The devil will not sit quietly and allow large numbers of people to get saved (cf. Acts 19:8, 9). 

6.     The word “hardened” (19:9) is found often in the Bible.  It is a gradual process.   Harry Ironside used to tell a story about a little girl who climbed into her father’s lap to see if his heart had hardened.

7.     The Bible has a lot to say about how Pharaoh hardened his heart. 

8.     Second Chronicles 36:13 talks about King Zedekiah and how he hardened his heart from turning to the LORD.

9.     Job asked, “Who hath hardened himself against (God), and hath prospered?” (Job 9:4).

10. Hebrews 3:13 warns us that we can be “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

11. Because of the opposition, Paul had to seek out a new place to hold meetings (19:9).

12. The whole province of Asia was evangelized (19:10).  “And God wrought special miracles…” (19:11).

13. These miracles including diseases departing from sick people and evil spirits (demons) being cast out (19:12).

14. This in turn attracted more opposition from certain Jewish exorcists, but their efforts failed (19:13-16).

15. God’s work can only be done by God’s people.  God’s way. According to God’s Word.

16. There have always been religious racketeers and con-men.  Jesus called them “wolves in sheep’s clothing.

17. Before he left town, Paul warned the elders of Ephesus about “grievous wolves” (Acts 20:25-31).

III. THE WONDERFUL RESULTS OF PAUL’S MINISTRY IN EPHESUS

1.     Next we see the wonderful outcome:

·        The word got out (19:17a).

·        The fear of God fell upon the city of Ephesus (19:17b).

·        The name of the Lord Jesus was magnified (19:17c).

·        “And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds…” (19:18, 19).

2.     W. Graham Scroggie said, “The Gospel necessarily must come into collision with every form of evil.  Here it collides with magic and trickery, much to the humiliation of the latter.”

3.     The Gospel has been colliding with error from the beginning, and the Gospel always triumphs.

4.     “So mighty grew the Word of God and prevailed” (19:20).

5.     The power of the Gospel prevails through preaching, perseverance, persistence, and prayer.

CONCLUSION:

Acts 19:18 and 19 can be applied in many ways – occult literature, rap music, pornography, immodest clothing, etc.