Paul the Apostle
departed from there and traveled from place to place through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. (Acts 18:23).
Meanwhile, a Jew named Apollos, born in Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a
learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in "The Way" of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John the Baptist. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia (to Corinth), the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he came he was a great help to those who by grace had begun to believe. Apollos vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate and proved from the Scriptures that Jesus was Messiah.
(Acts 18:24–28).
learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in "The Way" of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John the Baptist. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia (to Corinth), the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he came he was a great help to those who by grace had begun to believe. Apollos vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate and proved from the Scriptures that Jesus was Messiah.
(Acts 18:24–28).
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them if they received the
Holy Spirit when they became believers. They replied that they hadn't and that they hadn't even heard that there was a Holy Spirit. They had received the baptism of
John the Baptist. Paul explained that John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one who comes after him, that is, in Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied, see The Gift of Tongues. There were about twelve men in all. (Acts 19:1–7).
Holy Spirit when they became believers. They replied that they hadn't and that they hadn't even heard that there was a Holy Spirit. They had received the baptism of
John the Baptist. Paul explained that John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one who comes after him, that is, in Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied, see The Gift of Tongues. There were about twelve men in all. (Acts 19:1–7).
Paul didn't ask them if they had become born again Christians, see
The Book of Peter. Knowledge of the Holy Spirit and his work isn't required for a person to be saved, see Salvation. These persons were saved but hadn't been baptized in the Holy Spirit, see Jesus the Light of the World:
The Book of Peter. Knowledge of the Holy Spirit and his work isn't required for a person to be saved, see Salvation. These persons were saved but hadn't been baptized in the Holy Spirit, see Jesus the Light of the World:
- IN or WITHIN: the indwelling (regenerative) work of the Holy Spirit, which occurs when a person is saved and becomes a born again Christian and makes his body a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19):
- ON or UPON: the baptism (empowering work (Acts 1:8a)) of the
Holy Spirit, which occurs when a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit,
who gives Spiritual Gifts, see The Gift of Tongues.
Paul entered the synagogue in Ephesus and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned "The Way".
So Paul left them. (Acts 19:8–9).
So Paul left them. (Acts 19:8–9).
Unbelief in Christ is an act of disobedience in the area of response to the gospel (Acts 19:9a (compare ESV with NASB)). Believers of Jesus Christ were referred to
as followers of "The Way" (Acts 9:2) before they were referred to as Christians, which basically means followers of Christ (Acts 11:26b), see
Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life.
as followers of "The Way" (Acts 9:2) before they were referred to as Christians, which basically means followers of Christ (Acts 11:26b), see
Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Paul brought the disciples with him and had daily discussions in the lecture hall of Tyrannus in Ephesus. This continued for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. God worked
extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were brought to the sick, and their diseases were healed and the evil spirits left them. (Acts 19:9b–12).
extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were brought to the sick, and their diseases were healed and the evil spirits left them. (Acts 19:9b–12).
Some Jews who went about casting out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those possessed by demons. They would say: "In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, did this. One day the evil spirit answered them: "Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?" Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. When this became known to the Jews and Greeks who lived in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them in public. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the sum came to fifty thousand drachmas (this value is estimated to be equivalent to six million dollars in today's currency). In this way the word of the Lord spread far and wide and grew in power. (Acts 19:13–20).
After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem and go through Macedonia and Achaia (to Corinth). He planned that after been there, to also visit Rome. He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he remained in the province of Asia a little longer. About that time there arose a great disturbance about "The Way" in Ephesus. A silversmith named Demetrius called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and accused Paul of saying that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. This would adversely affect their business but also discredit the temple of Artemis, who would be deprived of her divine majesty. When the crowd heard this, they were furious. Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. The city clerk silenced the crowd and was able to calm them down. He said that if Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen had a grievance against anyone, the courts were open and there were proconsuls. They could press charges. If there was anything further they wanted to address, it had to be settled in a legal assembly. After he had spoken, he dismissed the assembly. (Acts 19:21–40).
When the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and departed for Macedonia. He traveled through that area and spoke many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece (Corinth), where he remained for three months. As some Jews had plotted against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. These men went on and waited for Paul and the other at Troas, who sailed from Philippi after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined these men at Troas, where they remained seven days. (Acts 20:1–6).
During Paul's three-month stay in Corinth, he wrote The Book of Romans.
He then wrote that he wanted to visit Rome but had been prevented from
doing so. He had prayed to God about it. (Rom 1:9–15).
He then wrote that he wanted to visit Rome but had been prevented from
doing so. He had prayed to God about it. (Rom 1:9–15).
On the first day of the week they gathered to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, as he intended to leave the next day, he continued to speak until midnight. There were many lamps upstairs where they met. In a window sat a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep while Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third floor and was picked up dead. Paul went down, threw himself over the young man and put his arms around him, saying: "Don’t be alarmed. He’s alive!" Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left.
The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
(Acts 20:7–12).
The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
(Acts 20:7–12).
They went on to the ship and sailed for Assos, where they would take Paul on board. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. When he met them at Assos, they took him on board and went on to Mitylene. The next day they sailed from there and arrived outside Chios. The next day they went over to Samos, and the following day arrived at Miletus. Paul had decided to sail by Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 20:13–16).
From Miletus, Paul called for the elders of the church in Ephesus. When they came to Miletus, Paul said to these leaders of the Body of Christ: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. And now, constrained by (or bound in) the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the
Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However,
I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me, the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' ” When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. (Acts 20:17–38).
Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However,
I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me, the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' ” When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with them all and prayed. They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. (Acts 20:17–38).
Paul is speaking to leaders of the Body of Christ. It's important to have biblical leadership in the congregations. Paul begins to talk about his character as an example of being a leader. Paul had lived in Ephesus for three years, so they knew about his character, see Who is the Greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? Paul said in one of his letters: "For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor 12:10). The weakness of his flesh gave opportunity for the power of God to be manifested in his life, for then it was obvious that the power didn't come from him but from God. Church leaders shouldn't be man pleasers, see Fear of Man. The passion should be to finish what they are called to do. Paul wanted to complete the task that Jesus had called him to do. We must be aware of wolves in sheep's clothing (Mat 7:15–20), see the last part of The Book of Peter. It's important in our time to let people think for themselves in order to become mature Christians, combined with giving Bible-based teachings that can be tested against what is written in the Bible. As elders, they should act as shepherds and overseers of God's flock under their care (1 Pet 5:1–2), see The Book of Timothy. As shepherds (=pastors), they must be able to give Bible-based teachings, see The Book of Ephesians. Church leaders shouldn't be fixated on money, see The Love of Money.
Now when they had parted from these elders, and had sailed, they ran a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and thence to Patara. Finding a ship that crossed over to Phoenicia, they boarded and set sail. Coming in sight of Cyprus, and leaving it to the left, they proceeded to sail to Syria, and landed at Tyre, for the ship was to unload her cargo there. After seeking out the disciples, they stayed there for seven days. These disciples kept telling Paul, through the Spirit, not to set foot in Jerusalem. (Acts 21:1–4).
When their days there were over, they left and began their journey, while all the disciples with their wives and children escorted them until they were out of the city. After kneeling on the beach and praying, they said goodbye to each other. Then they boarded the ship, and the other returned home. When they had finished their voyage from Tyre, they arrived at Ptolemais, and after greeting the brothers and sisters, they stayed with them for a day. (Acts 21:5–7).
The next day they went and came to Caesarea, and they entered the house of
Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now
this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. When they stayed there a few days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And he came to them and took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said:
"This is what the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.'"
When they had heard this, they as well as the local residents began to beg Paul
not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered: "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." And since he wouldn't be persuaded,
they fell silent and remarked: "The will of the Lord be done!" (Acts 21:8–14).
Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now
this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses. When they stayed there a few days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And he came to them and took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said:
"This is what the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and hand him over to the Gentiles.'"
When they had heard this, they as well as the local residents began to beg Paul
not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered: "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." And since he wouldn't be persuaded,
they fell silent and remarked: "The will of the Lord be done!" (Acts 21:8–14).
There is no warning for Paul not to go to Jerusalem in the prophesy from Agabus.
It just says what will happen if Paul goes there. Therefore the disciples prayed
Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Along the way, God speaks through these prophetic people what Paul can expect when he arrives in Jerusalem. The believers then tried to convince Paul not to go to Jerusalem (Acts 21:4b). It's human nature. According to the long speech of Paul mentioned above, the Holy Spirit had told Paul to go to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22). The purpose of these prophesies was to inform
about what would happen to Paul, that he would suffer, but this was the Lord's will. But the believers misinterpreted it as warnings not to go to Jerusalem. See Apostle Paul's Journey to Rome as Prisoner.
It just says what will happen if Paul goes there. Therefore the disciples prayed
Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Along the way, God speaks through these prophetic people what Paul can expect when he arrives in Jerusalem. The believers then tried to convince Paul not to go to Jerusalem (Acts 21:4b). It's human nature. According to the long speech of Paul mentioned above, the Holy Spirit had told Paul to go to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22). The purpose of these prophesies was to inform
about what would happen to Paul, that he would suffer, but this was the Lord's will. But the believers misinterpreted it as warnings not to go to Jerusalem. See Apostle Paul's Journey to Rome as Prisoner.
After these days they got ready and started on the road up to Jerusalem. Some
of the disciples from Caesarea also went with them and took them to Mnason of Cyprus, a longtime disciple with whom they were to stay. After they arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received them gladly. (Acts 21:15–17).
of the disciples from Caesarea also went with them and took them to Mnason of Cyprus, a longtime disciple with whom they were to stay. After they arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers and sisters received them gladly. (Acts 21:15–17).
See also Paul the Apostle.
