Encountering Those In Ephesus (Part 1)
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[SLIDE 1] Introduction
Read Acts 19:1-10
1 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all. 8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
CONTEXT
Let me begin by having us review the previous context the led up to this passage.
We recall Acts 18:23 was the beginning of Paul’s 3rd missionary journey. He was last seen strengthening the disciples around the region of Galatia and Phrygia, the churches that he planted in his 1st missionary journey.
While Paul was doing that, we learned about this character called Apollos.
He was a Jew and a learned man who knew the word of God, but needed some further instruction from Priscilla and Aquila in order to know God’s word more accurately.
And Apollos sailed from Ephesus and eventually ended up in Corinth (where Paul just planted a church).
[SLIDE 2] So, Acts 19:1 begins by noting that Paul made his way through the inland country and arrived in Ephesus.
Now, there’re a lot of books written about Paul as a theologian or Paul and his Jewish background.
BUT, there is a book written about Paul as a traveller.
Now, I’m not big on travelling, but I don’t mind that at all.
We may not always think that Paul was also a traveller. It should make sense since he was walking, sailing, or riding horses to different places in the Roman Empire.
Obviously, Paul did not rely on GPS, but he knew where to go as he followed the signs.
[SLIDE 3] We observe that he passed through the inland country, which can also be translated as the upper country / highland.
In other words, Paul took more of a direct and faster route to Ephesus - yet probably less travelled - instead of the regular route, which was the trade route.
Now, he arrives in Ephesus.
HISTORY AND SIGNIFICANCE OF EPHESUS
I won’t speak in great detail about Ephesus because I’m saving them for my future sermons. However, here are some key information:
Ephesus was a capital city of a Roman province in Asia.
Currently, not much is left now as it is a ruin, but it remains an archaeological site and tourism.
It was also a port city. It was the center of the trade route connected to the sea and major roads connected to all other significant cities in western turkey.
During Paul’s time, 1/3 million people lived in this city.
It was considered a large population in the ancient world.
For Greater Vancouver, we have about 2.5 million people.
It was also a significant city for gospel ministry.
Ephesus would be the leading church in Asia minor.
It would possibly beecome the new mission center for Gentile outreach alongside the church in Antioch.
Later, when John wrote the message of Jesus and sent it to the 7 churches, which church was the 1st one that was addressed? (EPHESUS).
The positive aspects of Ephesus is that it was known for fighting and contending against corrupt false teachings that infiltrated the church.
This implies that Ephesus was doctrinally solid and sound.
One can’t discern against false teaching without knowing the Bible.
I think Ephesus would be the last city that Paul planted.
Afterwards, he visits other churches that he planted before he returns to Jerusalem.
Paul wrote a letter to the Ephesians years later while in prison.
Ephesus holds dear in Paul’s heart. In Acts 20, he addressed the Ephesian elders and charged them with the responsibility to protect the church from wolves (i.e. false teachers).
Paul sent Timothy to shepherd the church in Ephesus in order to establish church order and sound doctrine.
SO, that’s basic summary of the history and significance of EPHESUS.
Now, we remember that Paul was temporarily forbidden by God to go to Asia back in Acts 16.
Since Ephesus was one of the cities in Asia, he did not get to visit.
But, Paul was tempoarily in Ephesus in Acts 18:19-21. The Ephesian Jews were receptive to Paul’s teachings.
So, Paul promised them that if God wills, he would return. Certainly, Paul kept his promise.
As we begin to unpack this passage, Paul would eventually plant this significant church at the heart of the Roman Empire.
As he does, we will learn three groups of people he’ll encounter in this text.
[SLIDE 4] 1. The Obliviousness Of The Disciples (vv.1-7)
When Paul arrives in Ephesus, we should expect him to visit Priscilla and Aquila (his ministry partners), but Paul doesn’t (at least not recorded).
Instead, he found some disciples, and Luke tells us that there were 12 of them in verse 7.
Now, what is a disciple?
A disciple is someone who is a learner or a student.
While the word, “disciple,” is generally referred to as follower of Jesus, it does not seem to apply here in this context.
Similar to Apollos, they seem to be disciples of John the Baptist because they were baptized into John’s baptism.
Now, every Christian is a disciple of Jesus, but not every disciple is truly a follower of Jesus (a born-again Christian).
In John 6, Jesus had many disciples who followed him, but Jesus gave a hard teaching to all of his followers. As a result, as it says in John 6:66...
66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.
Now, these disciples were oblivious or ignorant of an important theological truth.
Paul asks these disciples, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
Why did he suddenly ask this question to them? What prompted him?
Perhaps he learned that they were disciples of John.
Perhaps it was the way they explained the Christian faith that puzzled Paul.
Or perhaps they weren’t exemplifying the fruit of the Spirit.
I’m not sure what prompted him, but it is certainly an important question.
And this question implies that at the moment of initial belief and faith in Jesus, you immediately receive the Holy Spirit.
Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?
Paul explains this clearly in Ephesians 1:13
13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
Faith in Christ and the reception of the Holy Spirit are not two separate events.
So, in their ignorance and obliviousness, the disciples responded to his question, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
How is that even possible?
If they were devout Jews, they would have learned that the Old Testament talked about the Holy Spirit.
And if they were disciples of John the Baptist, they should have remembered him preaching that the Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
One commentator suggests that the language might be intended to be construed as not having heard that the Holy Spirit was given.
Meaning, they did not know what happened at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles in Acts 2.
Whatever the reason may be, they were entirely oblivious.
For Paul, he would not allow them to wallow in their ignorance. In this instance, ignorance is not a virtue, especially on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.
These disciples understood the baptism of John, but Paul would explain even further what it means in verse 4.
John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. It was to tell people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.
What’s also interesting is that the book of Acts brings up John’s baptism several times. Let me read them to you as a way of reminder as we have been going through this series.
[SLIDE 5]
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
[SLIDE 6]
16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
[SLIDE 7]
24 Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’
While the disciples understood the baptism of John, Paul exhorted them to believe in the One whom John was talking about.
[SLIDE 8] In verse 5, when the disciples heard about Jesus, they were receptive to being baptized for the 2nd time, but this time they were not being baptized in the name of John the Baptist, but in the name of the Lord Jesus.
In verse 6, after the disciples were baptized, Paul laid his hands on them. Afterwards, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
Now, it is important to interpret this verse properly.
There is a idea called “the 2nd blessing of the Holy Spirit” which is generally taught and embraced by many Pentecostal and Charismatic Christians today.
The concept of the second blessing comes from the belief that there are two distinct experiences of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian.
The first is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that occurs at the moment of salvation when a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
The second is a subsequent experience of the Holy Spirit's empowering presence, which is believed to occur later and can be accompanied by the manifestation of spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, or healing.
And they would use verse 6 to support that, but does it truly support that idea of the 2nd blessing?
I don’t think so.
This verse is peculiar because this is the 1st time that Paul ever performed this act: laid his hands and afterwards, the Holy Spirit came upon the believers.
The only other time a similar event happened was in Acts 8.
We recall in Acts 8:17 that Peter and John laid their hands on the Samaritans after they have put their faith in Jesus Christ.
The fact that the apostles laid their hands on them was a way for the Spirit to confirm His blessing upon the Samaritans and that the Jews were to have fellowship with the new believers in Samaria because they’re included in the community of God’s people.
So, if this is the 1st time Paul doing what he did, I think an important question we should ask in verse 6 is this: “Why did Paul lay his hands on them after they were baptized and then suddenly the Holy Spirit came upon them?”
Howard Marshall said, “laying on of hands should be understood as a special act of fellowship, incorporating the people concerned into the fellowship of the church.”
What Paul did was closely tied to the Apostles Peter and John.
It could mean that John’s disciples have a full and complete understanding of the gospel, that they transferred from being a disciple of John to being a disciple of Jesus.
These disciples of John were indeed included as part of God’s people. Some have suggested that they were Old Testament saints who were transferred to the New Covenant community.
And Paul received them as part of the mission of the church in Jerusalem, just like the Samaritans.
Furthermore, Ephesus would become a new center for the Gentile mission and it would be situated in the middle of the Roman Empire.
Luke tells us that there were 12 disciples in verse 7. Number 12 symbolizes completeness or the nation of Israel as a whole.
There were the 12 tribes of Israel.
There were the 12 Apostles.
Does Luke intend to convey a deeper meaning of #12 or
Is he merely reporting facts that there were just 12 disciples?
I won’t speculate too much, but I would suggest that they would become the church leaders of the church in Ephesus as they were discipled by the Apostle Paul collectively.
Thus, continuing the mandate given by our Lord Jesus Christ.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Regarding speaking in tongues and prophesying...
Since these disciples did not even know about the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and prophesying would become a tangible evidence that God the Spirit did indeed dwell upon them.
But they also affirmed that the message of the Apostle Paul was indeed true, and that Jesus was truly the One whom John the Baptist pointed towards.
Thus, they became part of the true and universal church. (Acts 11:15-17)
Again, let me emphasize this.
This is the only time that Paul laid his hands, and then the Holy Spirit came upon the believers to speak tongues and prophesying.
This did not always happen, which should conclude that what Paul did here and what the disciples experienced in Ephesus are not meant to be normative.
We didn’t see this happening in the church of Antioch.
We didn’t see this in Paul’s 1st and 2nd missionary journey when he planted churches in different cities.
Therefore, even in this church age, we should not expect any born-again believers to speak in tongues and prophesying to confirm that they have the Holy Spirit living in them.
Plus, there is no exact pattern in Acts how the Spirit came.
At one time, the Holy Spirit came upon His people before the physical baptism like Cornelius and his family in Acts 10.
At other times, the Holy Spirit came after the baptism.
But normally, as Paul implied the question in verse 2 and also taught in the rest of Scripture, the Holy Spirit came when you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, these disciples were no longer oblivious to the reality of the Holy Spirit in their life.
Perhaps brothers and sisters you do not fully grasp the significance of the Holy Spirit in your life. Perhaps you are oblivious to the doctrine of the person and work of the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is a crucial aspect of the Christian faith, and it is important that we understand His role in our lives.
The Holy Spirit is our guide and helper, and He empowers us to live a life that is pleasing to God.
He gives us the strength to resist temptation and to overcome the trials and challenges that we face in our lives.
Furthermore, the Holy Spirit gives us the power to live a life that is pleasing to God, and He guides us in our journey of faith.
He helps us bear the fruit of the Spirit, and sanctifies to be more holy, and illuminates His word so that we would understand the Bible.
And when you became a believer, the Holy Spirit dwells in you, so that you know with assurance that God will not leave you nor forsake you.
But ignorance is certainly not limited to the Holy Spirit, but Scripture as a whole.
Just like the disciples who were receptive to learning from Paul, we should be receptive to learning the Bible by reading it, studying it, hearing the word preached, and participating in fellowship groups.
The 2nd group that Paul encountered in Ephesus is...
[SLIDE 9] 2. The Obstinacy Of The Jews (vv.8-9a)
As usual, Paul goes to the Jewish synagogue to prclaim the gospel to the Jews
And for three months (12 Sabbath days), Paul spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading the Jews - as he continued to do in Acts - about the kingdom of God
We shouldn’t think that Paul didn’t preach Christ and focused exclusively on the kingdom of God (cf. Acts 8:12).
He most likely preached the good news of both the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ. [SLIDE 10]
30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
The kingdom of God and the good news about Jesus are not mutually exclusive.
That’s because Jesus is the King and He reigns over heaven and earth. And He will literally bring the fullness of His kingdom in the future to reign on earth.
[SLIDE 11] However, some of the Jews responded to Paul’s message negatively (as they usually do) with stubbornness, and being stiff-necked people and hard-hearted.
Which then leads to persistent unbelief.
And then these Jews rose up to revil and insult what opponents of Christianity called, “the Way,” (an early term for Christianity).
I guess this is what you would call a “threefold” rejection of Paul’s message. It’s a complete rejection and repudiation. Certainly, we’ll face that in our lives when we try to share the good news with non-believers.
They would resist your message.
They wouldn’t not believe in your message.
They may speak ill of your message.
This is a good reminder for us that there will always be some who will refuse to believe in the gospel. Whether it be your children, your co-workers, your friends or family members. We cannot force them to believe, but we can plead with them and pray for them that the LORD would soften their hearts.
Thankfully, it was only some of the Jews, not all of them. So, what Paul did was that he move on to a different location where people are more opened to learning about our Lord Jesus.
This is the 3rd group that Paul encounters in Ephesus:
[SLIDE 12] 3. The Open-Mindedness Of The Crowd (vv.9b-10)
When the Jews rejected the message, Paul and the disciples (perhaps in reference to the 12) withdrew from the synagogue went inside the hall of Tyrannus.
What was the hall of Tyrannus?
We don’t know too much about Tyrannus. The name could either be the owner of this lecture hall or could be a philosopher who taught there, but we can’t be 100% certain.
There is a tradition that daily lectures were held between the hours of 11 AM - 4 PM in the lecture hall.
This included the hottest part of the day.
During that period, usually people would take off work for a midday nap, but I think they would go to that hall to learn.
So, Paul used the hall during the afternoon break when it would otherwise be unoccupied. What was he doing?
He was reasoning daily.
The Hall of Tyrannus provided a central location for Paul to teach, and many people from Ephesus and surrounding areas came to hear the word of the Lord being taught and preached by Paul.
As I mentioned about the history and significance of Ephesus, this would have been a wonderful opportunity for the gospel message to spread in the region of Asia.
And that’s exactly what happened in verse 10. All the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
Now, saying “all the residents” could be interpreted as a hyperbole, but Paul’s ministry certainly had a huge impact in Ephesus because it says later in Acts 19:20 that the word of the Lord prevailed mightily.
The people who came to learn from Paul did not just study, but they turned from their sins and became followers of Jesus. Thus, they also lived out the word of God and spread the message.
Now, here’s what I find fascinating about Paul’s ministry. He was reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. How long was he doing this for? TWO YEARS.
So, he spent three months trying to persuade the Jews in the synagogue. In addition, he spent two more years in this lecture hall.
This concludes that Ephesus is the city where Paul spent the most time on. So, you can imagine why I said that the church in Ephesus would be a doctrinally sound church.
If it is true that Paul ministered from 11 AM - 4 PM (5 hours per day) for two years, let’s calculate how much Bible and theology and training and equipping and discipleship the Christians in Ephesus would have received.
It would have been 3650 hours.
Malcolm Gladwell wrote a book called the “Outlier.”
Gladwell made an argument abou this concept called “the 10,000 hour rule.” It teaches you have to deliberately learn and practice about 10,000 hours to achieve expertise in a particular field.
If that were true, then the church in Ephesus would be 1/3 of an expert in Paul’s teaching, right!?
Look, what if we had something like this at church? For two years, we’ll have some sort of teaching / lecture in this church for five hours (it doesn’t have to be 11 - 4).
You may think I’m crazy, but I’m not joking or exaggerating here.
Imagine how different OBC would be in two years if there’s thorough and rigorous teaching and training of God’s word.
The more we learn God’s word and receive sound doctrine, the less I hope we’ll be oblivious and obstinate we would be to the teachings of God’s word.
And in the process, you take what you learn and impact the city of Vancouver.
These disciples, sacrificed their breaks and rest in the afternoon from work, so that they could go to the lecture hall of Tyrannus to hear and learn the word of the Lord.
Now, what I’m going to say may offend some of you, but I think it’s something worth examining ourselves as a Christian.
Some in the church often make excuses for not participating in Bible studies or worship service.
What are the excuses?
They’re tired or exhausted from work.
They’re busy with other things.
Now, the text isn’t prescribing Christians to meet for five hours every day for two years. It is simply describing to us what happened.
But wouldn’t it be wonderful if there’s a class or studies that happen in this church every single day, and it caters to everyone’s schedule?
[SLIDE 13] CONCLUSION
So, in summary, we learned about three groups of people that Paul encountered in his ministry at Ephesus.
First, there is the obliviousness of the disciples.
Second, there is the obstinacy of the Jews.
Third, there is the open-mindedness of the crowd.
Lord willing, next Sunday, we’ll learn about two other groups of people that Paul encounters in verses 11-20.
In conclusion, I wonder which group you belong to in this list.
Are you oblivious to the truth? If so, what step will you need to take so that you can learn more about God’s word?
Are you obstinate? If so, why are you stubborn? Why are you refusing to believe in the truth?
Are you open-minded? Are you just interested in learning and hearing Bible lessons?
What about believing in the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ and turning away from sin?
What about living out the gospel?
What about proclaiming and sharing this good news so that all the residents of Vancouver would hear the word of the Lord?