Acts

Acts 19:8-12

Theme: The ministry of the early church by the Holy Spirit.

Key Chapter: 2

Key Verse: 1:8

28 chs; 1,007 vs; 24,229 words

Grade Level - 6.74

Author: The Holy Spirit by inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16) through Luke (1:1; 16:10)

Written: A.D. 60-62

WHAT YOU FIND IN A GREAT CHURCH

Acts 19:8-12

Theme: Encounters in Evangelism

Key Verse: v.8

41 verses; 975 words

Grade Level – 5.75

Outline

1. Reception of the Scripture. vs.1-7

2. Resistance in the Synagogue. vs.8-12

3. Refutation by a spirit. vs.13-20

4. Rejection from the sinners. vs.21-41

Matthew closed with the resurrection and the missionary program.

Mark closed with the ascension and the missionary program.

Luke closed with the promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit and the missionary program.

John closed with the promise of the second advent and the missionary program.

Acts opens with all of these:

In the first chapter we read of the resurrection, the ascension, the promise of the Spirit, the promise of the second advent and the missionary program. (I)

The phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” is never mentioned in Acts, but the phrase “Kingdom of God” occurs 7 times:

(Acts 1:3; 8:12; 14:22; 19:8; 20:25; 28:23; 28:31)

All three races of people are reached with the Gospel:

Acts 8) We see a descendant of Ham (Ethiopian eunuch) is born again.

Acts 9 We see a descendant of Shem (Saul of Tarsus)is born again.

Acts 10 We see a descendant of Japeth (Cornelius) is born again.

Here are three OBJECT LESSONS you see in a great church

I. You Will Hear Bold Preaching. v.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.

“persuading” occurs twice (number of witness and division). Here and

Acts 28:23

23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

“kingdom of God” occurs 69 times

1st occurrence is

Matthew 6:33

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Kingdom of God is spiritual; Kingdom of Heaven is physical

Luke 17:21

Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.; also

Romans 14:17

17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

II. You Will Meet Bad People. v.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.

“hardened” 1st occurrence is

Exodus 7:13

And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.

“spake evil of that way” – why would anybody talk bad about something that is proven to:

Change lives from bad to good. (2 Cor 5:17)

Change marriages from rocky to on the Rock.

Change teenagers from rebellious to obedient.

Change drunkards into sober providers.

Changes harlots into house wives.

Paul “departed” and took his crowd with him. We are to still practice Biblical separation.

2 Corinthians 6:17

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Separate from worldly people (lost)

Separate from worldly patterns (everybody is doing it)

Separate from worldly programs (teaching that causes sin i.e. shacking up)

Separate from worldly petitions (the fads and fashions of the majority)

Separate from worldly politics (political saviors)

III. You Will Have Biblical Proof. vs.10-12

The Lord is responsible in getting people to hear the Truth. v.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.

This missionary was getting the Gospel out instead of getting out of the Gospel!

Here is a Bible believing preacher and as a missionary he trains disciples in his own school rather than send them back to Jerusalem or Antioch. The graduates of Victory Baptist Bible Institute should reproduce what they are taught and train others where they are sent by the Lord.

The Lord is responsible in getting people to believe the Truth. v.11

And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

Watch out for TV charlatans that try this Apostolic miracle.

This was done by an apostle and can only be done by an apostle

The Lord is responsible in getting people to live the truth. v.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.

Note that this verse deals with special miracles by a special man with a special ministry (Ruckman)

“evil spirits went out of them” – What is wrong with people? They are inhabited by evil spirits! How can you identify them?

They like to hang around graveyards (Mark 5)

They like to hang around godless religion (Mark 1)

They like to hang around water (hogs went straight to the sea in Mark 5)

They like to hang around likeminded people

(while Mark records 1 devil possessed man, Matthew records “two” in Matthew 8:28)

Conclusion:

What kind of church do you want?

(i) New Testament Survey By Knox, James W.