There’s only one way Acts 19:1-12

Introduction

At the end of Chapter 18 we are introduced to Apollos who was a student of the Scriptures but had some doctrine that wasn’t quite lining up with the scripture. After some teaching with Aquila and Priscilla, he was sent out and here in verse 1 of Chapter 19 we see he is preaching in Corinth, a city that Paul had preached and established a church in.

We are picking up in 3rd Pauls missionary journey, after he went and strengthened the disciples all over the country of Galatia and Phrygia. Here he is back in Ephesus, where he told the people there he would return if the Lord willed (18:21)

This morning we are going to see how solid Biblical preaching of the Gospel can reach a continent for Christ.

The Holy Ghost Introduced vs. 1-4

Apollos leaves Ephesus and heads to Corinth. vs. 1a

Apollos had been shown the way of God more perfectly or completely.

Apollos was preaching the baptism of John which was preparing the way for the messiah and Aquila and Priscilla showed him that the Messiah had come and died for the sins of the world was buried and rose again.

When he was led to leave Ephesus the church endorsed him and sent him on his way to preach the Gospel, and he mightily convinced many Jews of the truth that Jesus was Christ.

He went out knowing there is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ, and that is what he proclaimed in Achaia and Corinth

Paul arrives in Ephesus and finds some disciples vs. 1b

Paul arrives in Ephesus and finds certain disciples, and Paul wants to find out who they are following and see how their doctrine is.

Not everyone who claims to follow Christ follows the Christ of the Bible. Here we see these disciples were following the same path as Apollos before Aquila and Priscilla showed him the real way.

Paul asks some questions vs. 2-3

Paul starts by asking these men if they had recieved the Holy Ghost since they believed.

In the early church days Holy Spirit baptism was a separate event from salvation, as it was to be a sign unto the Jews proving that Jesus was Messiah.

It was a sign of true conversion at this point of the New Testament which we see other examples of in:

Acts 2:32–33“32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”

also Acts 11:16–18 “16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. 17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? 18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.”

Their answer is interesting given they had John’s baptism

John spoke much of the Holy Spirit ministry that Jesus would bring in

Matthew 3:11 “11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:”

Matthew 3:16 “16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:”

John 1:32–33 “32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.”

It is almost as though they were playing a game of telephone, and only got bits and pieces of the Gospel.

We must be clear in the message of the Gospel and the fact that it is the only way to heaven

I read a disturbing stat that said around 40% of the US believe they don’t have to believe in God and can still go to heaven. That is almost 1.4 million people.

As Christians we must stand up and declare there is only one way to heaven and that is Jesus Christ.

Shane Pruitt said this “It’s not unloving to say that Jesus is the only way to heaven. It’s unloving to pretend there are other ways.

In verse 3 Paul asks them to what then were they baptized.

They told him the Baptism of John

Bro. Stewart said this in his commentary “John’s baptism was not an end but a means to an end — a way in which one showed [as a picture] their genuineness of belief in the Messiah’s coming death, burial and resurrection on behalf of those who would believe in Him”

John’s baptism pictured the coming Messiahs purpose, but that Messiah had come and left the Holy Spirit.

Paul tells them The Messiah has come and He is the only way to heaven.

The Results of Paul’s preaching vs. 6-7

When they heard what Paul said they believed and were baptized

In view of what John’s baptism pictured they, at this moment transferred their trust unto Christ for Salvation.

If you aren’t saved, baptism isn’t more than getting dunked under water, but if you are saved, when you get baptised it is an identifier of us with Christ buried in the likeness of his death, raised to walk in newness of life.

After they were saved and baptised Paul laid his hands upon them and the Holy Ghost came on them and they spake in tongues.

They recieved the same indication as the Jews on the day of Pentecost and those who were in the house with Cornelius — Acts 2 and 10:44-48— Paul’s message and ministry was authenticated to them. The Gospel was officially going to the uttermost.

We see in verse 7 that there were 12 men that Paul spoke with.

Paul’s bold proclamation vs. 8-10

After Paul preached to those 12 men he headed to the Synagogue in Ephesus and spake boldly for 3 months.

Every sabbath day for three months Paul was at the Synagogue boldly preaching Christ.

His tactic is found in verse 8

He was disputing meaning he was contending by words or arguments

He was persuading or influencing.

Paul was sharing the Kingdom of God with the Synagogue.

Like always if he hung around long enough there were always those who were upset by him preaching the word of God.

The bible tells us that divers or various people were hardened and believed not

They also spake evil against that way before the multitudes

That way, was those who held to the belief that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose again being the only way to heaven.

Paul departed from there and separated the disciples and disputed daily in the school of one Tyrannus

He was using a divinity school to preach the Gospel to anyone who would listen.

Because of Paul’s faithfulness and the grace of God over that two year period everyone that dwelt in Asia had heard the word of the Lord, both Jew and Greek.

Out of Paul’s time in Ephesus, churches in Colossae, Hierapolis, Laodicea and some of the other seven churches of Asia were started by converts of Paul.

Pauls apostolic ministry confirmed vs. 11-12

Paul was an Apostle ordained by God and the Miracles, the Healing and the casting out of evil Spirits he did in Asia were confirmation that he was indeed an Apostle.

God had mightily used Paul to reach Asia for Christ.

Paul didn’t reach Asia by himself, there were people willing to go and share the good news of the gospel that was shared with them.

Are we willing to share the Good News of the Gospel with others?

Conclusion

This morning we were reminded that their is only one way to heaven and that is Jesus Christ. Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the father but by me.

Have you trusted in Christ? If not come today.

Do you need to be baptized? Baptism doesn’t save you but rather identifies you with Christ.