Table of Contents
Introduction
The Power to Change (Acts 18:23-19:41)
1)Apollos Instructed (18:23-28)
An Unusual Jewish Name: Apollos
John's Baptism
A Continued Zeal
Not Paul, Not Apollos, But Jesus
2)John's Disciples Instructed (19:1-7)
3)Paul Reasons in Ephesus (19:8-10)
About Ephesus
In Synagogue
In Hall of Tyrannus
4)The Gospel Impact: Fear, Repentance, and Opposition (19:11-41)
Abuse of the Name
The Impact on Culture
The Economic Crisis
5)Principle
The gospel has the power to convert souls and transform society.
6)Illustration
7)Applications
What impact is your witness for Christ having in your society?
What has your repentance cost you lately? What does that tell you about the value of your repentance?
The Power to Persist (Acts 20:1-21:15)
1)To Strengthen (Encourage) Believers (20:1-6)
2)A Pattern of Worship (20:7-12)
3)A Charge to Ephesian Elders (20:13-38)
Follow My Example (20:18-28)
Protect the Sheep (20:29-31)
4)A Farewell in Tyre (21:1-6)
5)God's Will Over Well-Meaning Friends (21:7-15)
6)Principle
Perseverance in God's will requires dedication to God's word.
7)Illustration
8)Applications
Who could use your courage to continue down the right path in life?
What are you willing to suffer in order to complete God's will for your life? Disapproval from others? Loss for a greater gain in eternity? Self-rule?
Who do you need to protect from wolves? What wolves do you need to flee from?
Conclusion
Introduction
Have you noticed how quickly people in our society change jobs, cars, gadgets, mates, etc.? A few generations back, things weren't like this so much. People tended to stay in a career for longer. They didn't appear so restless. So apt to desire change so frequently.
There's a restlessness that comes from looking for satisfaction in the wrong place. From trying to find purpose and meaning in things that are unable to provide lasting purpose and meaning. In things that just don't last.
As we look into these chapters in Acts, I would like us to observe the power of God's word to bring about right change, in people and society, as well as an unwavering persistence in one's course in life toward the goal God sets for each of His sons.
The Power to Change (Acts 18:23-19:41)
Paul's third missionary journey begins from the same place all of the others began, Antioch. And he had the same mission focus: to share the gospel and to strengthen the believers by teaching the word of God.
1)Apollos Instructed (18:23-28)
If you recall, at the end of Paul's second missionary Journey, he spent a very short time in Ephesus. That is where he left Priscilla and Aquila.
When Paul had stopped there, he reasoned from the Scriptures in the synagogue and was asked to come back. But he declined and said that he would return some day if the Lord willed it.
Priscilla and Aquila must have continued frequenting the Jewish synagogue because they are there when Apollos arrives.
We are not told what Apollos mission is, if any. But we know that he had a divine appointment with a couple of Paul's students.
The first thing we note about Apollos is...
An Unusual Jewish Name: Apollos
24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures.
He was Jewish; probably a proselyte given the Gentile name.
He was a good speaker. And he was well taught in the Scriptures.
But another thing we note is that he was compelled to tell others about the things he had learned from the Scriptures. That is a rare quality, except in the case where the things being learned have an impact on the individual's life. Then they want others to know the truth, not for argument sake, but from a heart of conviction.
John's Baptism
25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.
26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
This man was a believer. God had already done a work in him such that he believed God's word through John. And to some extent he understood that Jesus was the fulfillment of God's promise through Messiah.
We are not certain the extent to his understanding but Priscilla and Aquila were there (by the providence of God) to instruct him more completely in the finished work of Jesus. What they told him, we can't be certain. But we can be certain that Apollos accepted what they taught (another rare quality in a learned person: teachable).
A Continued Zeal
Apollos, now equipped with a full understanding of God's gospel in Jesus, went on to work in Achaia. His gift of teaching and grasp of the Scriptures, empowered by the Holy Spirit, made him a great mouthpiece for the gospel.
27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed,
28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Not Paul, Not Apollos, But Jesus
Just a side note. Paul had no problem with Apollos' teaching. In fact, Paul had no problem with anyone going into an area where he had taught as long as they were not contradicting the truth of Scripture.
So Apollos was a great complement to God's work through Paul. However, the people in Corinth had the problem of “personality cult” mentality. They had the problem of following a teacher rather than the One the teacher was pointing them to.
What about you? Are you enamored with some well-spoken teacher? Are you a follower of everything they say over and above our Lord? Or even if the teacher can't back his message with Scripture?
Note: there are many teachers in our day who do very little pointing to Jesus and lots of pointing to themselves. Look out for such teachers!
2)John's Disciples Instructed (19:1-7)
Luke provides us with the fourth and last incident of its kind in the book of Acts. Remember what Jesus said:
Acts 1:5, 8 – 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
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.”
On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the believers in Jerusalem. (Acts 2:1-4)
After the dispersion from Jerusalem, Philip went to Samaria. Later Peter and John go lay hands on the people. (Acts 8:1-17)
Upon Cornelius and those believing in his household. (Acts 10:1-48)
Finally, this incident in Ephesus where those that heard the gospel were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 19:1-7)
3)Paul Reasons in Ephesus (19:8-10)
It was the Lord's will for Paul to return to Ephesus.
Note: Paul does not make rash decisions or promises but was honest with these people that it was the Lord who directed the events of his life and not his own desires.
If you were honest with yourself, would you say that is true of you? Sadly, it is often not the case with me. But I want it to become the pattern of my life.
About Ephesus
Ephesus was the third most important city of the Roman world at that time.
It was also a center for great learning and great worship. The temple of Artemis was massive. Much larger than the Parthenon in Athens. It had a library that was second only to the library in Alexandria.
It was situated at the coast of the Aegean Sea so it would have been an entry port from Achaia/Macedonia into Asia.
In Synagogue
19:8 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.
What a tragedy for those in the synagogue. They were not rejecting a man and his teaching. They were rejecting God and His fulfillment of the very Scriptures they read every Sabbath.
In Hall of Tyrannus
This Hall of Tyrannus was a school that Paul used when school was not in session. And so his teaching and reasoning from the Scriptures continues, unimpeded, but now on a platform that was more likely to reach more listeners. It was more public.
And what an impact there was, not only on Ephesus, but the whole of Asia.
19:10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
Notice how Luke points out that the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord. This does not necessarily mean that everyone embraced the word of the Lord and the Lord of the word. There's a big difference!
But the word of the Lord also did not return void. And God did spectacular things through Paul in order to validate His message to the people. Non-normative things. Miraculous things.
4)The Gospel Impact: Fear, Repentance, and Opposition (19:11-41)
We can't spend too much time on every aspect, but God did want the people of Ephesus to take note of what was being taught. And God also made very clear who was teaching the truth and who it was that were just trying to ride on the coattails of the gospel (if you will).
Abuse of the Name
I'm referring the the seven son's of Sceva (better known as the seven son's in skivies).
God will only let those who borrow His name for their own purposes go so far. Here were some guys who may have performed exorcisms in the past, but this one ended in disaster.
They invoked the name of Jesus apparently because He was in vogue at the time due to all that was happening. But the devil knows (and trembles at) the name of Jesus. But it's not merely the name but the person behind the name that he trembles at.
These guys were trying to use Jesus as a mantra or magical name to accomplish their own bidding. That is blasphemous!
I wonder how many in our day do the same thing? Jesus becomes a means to some end. Wealth. Health. Happiness.
What a weak substitute for the real power in this name. The power to cancel the sin dept and set the captive free from bondage to sin.
The Impact on Culture
When the gospel begins taking root in any society, there can't help but be conflict. Jesus even said that he did not come to bring peace but to divide son from father, daughter from mother, etc. He was pointing out the fact that the peace of the gospel is a peace between God and men but a sign of war between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world.
The way to impact a culture and cause changes is to confront the culture with the message of the gospel. Because when confronted, those who are called by God will respond and become salt and light where they are planted. And those who reject the gospel will at least have heard the truth and will bear their guilt of rejection before God.
God blesses the work of spreading the gospel. But we must ensure that the gospel we are presenting is true and complete and accurate according to Scripture.
The Economic Crisis
When the gospel takes root, the vices of society start to feel the crunch. Note that these craftsmen are seriously beginning to worry about their own livelihood.
Notice that Paul's method was not to attack the false work that the craftsmen were engaged in. He was not out preaching against the rampant prostitution that was associated with the worship of Artemis.
But he preached the gospel which implicitly taught against the sinful practices which were an outpouring of an impure heart.
The purity of the gospel and the regeneration of the heart has a way of cleaning up a society. Case in point, look at the result at the book burning:
17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.
18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices.
19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
What I take away from this is that repentance is costly. It is not temporary. And it can't be partial.
These books were burned. Nobody could use them again. What they contained was lost to the owner. And they gained nothing monetarily from them (no Ebay sale).
50,000 pieces of silver is a lot in any economy!
I don't know about you, but there are some things that I have put aside rather than put away completely. I don't know what that is called, but it's certainly not repentance.
Anything that I want to hold on to against the will of God is an idol. It is an idol because I elevate its importance over God's will and it is a means of rebellion against him.
We may not bow to idols such as the Ephesians had, those made of wood and stone, but they are no less repulsive to God. No less forbidden. And no more excusable.
5)Principle
The gospel has the power to convert souls and transform society.
6)Illustration
God has called us to stand up against the sins of one's society and point out what is not approved of. We are to point out the sins of sinners but not to the neglect of pointing them to the provision for sin as provided in the gospel.
Our pickets and marches and vigil will have no lasting effect on society if we don't include the gospel solution to sin's problem.
7)Applications
What impact is your witness for Christ having in your society?
What has your repentance cost you lately? What does that tell you about the value of your repentance?
The Power to Persist (Acts 20:1-21:15)
Doesn't Paul do an amazing job of modeling the life that Christ taught? A life that is completely dependent upon God for direction. One that doesn't live on bread alone but on every word from the mouth of God. One that feeds on those word and feeds other on those words.
Paul also lived out the mandate to love God and love men. And that is why he was so eager to take the Scriptures to the lost and reinforce the teaching to those who were already true believers. Paul never taught things that did not line up with Scripture and he was always quick to remind believers to go back to the source – he knew our fallen tendency to stray.
1)To Strengthen (Encourage) Believers (20:1-6)
20:1 After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples, and after encouraging them, he said farewell and departed for Macedonia.
2 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece.
Encourage means to give courage to or to inspire with courage.
I often think of encouragement as pointing out good qualities that someone is displaying. And I think that is part of it. But more importantly is the idea of pointing out the right direction to go and spurring one on in that direction.
Paul had taught these believers well. Apollos had come behind and others (Timothy, etc.) had also reinforced the truth of the Christian life. But often we need someone to spur us on to do what is right even when we know what is right.
That's why the Bible is so important:
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Note that all does not mean just the easy parts but it means all of it. It is important to have a steady diet of Scripture. And that is why expository teaching and preaching is important (both for the preacher and parishioner) so that one deals with all aspects of the text and preaches in its intended context.
2)A Pattern of Worship (20:7-12)
When Paul gets to Traos, we see something that points out a difference in practice in regard to worship.
Luke points out that there was a gathering together and it went like this:
First day of the week – no longer Sabbath, but Sunday, in celebration of resurrection day
They gathered – it was important for believers to enter into corporate worship
They broke bread – the Lord's supper – they practiced what our Lord taught, breaking bread in remembrance of Him each Sunday
They heard preaching from God's word
This was the basis for early church worship. And we don't hold to great rigor as to the format, but these are important elements that have a vital impact on the local church.
Sunday is not a mandatory day, but it does have purpose. It reminds us of our risen Lord.
Gathering together may be inconvenient and you may say you are able to worship at home and listen online without all the hassles. But that is not the point. God ordained the local church as a place of accountability and a place where believers are fed, encouraged, confronted, and can exercise their gifts and give to the body.
The Lord's supper is a place where we reflect on the infinite price paid for our salvation. We remember our Redeemer and the repulsive nature of sin. We receive God's grace to carry out His work here on earth. We are spiritually fed by our Lord.
When we sit under Biblically sound preaching, we are confronted, encouraged, directed, and equipped to go out and spread the gospel. But we need to be under that teaching and we need to be participating – more than a spectator but as an active participant.
3)A Charge to Ephesian Elders (20:13-38)
Paul did not have any desire, nor was it God's plan that the Apostle rule over the church. God used them to write Scripture and testify to what they were eyewitnesses of. But they were to pass along what they learned to reliable men who, by the power of the Holy Spirit, would remain true to Scripture and tend the flock.
And then they would train others to carry on when they were gone. And on and on.
There was no inherent right that could be passed on, but it was a role that was ordained by God. These Elders (presbuteroi) and Bishops (episcopos) were not above Scripture, but were under God's authority as under-shepherds answerable to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
And they were to train, live as examples, teach, and protect from error that would inevitably arise.
That's why Paul points out how he had lived when with them. He had served – modeling the life Jesus calls his followers to live.
Follow My Example (20:18-28)
He had taught and corrected error.
20:18, 19 “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia,
19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;
Paul expected no less from these Elders. They were servants of the Lord, just as Paul was. And they were responsible to rightly divide the word of truth, just as Paul had done.
20:20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house,
21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Protect the Sheep (20:29-31)
Paul didn't call them to look out for the pagans or the Jews and their persecution. Instead he pointed out that their real danger was the twisting of the truth of God's word by wolves.
20:29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.
This denial of the sufficiency of Scripture is more dangerous when it is cloaked in the garb of the clergy.
And it's been coming on strong in our day as it was in that day.
Jesus called out the church in Ephesus through His letter by John (Revelation). He told them that they had left their first love and that they were to repent.
The early church fathers talk about a great revival that took place in the church at Ephesus.
4)A Farewell in Tyre (21:1-6)
Paul had a single purpose in life and that was to do God's will wherever that leads him. And as he said to the Ephesian Elders, I will never see you again, so that message is reinforced when he meets the believers in Tyre. They, through the Spirit, point out what awaits Paul.
This, however, was not news to Paul. Or at least it did not override what he knew to be the Lord's will for his life. He saw obedience to God's word as the highest goal of his life. So fear of the future was not what drove him but fear of the Lord.
5)God's Will Over Well-Meaning Friends (21:7-15)
Philip was one of the 7 chosen to serve tables way back in the early chapters of Acts. He, along with Stephen, the first martyr, were men filled with the Holy Spirit and used mightily.
Philip was the one who presented the gospel to the Ethiopian. He was the one who went into Samaria to share with those despised people – thus obeying the great commission.
So Paul meets this man of God and stays with him. And in comes Agabus with a prophecy. This was a message from God regarding Paul's life. And it was not a pretty sight.
Being bound and led away by the Jews and handed over to the Gentiles. (This prophecy was fulfilled by the way).
And this caused much concern on the part of Paul's companions. Not too unlike Jesus' announcement that He would go to Jerusalem, be arrested and tried by the chief priests and handed over to the Gentiles to be crucified. Jesus was following to a tee the exact will of His Father. His disciples, however, wanted him to avoid Jerusalem and even Peter strongly rebuked Jesus.
Paul, compelled by the Holy Spirit to carry out the Father's will, was also going to a similar fulfillment. And his followers tried to stop him.
Isn't it interesting that often those closest to us are eager for us to follow the Lord wholeheartedly unless danger is involved. We somehow think that our loved ones can do whatever God wants, but certainly He would not want us in harms way.
That's understandable. If it is not necessary, then why enter danger. But this was necessary. It was God's plan for Paul. And to do otherwise would have been to step outside the will of his Lord.
6)Principle
Perseverance in God's will requires dedication to God's word.
7)Illustration
Have you ever gone on a diet in order to lose weight but then find yourself falling back into the same eating habits?
Have you ever started an exercise regimen only to find a couple of weeks into it, falling back into your rationalizations regarding workouts?
A diet requires discipline in applying what that diet requires. Knowing what you can and cannot do.
An exercise program requires consistent work to build muscle and train your muscles to gain endurance.
Following after God requires consistent time with Him in His word. Recalling what His will is over and over. And allowing His word to dwell in you richly.
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