Acts 19:8, commentary and pictures

Paul began his work in Ephesus in the Jewish synagogue, where he labored openly and boldly for three months, reasoning with his hearers and persuading them concerning the kingdom of God. Ephesus was a major commercial center whose busy harbor and streets brought people from many countries, its way prepared by widespread news that Jesus was the promised Messiah, and Paul came there on his return through Asia Minor strengthening the believers in the churches he had established. His synagogue preaching followed finding about twelve disciples who knew only John's baptism, who were then baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and received the Holy Spirit when he laid hands on them, speaking with tongues and prophesying. He at first received a favorable hearing, but some hardened themselves against the gospel and spoke evil of the way, the Jews being defeated in controversy and growing angry as a Christian church was raised up, so he withdrew to teach daily in the school of Tyrannus for two years until all in Asia heard, with special miracles of healing and expulsion of evil spirits, the failure of the seven sons of Sceva, fear falling on Jews and Greeks, the magnifying of Jesus, confession, and the burning of books of curious arts valued at fifty thousand pieces of silver. This began a long, aggressive evangelistic ministry in Ephesus and that region lasting three years, cheered by Aquila and Priscilla and supported by tent-making, which established a large church in a stronghold of heathenism and is recorded for the instruction of the churches today that the same Holy Spirit presence will go with everyone who labors together with God in humility, prayer, and surrender of the will.

Setting and Sequence

Ephesus was a major commercial center whose busy harbor and streets brought people from many countries, making it a promising field for missionary work. The way for the work there was prepared by widespread news that Jesus was the promised Messiah, carried by Jews returning from Jerusalem's annual feasts. The preaching in the synagogue belongs to Paul's return to Ephesus after traveling through Asia Minor strengthening the believers in the churches he had established.

That synagogue preaching followed his finding about twelve disciples who knew only John's baptism of repentance toward Christ to come. They were then baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and received the Holy Spirit when Paul laid his hands on them, speaking with tongues and prophesying. With that beginning, Paul began his work in Ephesus in the Jewish synagogue, where he labored openly and boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the kingdom of God.

The three months of bold reasoning and persuading preceded the hardening and unbelief of some who spoke evil of the way. Paul then withdrew to teach daily in the school of Tyrannus for two years so that all in Asia heard. God worked special miracles by Paul's hands healing disease and expelling evil spirits through cloths brought from his body, while the seven sons of Sceva failed and were wounded when attempting exorcism in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches. Fear then fell on Jews and Greeks at Ephesus, the name of Jesus was magnified, believers confessed, and books of curious arts valued at fifty thousand pieces of silver were publicly burned, so that the word of God grew mightily and prevailed.

Ministry and Application

Paul began in the synagogue with open, bold reasoning and persuasion about the kingdom of God, and at first he was given a favorable response and hearing. Opposition then grew as some hardened themselves against the gospel, persisted in rejecting it, and spoke against it and against the way. Because of that unbelieving persistence he stopped preaching in the synagogue and withdrew from it. In that disputing the Jews were defeated in controversy with him, and they grew increasingly angry as his work succeeded and a Christian church was raised up.

The three months of synagogue work opened a long, aggressive evangelistic ministry in Ephesus and throughout that region. That Ephesian ministry lasted three years, during which he again worked at his tent-making trade for support. Those who describe the stay and preaching more fully put it at three years and six months, adding that his manual labor did not diminish his ministry. As in Corinth, he was cheered in Ephesus by the presence of Aquila and Priscilla, who had accompanied him to Asia at the close of his second missionary journey. Through this labor a large church was established in a stronghold of heathenism, showing the power of God working through the ministry and helping convince others of the truth and of the reach of the gospel among the Gentiles.

The experience is recorded for the instruction of the churches today. The same presence of the Holy Spirit given to disciples especially set apart will go with everyone who will be a laborer together with God, seeking His counsel and surrendering the will to His will. The Holy Spirit is the sacred endowment of those who humble their hearts before God and submit to His guidance, and the secret of their power. That endowment is brought by much prayer and constant humbling of the heart and surrender of the will. To those who yield to the Spirit's leading are pledged the help of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, with angels working for them.