Most Important Notes from BIBL 424 {687 words}
XXV. Lesson 25 - Paul's Third Missionary Journey to Ephesus
A. Four major events.
1. The first event was in Acts 19:1-7 and concerned Paul's ministry to twelve of John's (the Baptist) disciples. This was about 53AD. Pentecost had happened about 20-25 years ago, but these men did not know anything about the church age. Apollos had been the same way, and Aquila and Priscilla instructed him (Acts 18:24-28). They must have been isolated and broken away from the synagogue.
a. Were the men already saved? Some would question their being rebaptized. However, Paul considered them to be believers (Acts 19:2). Luke called them disciples (Acts 19:1). They spoke in tongues after hands were placed on them. If they had been unsaved, they would have spoken in tongues in verse Acts 19:5, not verse Acts 19:6.
b. Why did they speak in tongues? First, they had received a better message. Second, so God could prove to them the Holy Spirit since they had been saved before Pentecost. They had been saved since the time of John the Baptist. Finally, many times people spoke in tongues after Paul led them to the Lord.
c. What about the speaking in tongues? Not much is mentioned in the New Testament about speaking in tongues. I Corinthians 14:5 says to seek to prophesy rather than to speak in tongues. In every Bible instance, speaking in tongues was given as a sign and it was always to the Jews. The Jews had asked for a sign, and speaking in tongues was a sign (I Corinthians 1:22). However, the sign seems to have ended with the apostolic era (I Corinthians 13:8). In this passage, the sign was to convince the twelve Jews that were speaking in the tongues concerning the work that the Lord was doing.
2. The second event was the progress of the gospel at Ephesus (Acts 19:8-20). Paul was allowed to stay in the area for three months, and that was very unusual for him. He was usually kicked out of town much quicker. A probable reason was Aquila and Priscilla, who had already been persuading the Jews in that area. He spent a total of three years in the area. Three months in the synagogue, two years in the lecture hall of Tyrannus, and then nine more months. Thus, the message of Christ was being spread throughout the area (Acts 19:8-10). Another way that the message was being spread was through extraordinary miracles (Acts 19:11-12). However, notice that God worked the unusual miracles and not Paul. A situation where an evil spirit recognized Paul and not Sceva gave Paul a lot of credibility with the people. This helped to exalt Christ and spread the gospel. Finally, the gospel spread because of the worker's holiness (Acts 19:19-20). Some believers gave up their evil deeds, and the work was blessed because of it.
3. The third major division was Paul's plans in Acts 19:21-22. He planned to go to Jerusalem, Macedonia, Achaia, and Rome. He also sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia.
4. The fourth major event was opposition by a silversmith named Demetrius. He could see how Paul was hurting busines, so Demetrius tried to lead a revolt against him.
B. During this third missionary journey, Paul left Ephesus for Macedonia to Corinth back to Macedonia and then back to Jerusalem.
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Tom of Bethany "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
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