Acts 19
Notes
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Background
Background
Paul’s third missionary journey beginning in Antioch ()
Paul comes to Ephesus.
Church still in infancy stages.
Paul comes to Ephesus.
Culture replete with paganism, influenced by darkness.
Importance of Orthodoxy
Importance of Orthodoxy
We need to know who the Lord is.
In the first half of , we see two examples of heterodoxy. With some “disciples” and with some Jews who were trying to misappropriate the name of Jesus. Ultimately, in both cases, the groups mentioned had limited or no understanding of who the Lord is.
Introductory Statement
Introductory Statement
Disciples of John
Disciples of John
And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.
Disciple of whom?
Disciple of whom?
Pentecostalism (1900)
Charismatic movement 1960s
“When did you receive the Holy Spirit?” is a question frequently asked, implying that you can be a Christian and not possess the Holy Spirit.
To fully understand what is happening here, lets go back and look at the previous chapter.
One of the proof texts used to support this position is .
Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 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. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
Exegetical Gymnastics.
Acts 18:24-
Apollos a native of Alexandria (where the LXX was translated)
Apollos was capable and knew scripture (eloquent/competent
Apollos had accepted John’s testimony and recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah.
Apollos had accepted John’s testimony and recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah.
Apollos preached Jesus accurately but not fully.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Acts of the Apostles A. Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos in Ephesus (18:23–28)
Apollos had accepted John’s testimony and recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah.
preached repentance and faith in the Messiah—he maybe even believed that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah—but he did not know the full magnitude of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Example:
He preached repentance and faith in the Messiah—but he did not know the full magnitude of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
David duPlessis, leader in the early Pentecostal movement said this: ““what happened during the years from Acts to 1900 was that the church lost its faith and hence lost the miracle gifts and lost the accompaniment of the Holy Spirit.”
We all need our understanding corrected from time to time.
What is a disciple?
What is a disciple?
Disciple
Disciple
Disciple does not necessarily mean Christian believer.
It says that “many believed on His name.”
Goes on to say: “He that continues in My word is My disciple for real.”
says, “And many of his disciples turned their backs and walked no more with Him.”
Disciple comes from the root word which means learn.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Acts of the Apostles B. Twelve Disciples of John the Baptist Become Christians (19:1–7)
not having recognised the coming of either the Messiah or the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit through Jesus.
These men were not true believers. Many claim to know the Lord, but the Lord they would describe is not the God of the bible.
Oprah goes on to say: “Lord has a wide range: compassion, love, forgiveness, kindness. So you delight yourself in those virtues where the character of the Lord is revealed.”
LORD = YAHWEH
An example of modern day heterodoxy can be seen in regards to baptism.
When should one be baptized?
Pentecostalism (1900)
Charismatic movement 1960s
“When did you receive the Holy Spirit?” is a question frequently asked, implying that you can be a Christian and not possess the Holy Spirit.
One of the proof texts used to support this position is .
Exegetical Gymnastics.
David duPlessis, leader in the early Pentecostal movement said this: ““what happened during the years from Acts to 1900 was that the church lost its faith and hence lost the miracle gifts and lost the accompaniment of the Holy Spirit.”
Baptism
Baptism
All through the book of Acts, baptism is immediate upon salvation.
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Acts 2:
And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.
Here in , Paul identifies baptism with the reception of the spirit.
And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
Acts 19:
Heterodoxy Today: Some of the false teaching that we deal with today within the context of the Christian Church
Pentecostalism (1900)
Charismatic movement 1960s
“When did you receive the Holy Spirit?” is a question frequently asked, implying that you can be a Christian and not possess the Holy Spirit.
One of the proof texts used to support this position is .
Exegetical Gymnastics.
David duPlessis, leader in the early Pentecostal movement said this: ““what happened during the years from Acts to 1900 was that the church lost its faith and hence lost the miracle gifts and lost the accompaniment of the Holy Spirit.”
Who/when receives the spirit?
Who/when receives the spirit?
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Heterodoxy, when not confronted or corrected, will result in heresy:
Oprah walked away from orthodox Christianity when she was about 27 because of the biblical teaching that God is jealous — he demands that he and no one else gets our highest allegiance and affection. It didn’t sound loving to her.
Oprah Winfrey on Colbert show. What is your favorite verse? “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
Pentecostalism (1900)
Oprah goes on to say: “Lord has a wide range: compassion, love, forgiveness, kindness. So you delight yourself in those virtues where the character of the Lord is revealed.”
Charismatic movement 1960s
LORD = YAHWEH
“When did you receive the Holy Spirit?” is a question frequently asked, implying that you can be a Christian and not possess the Holy Spirit.
One of the proof texts used to support this position is .
Exegetical Gymnastics.
David duPlessis, leader in the early Pentecostal movement said this: ““what happened during the years from Acts to 1900 was that the church lost its faith and hence lost the miracle gifts and lost the accompaniment of the Holy Spirit.”
Miracles
Miracles
These apostolic miracles were to substantiate Paul’s message.
demons are dangerously powerful spirit beings—much stronger than we—who can cause the people they possess to do incredibly violent and uncontrollable things.
demons recognize valid authority, and they fear God
demons recognize valid authority, and they fear God
Not just capable of casting out demons, but controlling them.
That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
In , the man in the tombs.
Mark 5:5-
Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”
Demon’s know Jesus because they predate the creation of the world and knew Jesus when he was in Heaven.
And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
Demons cannot be cast out by some formulaic ritual.
Only Christ has t
You can’t resist the blow unless you have the know.
Illustration High School Oiga Board.
The Sons of Sceva were trying to appropriate the power, to receive on the promise.
Oprah goes on to say: “Lord has a wide range: compassion, love, forgiveness, kindness. So you delight yourself in those virtues where the character of the Lord is revealed.”
LORD = YAHWEH
Strategy
Strategy
In the remainder, of , we see the success of the gospel transformation of many in the culture. This transformation had significant impact on the economy, which stirred up a great deal of controversy.
The magical arts industry was diminished as a result of the sons of Sceva getting whipped.
Idol makers were being obsoleted as many turned away from false gods. (Artemis (greek) Diana Roman)
Two strategic things from this narrative. (much of which is descriptive)
Our faith should influence all of our decisions, including our consumption.
What do we invest our financial resources in?
When we do receive push-back, our response should be strategic (long-term gospel) and not tactical, (short term comfort/survival)
Christians should not be revolutionaries. We are more effective as a prophetic minority than we are as a moral majority.
We tend to freak out when we sense that our liberties are being encroached upon. I would submit to you that we are in more danger when we are protected by the system than we we are fighting for our existence.
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Prayer:
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