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Acts 19

And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

And all the men were about twelve.

And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.

But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.

And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

What does Acts 19:1 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:1 details a moment during the early Christian missionary efforts when the Apostle Paul arrived in the city of Ephesus.

The passage indicates that another early church leader, Apollos, was in Corinth at the time.

Paul is described as having traversed the "upper coasts," which likely refers to the interior regions of Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), on his way to Ephesus.

Upon his arrival, Paul encounters a group of "certain disciples." These individuals were followers of Jesus, though, as the context later reveals, they had a limited understanding of Christian doctrine, particularly concerning the Holy Spirit.

The phrase "And it came to pass" is a common introductory formula in Biblical narratives, indicating the transition to a new event or episode.

The deeper meaning involves the spreading of the Christian faith and the continuing mission to educate and baptize believers in the full doctrine of Jesus Christ.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Acts 19:1 is set during Paul's third missionary journey, which took place roughly around 53-57 AD.

The city of Ephesus was a significant center in the Roman province of Asia and was known for its temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis.

The city was also a hub of commerce and had a large Jewish population.

Apollos, mentioned in Acts 18, was an eloquent Jewish Christian who had been teaching in Ephesus and Corinth, and he had a strong grasp of the Scriptures.

Corinth, where Apollos was at that time, was another important city in ancient Greece, known for its wealth and moral laxity. It also had a substantial Christian community to which Paul had previously ministered.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints might focus on the implication that there were varying levels of understanding and doctrine among early Christian communities.

Some would emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit in Christian initiation, as highlighted in the subsequent verses of Acts 19, where Paul finds these disciples have an incomplete baptism.

Others might see this passage as an example of Paul's commitment to the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) to make disciples of all nations. It also underscores the itinerant nature of the apostles' missionary work and their roles as both teachers and pastors.

Practical Applications

Acts 19:1 can serve as a reminder to Christians about the importance of ongoing religious education and the need to seek fuller understanding of their faith. It implies a duty to welcome new believers and to patiently guide them towards a deeper knowledge and experience of Christianity.

It also serves as an encouragement for missionaries and those engaged in evangelism to continue spreading the Gospel, even where the groundwork has been laid by others, and to contribute to the growth of existing Christian communities.

Cross-References

Acts 18:24-28 - Provides context about Apollos, his background, eloquence, and ministry in Ephesus and Corinth.
1 Corinthians 3:6 - Paul references Apollos in relation to their roles in the growth of the church, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase."
Acts 16:6 - Describes Paul's travels through the Phrygian and Galatian region, which could be part of the "upper coasts" mentioned in Acts 19:1.
Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission, which underscores the missionary theme present in Acts 19:1.

Language Study

In the Greek text, key words such as "διελθὼν" (dielthōn - having passed through) and "ἀνώτερα" (anōtera - upper regions or parts) offer a sense of movement and geographical transition. "Εὑρών" (heurōn - having found) shows active searching or coming upon a group. "Μαθητάς" (mathētas - disciples) indicates those who are learners or followers, not necessarily fully informed or indoctrinated Christians.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The diversities in Christian teachings and practices as mentioned in Acts 19:1 can be paralleled with the existence of various schools of thought in other ancient religions and philosophical systems.

For example, in Judaism, there were different sects such as the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes, each with its own interpretations of the Scriptures and traditions.

Scientific Perspectives

Acts 19:1 itself does not directly intersect with modern scientific understandings but could be related to the study of ancient travel routes and the spread of ideas.

Modern anthropology and sociology could provide insight into how religious movements like early Christianity can rapidly expand across diverse geographical regions and cultural groups, and the role of key individuals in such growth.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians comment on Acts 19:1 with a range of perspectives.

Some focus on the geographical and historical significance, discussing the strategic importance of Ephesus and Paul's routes of travel.

Others delve into the nature of the disciples Paul found, with discussions on whether they were followers of John the Baptist or early Christians who had not yet received the Holy Spirit.

Commentaries might also elaborate on Paul's role in continuing the work of Apollos and harmonizing the teachings within the young Christian church.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Acts 19:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?