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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 19:11 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:11 focuses on the Apostle Paul’s ministry in Ephesus, highlighting the extraordinary nature of the miracles God performed through him.

The verse emphasizes that these miracles were not ordinary but "special" or "extraordinary," implying that they were of a unique and miraculous nature, which garnered significant attention.

This verse suggests the divine approval and empowerment of Paul's ministry and serves as an example of the mighty works of God manifesting through human agents on earth.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

At the time of this writing, the author Luke is narrating the progression of the early Christian church.

Paul is in the city of Ephesus, a major center of trade and pagan worship in the Roman province of Asia, now part of modern-day Turkey.

Acts 19 describes a period of growth and spiritual conquest where Paul confronted sorcery, idolatry, and was instrumental in spreading the Christian faith.

The miracles performed by Paul helped establish his authority as an apostle and representative of the newly emerging Christian faith in a region steeped in other religious traditions.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse illustrates divine power working in the world through chosen individuals. In the Christian tradition, miracles serve as a sign of God's presence and authority. Within various Christian denominacies, interpretations can vary.

Some see this as an example of the continuation of spiritual gifts and miracles throughout the church age, while cessationists may view this as specific to the apostolic era, not to be expected in the same way today.

Practical Applications

The verse can inspire believers to trust in the extraordinary way God works through individuals to accomplish his purposes. It encourages faith in the belief that God can bring about remarkable change and intervention in the lives of people today.

Furthermore, it serves as a reminder that divine power often goes beyond our understanding and can manifest in ways that signify the presence and support of God in human affairs.

Cross-References

Acts 14:3 – "Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands."
Romans 15:19 – "Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ."
1 Corinthians 12:10 – "To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:"

Language Study

The key term in the original Greek text of this verse is "ou tas tuchousas" translated as "special" in the King James Version.

The Greek word “tuchousas” stems from “tyche” meaning events brought by divine or supernatural forces, indicating these were not random or ordinary miracles but orchestrated by God’s direct intervention.

Another term "dunameis" translates to "miracles" or "mighty works" denoting exhibitions of power, often associated with supernatural feats.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, such as those in Greece and Rome, miracles and extraordinary feats were often ascribed to gods or demi-gods.

In the Egyptian and Mesopotamian traditions, divine beings performed miracles that demonstrated their power.

In this context, the miracles of Paul stood contrastingly as affirmations of the Christian God’s supremacy over pagan deities and practices.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, miracles, as described in Acts 19:11, are events that do not follow the known laws of nature.

Therefore, they are typically regarded with skepticism.

However, the impact of belief in miracles on individual psychology and sociocultural dynamics is an area explored by various fields including psychology, anthropology, and sociology.

commentaries

Commentators often reflect on the purpose and impact of Paul's miracles in Ephesus.

For instance, John Gill mentions that these miracles being 'not common, or such as were usually wrought' by the apostles signified the need to authenticate Paul's message in a city deeply immersed in magical practices.

Matthew Henry highlights the contrast between the magic arts prevalent in Ephesus and the divine power displayed through Paul, signifying the victory of truth over deception.

F.F.

Bruce notes that the "handkerchiefs or aprons" mentioned in the following verse (Acts 19:12) indicate that there was something uniquely tangible and personal about these miracles.

These experts underscore the significance of the substantiating role these miracles played in the early Christian mission.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:11 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 19:11 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?