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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 19:22 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:22 narrates a specific event within the ministry of the apostle Paul, where he decides to remain in the region of Asia while sending two of his helpers, Timothy (Timotheus) and Erastus, to Macedonia.

This verse on its face relays a logistical aspect of Paul's ministry but also conveys deeper meanings about leadership, delegation, and the spread of the Christian message.

Paul's strategic decision to stay behind while sending trusted ministers to another region reflects his commitment to nurturing the church in Asia and supporting the expansion of the Gospel in different geographies.

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Historical Context

This verse is set within the broader context of Paul's third missionary journey (approximately A.D. 53-57).

Asia, at that time, referred to the Roman province of Asia Minor, the western part of modern-day Turkey, with Ephesus as a central city of importance for Paul's missionary work.

Macedonia was a Roman province in the northern Greek area.

The early Christian church was rapidly expanding into these areas, and Paul's strategic movements and decisions were critical in establishing and strengthening the early communities of believers.

Theological Insights

From a theological lens, Acts 19:22 not only chronicles the spread of the early church but also illuminates the role of apostolic authority and the value of discipleship and mentorship.

Paul, as a key leader, empowered his followers, Timothy and Erastus, to carry on significant responsibilities.

It exemplifies the model of Church leadership that involves sharing ministry tasks and developing others to propagate the faith.

The implication is a dynamic and distributed church structure that enables growth and adaptability.

Practical Applications

This verse encourages believers to consider the power of teamwork and collaboration in any ministry or church-related work. It serves as an example of trust and the importance of equipping and sending others to continue the work in different locations or contexts.

Furthermore, it suggests the idea that sometimes leaders must remain stationary, focusing on where they are most needed, while trusting others to handle tasks elsewhere.

Cross-References

Philippians 2:19-22: Paul speaks highly of Timothy, one of the ministers he sent to Macedonia.
Romans 16:23: Erastus, the other minister mentioned, is greeted by Paul, indicating his important role in the early church.
Acts 16:9: A vision urging Paul to go to Macedonia to help the people there.
1 Corinthians 16:8-9: Paul talks about staying in Ephesus because of a great opportunity for effective work.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the term used for 'ministered' is διακονέω (diakoneo), which means to serve, wait upon, or attend to.

It denotes a role of service or assistance.

Timothy and Erastus are described as those who ministered unto Paul, suggesting that they were trusted and closely associated with Paul in his ministry.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The act of sending emissaries or representatives is common across various ancient cultures and religious traditions.

In Judaism, for instance, rabbis would often send disciples to carry messages or perform tasks, reflecting a deep trust and an aspect of mentoring.

This is mirrored in Paul's relationship with Timothy and Erastus.

In other religions such as Buddhism, it was also customary for enlightened teachers to send their pupils to spread their teachings to different regions.

Scientific Perspectives

There isn't a direct scientific correlation to this particular verse.

However, the organizational dynamics seen in Paul's ministry can be studied under the lens of social systems theory, which examines how groups interact and organize to achieve their goals.

Modern organizational studies might find the delegation and empowerment reflected in Acts 19:22 indicative of effective leadership and growth strategies that are still relevant today.

Commentaries

Biblical commentators refer to Acts 19:22 as an example of Paul's leadership style and his strategic planning to spread the Christian message effectively.

John Calvin comments on the verse pointing out how Paul had a strategic reason for every movement and was efficient in using his resources.

Bruce notes that Erastus is mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament as a public official, suggesting that he may have been a man of some standing.

Commentators also observe that Timothy's close relationship with Paul meant that he was trusted to carry significant responsibility on his behalf.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:22 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 19:22 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?