PrevActs 19:8Next

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 19:8 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:8 describes the apostle Paul's ministry in Ephesus, where he enters the local synagogue and engages in dialogue with the Jews. For three months, he boldly proclaims and discusses ("disputing" in the King James Version) the truths about the kingdom of God.

This suggests an intense period of teaching and debate where Paul is trying to convince the listeners of the validity of the Christian message concerning Jesus and God's plan of salvation.

The verb "disputing" does not necessarily imply a negative connotation of argument, but rather a reasoned dialogue or discussion designed to persuade.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The Book of Acts, traditionally attributed to Luke, was written in the first century A.D., and this verse is part of the narrative of Paul's third missionary journey. Ephesus was a major city in the Roman province of Asia, known for its grand Temple of Artemis.

It was a cultural and commercial hub with a significant Jewish population.

Paul's strategy typically involved starting his ministry in local synagogues, as his initial audience were the Jews to whom he could relate as a fellow Jew schooled in the scriptures.

The passage reflects the early Christian efforts to reach out to Jewish communities and persuade them that Jesus was the Messiah prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints might interpret this verse in varying ways.

From a Protestant perspective, it highlights the importance of scripture and reasoned argument in propagating faith. Catholic and Orthodox traditions might appreciate the public aspect of Paul's teaching as an echo of their liturgical and communal approach to faith dissemination.

Some theologies might see this as an early example of apologetics, defending and explaining the Christian faith to non-believers, while more liberal theological viewpoints might focus on the verse as an example of religious dialogue and the exchange of ideas.

Practical Applications

From Acts 19:8, believers today can derive the importance of being well-versed in their faith to engage in meaningful conversations with others.

It encourages persistence in sharing one's beliefs, being bold yet thoughtful while presenting ideas, and the significance of reasoned dialogue rather than confrontational debate in witnessing to others.

Cross-References

Acts 17:2: "And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,"
Acts 18:4: "And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks."
2 Timothy 2:24-25: "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;"
1 Peter 3:15: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"

Language Study

In the Greek text, the word translated as "disputing" is "dialegomai," which means to think different things with oneself, to ponder, or to engage in dialogue. It implies reasoning or discussing in a detailed and systematic way.

"Boldly" translates from "parrēsiazomai," which conveys the idea of openness or confidence in speaking without fear.

The phrase "kingdom of God" refers to the central theme of Jesus' teaching and Paul's preaching, encompassing the reign and rule of God through Christ.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader cultural and religious context, synagogues were the centers of learning and discussion in Judaism and provided a platform for examining religious truths.

Paul's method resonates with the Jewish tradition of rabbinical debate and the Hellenistic approach to philosophy where open discourse and argumentation were common.

Scientific Perspectives

This verse does not directly intersect with scientific understandings, as it pertains to historical accounts of religious teaching and debate.

However, modern science values robust debate and peer review, principles that can be analogous to Paul's method of discussing and refining theological ideas through dialogue.

Commentaries

Various Biblical scholars and commentators have noted that Paul's approach in Acts 19:8 was strategic and courageous, particularly given the potential hostility of a synagogue audience to a message that reinterpreted their traditional beliefs.

Matthew Henry's Commentary appreciates Paul's commitment to persuasion, while the Expositor's Bible Commentary highlights the persistence of his efforts.

John Calvin notes Paul's boldness as an essential virtue of a true apostle, while modern commentaries often discuss how Paul's interactions model constructive religious dialogue.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:8 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 19:8 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?