PrevActs 19:9Next

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 19:9 mean?

Explanation

Acts 19:9 describes a period in the ministry of the Apostle Paul at Ephesus.

The verse specifically mentions that some individuals were "hardened" and did not believe Paul's teaching, speaking negatively of "that way," which refers to the Christian faith.

As a result of this opposition, Paul decided to withdraw from the synagogue where he had been preaching and continued his teaching with the disciples at the school of Tyrannus.

This move signifies Paul's adaptation to the circumstances to continue spreading the Gospel message.

Top Rated Acts Books

Historical Context

The book of Acts, authored by Luke, details the spread of Christianity in the first century after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Ephesus was a major city in the Roman province of Asia, and it served as a significant hub for commerce and religion, including the cult of Artemis.

Paul's journey to Ephesus occurred during his third missionary journey.

During this time, synagogues were not only places of worship for Jews but also served as centers for discussion and dissemination of religious and philosophical ideas.

Theological Insights

Different theological interpretations exist for Acts 19:9.

One perspective suggests that Paul's separation from the synagogue indicates a pivotal moment when the Gospel starts to reach out more to Gentiles.

Another view could be that it emphasizes the necessity of discernment and the appropriate response to opposition in ministry contexts.

The "hardening" of hearts can be seen as a recurring theme throughout the Bible, signifying resistance to God's message.

Practical Applications

Acts 19:9 can teach contemporary readers about perseverance in the face of opposition and the importance of adapting one's approach to teaching or sharing beliefs.

It suggests that when faced with resistance, it might be practical to find new avenues to share one's message without compromising the integrity of the teachings.

Cross-References

Acts 18:6 - And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
2 Timothy 2:25 - In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth.
Romans 9:18 - Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

Language Study

The key terms in the original Greek text of Acts 19:9 include:

"Hardened" (σκληρύνω - sklērynō): to make hard or stubborn.
"Believed not" (ἀπειθέω - apeitheō): to be disobedient or to refuse belief.
"Spake evil" (κακολογέω - kakologeō): to speak evil of, revile, or slander.
"Way" (ὁδός - hodos): often used to describe the Christian faith or lifestyle.
"School" (σχολή - scholē): a place for lectures or discussions, similar to a modern school or college.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the cultural and religious context of the time, Paul's experiences in Ephesus could be compared to the experience of new philosophies or religious movements emerging within Greek and Roman societies.

Just as Christianity faced skepticism and opposition, other movements within these societies also faced similar challenges.

Scientific Perspectives

While there are no direct scientific perspectives related to this verse, it can inspire a discussion on psychological factors that contribute to belief formation and resistance, such as cognitive dissonance or confirmation bias, providing insight into why some individuals may become hardened in their beliefs.

Commentaries

Commentators have offered varied perspectives on Acts 19:9.

Some highlight the strategic shift in Paul's ministry, focusing on his decision to use the school of Tyrannus as a new base for evangelism.

Others focus on the nature of the opposition, considering the socioreligious dynamics of Ephesus and how they contributed to the resistance Paul encountered.

The emphasis on the "hardening" of hearts is often highlighted as a theological point reflecting human resistance to divine revelation.

Acts 19

Acts 19

What does Acts 19:9 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 19:9 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?