Bible Reading
Acts 19:1–41 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions until he reached Ephesus, on the coast, where he found several believers. He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” “No,” they replied, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” “Then what baptism did you experience?” he asked. And they replied, “The baptism of John.” Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.” As soon as they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.
[05:35]Then Paul went to the synagogue and preached boldly for the next three months, arguing persuasively about the Kingdom of God. But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.
[06:17]God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled. A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.
The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.
[11:24]Afterward Paul felt compelled by the Spirit to go over to Macedonia and Achaia before going to Jerusalem. “And after that,” he said, “I must go on to Rome!” He sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia while he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia.
About that time, serious trouble developed in Ephesus concerning the Way. It began with Demetrius, a silversmith who had a large business manufacturing silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. He kept many craftsmen busy. He called them together, along with others employed in similar trades, and addressed them: “Gentlemen, you know that our wealth comes from this business. But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province! Of course, I’m not just talking about the loss of public respect for our business. I’m also concerned that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will lose its influence and that Artemis—this magnificent goddess worshiped throughout the province of Asia and all around the world—will be robbed of her great prestige!”
At this their anger boiled, and they began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” Soon the whole city was filled with confusion. Everyone rushed to the amphitheater, dragging along Gaius and Aristarchus, who were Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia. Paul wanted to go in, too, but the believers wouldn’t let him. Some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, also sent a message to him, begging him not to risk his life by entering the amphitheater. Some were shouting one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there. The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander forward and told him to explain the situation. He motioned for silence and tried to speak. But when the crowd realized he was a Jew, they started shouting again and kept it up for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
At last the mayor was able to quiet them down enough to speak. “Citizens of Ephesus,” he said. “Everyone knows that Ephesus is the official guardian of the temple of the great Artemis, whose image fell down to us from heaven. Since this is an undeniable fact, you should stay calm and not do anything rash. You have brought these men here, but they have stolen nothing from the temple and have not spoken against our goddess. If Demetrius and the craftsmen have a case against them, the courts are in session and the officials can hear the case at once. Let them make formal charges. And if there are complaints about other matters, they can be settled in a legal assembly. I am afraid we are in danger of being charged with rioting by the Roman government, since there is no cause for all this commotion. And if Rome demands an explanation, we won’t know what to say.” Then he dismissed them, and they dispersed.
[14:36]Ephesians 1:1–2 This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
[23:57]Colossians 1:18 Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.
[18:33]Observation questions
- What details in Acts 19 show that the gospel spread beyond one small group and reached both Jews and Greeks?
- What did the new believers do with their sorcery books, and what does the passage emphasize about the value and public nature of that decision? [11:24]
- According to Demetrius, what was threatened when people stopped believing that handmade gods were truly gods?
- In Ephesians 1:1–2, what shared identity does Paul give to the believers in Ephesus, and what blessing does he speak over them? [23:57]
Interpretation questions
- Why did burning the books make sense as a response to trusting Jesus, rather than simply keeping the books while privately believing something different? What does this reveal about the kind of loyalty Jesus calls for? [12:07]
- Demetrius spoke about Artemis’s honor, but he also admitted that his wealth came from making shrines. What does his reaction show about the way money, identity, public reputation, and worship can become tied together? [16:31]
- Colossians 1:18 says Christ is “first in everything.” How would this truth challenge the idea that Jesus can be important while still remaining separate from a person’s finances, ambitions, relationships, or cultural loyalties? [18:44]
- Paul calls a deeply mixed congregation “God’s holy people.” How does that shared identity help believers become one family without requiring them to erase their backgrounds, cultures, or histories? [28:38]
Application questions
- The Ephesian believers gave up practices that promised protection, control, and confidence about the future. When life feels uncertain, where are you most tempted to look first for security or control instead of looking to Jesus? [12:51]
- Something becomes an idol when it is asked to give what only God can give. Is there a good thing—such as money, success, a relationship, comfort, image, or status—that has begun to carry too much weight in your heart? What would putting it beneath Jesus look like this week? [17:25]
- Is Jesus usually your first response or your last resort when your finances are tight, you are anxious, or you are offended by someone? What is one specific habit that could help you turn to him first? [32:30]
- Where might you be allowing a difference in culture, race, age, politics, social standing, personality, or background to become distance between you and another believer? What would one small step toward that person look like? [35:08]
- Are there assumptions about “those people” that came from family stories, past experiences, or one painful encounter? How could humble listening help you test those assumptions instead of holding onto them? [38:02]
- Unity does not mean sameness; it means belonging to one another under one Lord. How can you make room for someone whose way of speaking, worshiping, serving, or living feels unfamiliar to you? [29:02]
- A church that reflects God’s coming kingdom requires more than being in the same room. How could you pursue a more diverse life through friendships, hospitality, listening, or shared service in the weeks ahead? [42:23]
