Acts 19:1-20
Dear RTB’ers,
Paul’s third missionary journey. We had the beginning yesterday in just one verse (Acts 18:23), but only that he had begun traveling. The Apollos-Priscilla-Aquila-Paul-Holy Spirit connection is a bit confusing in chapter 18’s ending and chapter 19’s beginning. When he came to Ephesus Apollos knew only about the baptism of John (Acts 18:25). Paul had left Priscilla and Aquila behind when he left Ephesus (Acts 18:19) and they instructed Apollos more accurately (Acts 18:26). So Paul comes to Ephesus some many months later. But when he arrives in Ephesus after these many months, with Priscilla and Aquila having been there the entire time that he had been traveling, these Ephesians did not know about the Holy Spirit. Paul had been with Priscilla and Aquila some 18 months in Corinth; I would have thought that he would have instructed them more completely in the Holy Spirit and His work in believers’ lives. But these Ephesian disciples knew only of the baptism of John – what they might have learned from Apollos. So there is some confusion therein that I cannot resolve, as to Priscilla and Aquila’s ministry in Ephesus, or even the reality of Paul’s having visited there many months prior (Acts 18:19-21) – and no Holy Spirit knowledge!
Ephesus was a bustling port city during Paul’s three years there. (Their harbor has now silted over and it is some three miles from the Aegean Sea.) As a major commercial center, Paul’s ministry there was easily extended out into the rest of Asia (Acts 19:10) – actually Turkey/Asia Minor as we know it today. Later we will read the Epistle to the Colossians. The Colossians were very likely one of the beneficiaries of Paul Ephesian ministry, with Colossae being some 120 miles east of Ephesus.
I’m sure that we all have special verses from Scripture, verses that we have memorized or that have touched us in some special way. Today we have one of those for me, when the evil spirit answered the seven sons of Sceva: “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” (19:15b) Yes, it’s a bit silly that this verse should always jump out at me – surely due to its silliness and not to it’s spiritual meaning. But there is something worthy of consideration: “Who are you?” Do evil spirits (or common, everyday people) recognize Jesus in me? In you? Who are you?
Blessings!