Things are starting to happen in the church, and all around the world! New heroes of the faith are stepping forward to take the gospel far and wide.
Acts 18:24-26- And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
One man had heard the preaching of John the Baptist, and we aren't sure if he had moved away and hadn't heard the preaching of Jesus or how he didn't know about the things that had happened, but he was telling everyone he came across what he knew from the preaching of John.
When he got to Ephesus, he was heard by Paul's friends, Aquilla and Priscilla, and they took it upon themselves to tell him the part of the story that he had missed.
Apollos listened and learned and became another great missionary for the cause of Christ.
Acts 18:27-28- And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
Apollos went on his own missionary journey and God used him to strengthen Christians, convert sinners, and spread the gospel.
Acts 19:1-7- 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.
Paul was still about on his own missionary journey, and he came across some people who had heard of John's Baptism, probably from Apollos, and he asked them if they had received the Holy Ghost. When they told him they hadn't heard if the Holy Ghost had come, he asked them what they were believing.
You see, times had changed. In the Old Testament, a person was saved by keeping the law of Moses and sacrificing at the temple in Jerusalem for their sins. Then, when John the Baptist came, they were to be baptized as a symbol to others that they were repentant of their sins- but this didn't save them, this enabled them to know the Messiah when He appeared. Once Christ died, a New Testament had begun; in this New Testament, a person is saved by asking God to forgive them of their sins and wash them in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ- no sacrifices, no works, only belief.
Paul had to tell the Gentiles that their pagan idols couldn't save them and they had to turn to the true God. He had to convince the Jews that their Messiah had come and that He required their faith, not their works and heritage.
These men that heard Apollos believed Paul and were saved. They were given the gift of tongues to assure them of their salvation.
Acts 19:8-12- 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.
Paul spent two years in this place teaching these people about the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He worked many miracles here, too.
But, the problem that many people had then, and still have today, is that they want the power without having to give up their lifestyle. The name of Jesus Christ is powerful, but if you aren't protected by the blood of Christ through salvation, that name doesn't do you much good.
Acts 19:13-17- 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.
There were some men who thought that because they knew the name of Jesus they could use the power of His name. But, they found out that they were powerless!
James 2:19- Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
You see, the devils believe in God. They know that Jesus is the son of God! But, they aren't saved. The belief and knowledge does nothing for them.
If you know that Jesus died for your sins and was buried and rose again, that doesn't mean that you are saved. If you believe that Jesus is the only way to get to heaven, that doesn't ensure your way there. Only by asking God to save you, calling on Jesus name to forgive you of your sins and wash you in His blood, can you be saved!
Romans 10:9-10- That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
If you haven't asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins and save your soul, you should do it now. You aren't promised tomorrow!
These men found out the hard way that knowing the name of Jesus wasn't the same as knowing Jesus Himself!
Acts 19:19-20- 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.
The early Christians were eager to give up their idolatrous ways. The fact that it cost them didn't stop them. Many of them even paid with their lives!
Acts 19:21-29- 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.
Paul was getting ready to move to a different city, but just before he could leave an uproar started. This uprising began because some idol makers were losing money from people becoming Christians. They got the whole town in a tizzy, and no one really knew why, they just went along with the mob.
Two of Paul's friends were taken by this mob into the theatre. They were in trouble! And, Paul wanted to go in and help them.
Acts 19:30-32- 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.
Paul's friends asked him not to enter the theatre. It was madness in there, and no one knew how this would end.
Acts 19:33-41- 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 enquire 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.
Alexander wanted to talk to the people, but then there was a chanting from the mob. This went on for two hours until the ruler of the city was able to calm them down. He reminded them that they could face punishment from the Romans for all this and told the idol makers that they needed to come before the judges if they had a problem. He then reminded the people that the men they had taken captive had done nothing wrong. This ended the riot and everyone went home.
Many things happened to Paul and the other Christians. They certainly didn't lead a dull life! In fact, the life of a true Bible believer who obeys God and takes the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth is anything but boring!
