Acts 19:8

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.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) Spake boldly for the space of three months.—We pause for a moment to think of the amount of work of all kinds implied in this short record. The daily labour as a tent-maker went on as before (Acts 20:34), probably still in partnership with Aquila and Priscilla. The Sabbaths saw him evening and morning in the synagogue preaching, as he had done elsewhere, that Jesus was the Christ, and setting forth the nature of His work and the laws of His kingdom.

Benson Commentary

Acts 19:8-10. And he went into the synagogue — As he used to do in other places; and spake boldly — Greek, επαρρησιαζετο, he spake with freedom and confidence; for the space of three months, disputing — Greek, διαλεγομενος, reasoning, or discoursing; and persuading, &c. — That is, reasoning in proof of the things which concerned the gospel dispensation, and persuading the Jews to believe these things. But when divers were hardened, and believed not — But still continued in their infidelity and rebellion, perceiving, probably, the drift of his discourses to be, that men were justified by faith in Christ and his gospel, without obeying the law of Moses; and spake evil of that way — The Christian way of worshipping God; before the multitude — The people in the synagogue; representing it as utterly subversive of the revelation made by Moses and the prophets; he departed from them — Leaving them and their synagogue to themselves; and separated the disciples — From the Jews, whom he found to be incorrigible; and discoursing in the school of one Tyrannus — Who was either himself converted, or let his school to the apostle for hire to preach in. In this school, which we do not find was any otherwise consecrated than by preaching the gospel there, Paul discoursed daily, and not on the sabbaths only. And this continued — This was done by Paul, and was his daily practice, for the space of two years, so that all they which dwelt in the proconsular Asia — That is, all the inhabitants of the country who desired it; heard the word of the Lord — Though for some peculiar reason he had been forbidden to preach it there in his former journey, chap. Acts 16:6; both Jews and Greeks — It seem, the fame of the apostle’s doctrine and miracles brought multitudes to Ephesus from distant parts; and these, by what they heard and saw, being converted, preached the gospel when they returned to their own cities, and founded those churches which the apostle tells the Colossians, (Colossians 2:1,) had not seen his face in the flesh.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

19:8-12 When arguments and persuasions only harden men in unbelief and blasphemy, we must separate ourselves and others from such unholy company. God was pleased to confirm the teaching of these holy men of old, that if their hearers believed them not, they might believe the works.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Persuading the things - Endeavoring to persuade them of the truth of what was affirmed respecting the kingdom of God.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

8-10. he went into the synagogue and spake boldly for … three months, &c.—See on [2055]Ac 17:2, 3.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

The synagogue of the Jews at Ephesus. For in the greater cities the Jews had their synagogues, in which they had their prayers, read, and expounded the law; as also a school for teaching of their theology, in which they treated of hard questions, and more difficult matters; which might occasion the apostle’s frequenting that place.

The kingdom of God; the gospel; which is so called, Romans 14:17, because the kingdom of grace is by it set up in us here, and we are fitted by it for the kingdom of glory hereafter. But it might be also so called, because the Jews had dreamed of a political kingdom of the Messiah, and the Christians would own that Christ was indeed a King, but that his kingdom was a spiritual kingdom.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he went into the synagogue,.... Of the Jews at Ephesus, for it seems to have been a private house, where he had met with the twelve baptized disciples, and had laid his hands on them; and these being Jews, as it seems most likely, by their having been baptized into John's baptism, the apostle went along with them to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his usual custom; having a very great desire, and an affectionate concern, for the welfare of his countrymen the Jews:

and spake boldly for the space of three months; that is, he used great freedom of speech, and showed much courage and intrepidity of mind, in preaching the Gospel at the synagogue every sabbath day as it returned, during this space of time; some manuscripts read, "three days":

disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God; the kingdom of the Messiah, the Gospel dispensation, the doctrines and ordinances of the Gospel, and the Gospel church state, often signified by the kingdom of God, and of heaven, in Scripture; and concerning the glory of a future state, the way and right unto it, and meetness for it; and these things he reasoned upon in such a strong and nervous manner, and made use of such powerful arguments, in proof and demonstration of them, as were very persuasive, and engaged many to believe them, and give their assent unto them.

Geneva Study Bible

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.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Acts 19:8. Πείθων] is not equivalent to διδάσκων, but contains the result of διαλεγ. He convinced (men’s minds) concerning the kingdom of the Messiah. Comp. on πείθειν with the mere accusative of the object (Plat. Pol. p. 304 A; Soph. O. C. 1444), Valckenaer, ad Eur. Hipp. 1062.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Acts 19:8. The Apostle follows his usual method—to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. διαλεγ., see above; cf. Acts 17:2, “reasoning,” R.V. (“discoursing,” Rendall).

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8–20. Paul preaches to the Jews first and afterwards to the Gentiles. The Word of God prevails mightily

8. And he entered into the synagogue] As the incident of John’s disciples is mentioned before anything else, it seems likely that St Paul found them among the few Christian brethren in Ephesus, and began his teaching of them before he commenced his visits to the synagogue.

and spake boldly for the space of three months] Going there, that is, on all occasions of religious service, and so giving to his brethren of Israel a full opportunity of hearing all his reasoning, and inquiring whether what he taught was in accordance with the Scriptures. The abiding a longer time with them, which they had asked for (Acts 18:20) on his previous visit, does not seem to have gained him more adherents among the Jews. Perhaps he had noticed when the request was made that it was not with great fervour. Otherwise, it is not like the Apostle to pass by an opened door.

disputing [Better, reasoning] and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God] The Rev. Ver. has improved the translation in “reasoning,” but the italic “as to” before “the things” is needless. The first participle is the same word as in Acts 17:2, and though “from the Scriptures” is not added here as there, we may surely understand it, and that the persuasion spoken of afterwards was no greater display of gentleness than the Apostle used at other times.

Bengel's Gnomen

Acts 19:8. Διαλεγόμειος, discussing) A holy occupation: Acts 19:9 [therefore, to avoid profaning what is holy, he separated the disciples].

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8. - Entered for went, A.V.; reasoning for disputing, A.V. (διαλεγόμενος, as ver. 9 and Acts 17:2, 17; Acts 18:4, 19, etc.); as to the things for the things, A.V. This last is a needless change, since πείθειν properly governs an accusative of the things persuaded or taught, and it is a right English use of "to persuade" to apply it to the thing inculcated. For the use of the phrase "the kingdom of God" as a compendious description of Christian doctrine, see Acts 1:3; Acts 8:12; Acts 20:25; Acts 28:23. St. Luke uses the phrase very frequently (Luke 6:20; Luke 8:10; Luke 9:27, 60, 62; Luke 10:11; Luke 11:20; Luke 13:20, 28; Luke 16:16; Luke 17:20; Luke 21:31, etc.). Acts 19:8