Acts 19:1-23 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus… When Paul enters Ephesus he does not stand up at once to harangue indiscriminate multitudes on the great subjects of the gospel; but goes philosophically to work. He thoughtfully surveys the situation, inquires into its condition, endeavours to ascertain whether there are any persons in any degree prepared to accept his doctrines. I. HE BEGINS WITH THOSE WHO ARE MOST ACQUAINTED WITH HIS DOCTRINES. He found certain disciples who had made some progress in Christian knowledge, and endeavoured to live up to the point of their intelligence. To establish in the faith "twelve" such men would prove more conducive to the advancement of truth than to elicit the thunderous cheers of a crowded and promiscuous auditory. 1. He promptly convicts them of the deficiency of their Christianity. He does this by two questions — (1) "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" They said unto him, "We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost."(2) "Unto what, then, were ye baptized?" Their answer explains their ignorance. "They said, Unto John's baptism." They had not yet come fully into the school of Christ. It is clear from the sequel that those questions struck deep and made them profoundly conscious of their deficiency. 2. He effectively ministers to their advancement in Divine knowledge (ver. 4). By this he teaches them that John's ministry was — (1) Reformative. (2) Introductory.John told his vast audiences to believe on Him that would come after him, that is, Christ Jesus. Now this teaching of the apostle was effective (ver. 5). Baptism was an expression of that higher stage of experience to which Paul's ministry had raised them. 3. He conveys the miraculous gifts of the Spirit (ver. 6). The gift of tongues was not a gift of new languages, but the gift of speaking spiritual truths with supernatural fervour and force. The Spirit did not make them linguists, but spiritual orators. New ideas will make an old language new. This gift of speech enabled them to prophesy — i.e., teach. "He that prephesieth speaketh unto men to edification and exhortation and comfort." II. HE PROCEEDS TO THOSE WHO WERE NEXT TO THE "TWELVE" IN THEIR ACQUAINTANCE WITH HIS DOCTRINES. His ministry with the Jews was — 1. Argumentative. "Disputing." He gave reasons to sustain his propositions, and answered objections. He spoke to men's judgment. 2. Persuasive. He plied them with motives rightly to excite their affections and determine their will. It was — 3. Indefatigable. He was "daily" at the work, instant in season and out of season. III. HE ULTIMATELY GOES FORTH INTO THE WIDE WORLD OF GENERAL SOCIETY — into the school of Tyrannus. The result was — 1. A wide diffusion of the gospel (ver. 10). Ephesus was the metropolis, and into it the population of the provinces were constantly flowing for purposes both of commerce and of worship. 2. The ejection of evil spirits (ver. 12). His supernatural ministry was — (1) Derived. Unlike Christ, he had not the power of working miracles natural in himself (ver. 11). (2) Beneficent. It was put forth, not to wound or to injure men, but to heal and bless them. (3) Strikingly manifest. The mere "handkerchiefs or aprons" which touched his body carried with them virtue to heal the diseased and to expel the devil from the possessed. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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, |
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