Good morning! We praise God, from whom all blessings flow. We thank Him for another week of work and rest, times with our family, colleagues and friends.
• Let’s look to the Word of God again. We are moving on to chapter 19 of the book of Acts. We’ve covered 18 chapters in the last 10 months.
• We are onto Paul’s third missionary journey, arriving now at Ephesus. We are going to see the mighty Name of Jesus in our text today.
• Phil 2:9-11 “9…God exalted him [Jesus] to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
LET US PRAY:
Dear Lord, we are here today to honour and worship you. We come with open ears and receptive hearts ready to hear from you.
We depend on you for wisdom and truth, to guide us through our everyday life. Help us come to you for the strength we need. Teach us humility. Help us submit to you. Give us the strength to live in a way that brings you honour and praise.
Bless us with your truth today. Help us know you more, this we pray, in Jesus’ Name, AMEN.
We see the impact of Jesus’ Name in this chapter – Acts 19.
• We saw in the last chapter Paul taking on his third missionary journey from Antioch.
• He left Antioch and travelled to the regions of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the churches established on his first journey.
• He arrived at Ephesus and that’s where we pick up from the text today – Acts 19.
Let’s read Acts 19:1-7 BAPTISED IN JESUS’ NAME
1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
3So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied.
4Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7There were about twelve men in all.
This was Paul’s return trip to Ephesus, because earlier on his second missionary journey he came to Ephesus with Priscilla and Aquilla, but that was a short stopover (18:19).
• He promised to return if God’s willing, and now he came back and stayed much longer.
Luke tells us he met a small group of disciples, 12 of them, who apparently did not have the full knowledge of Jesus except the teachings of John the Baptist.
• Paul noticed something was incomplete in their understanding and that prompted him to ask, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (19:2)
• They have not heard of the Holy Spirit; they knew only about John’s baptism.
They were in a similar place as Apollos (18:24-26), whom we read about last week.
• Apollos knew only the baptism of John, before Priscilla and Aquilla came to instruct him and explained to him “the way of God more adequately” (18:26).
• This group knew only John’s baptism, without the full understanding of Jesus, His death and resurrection.
Paul has to explain to them that "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." (19:4)
• John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance that looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, while the Christian baptism is a baptism that looks back to the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection.
• One was about repentance, the other regeneration, the born-again life that comes only through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
• These disciples needed to know and trust in the Person and the work of Jesus.
After Paul’s explanation, which would likely be more extensive than the one-liner we have here, they understood and believed Christ fully.
• They were baptised in the Name of Jesus and the Holy Spirit came upon them.
• Again we see God authenticating their salvation with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
• Similar to what happened to the Samaritans in Acts 8 and to the Gentiles gathered in Cornelius’ house in Acts 10.
• The Holy Spirit coming upon those who believed Christ as their Saviour.
It is more than knowing that God exists. It is more than knowing that we are sinners and need to repent. We need to recognise Jesus’ finished work on the cross for our redemption and that He rose again for our salvation.
• Only faith in Jesus Christ as our only Saviour can bring us a new life. There is no other way.
Acts 19:8-10 PROCLAIMING JESUS’ NAME
8Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.
We see the proclaiming of Jesus’ Name without stop.
• Paul spent considerable time preaching to the Jews in the synagogue, as was his custom wherever he went.
• In most places, he was not able to do that for long but here in Ephesus, at least, he was able to stay for 3 months.
• I believe Aquila and Priscilla played an important role in softening the ground here in Ephesus before Paul returned.
But there remained some defiant ones who refused to believe and openly maligned the Way (the Way referring to the message of the Gospel, as it was known then).
• Paul was finally forced to leave the synagogue but God provided another platform.
• He went with some disciples to a lecture hall owned by Tyrannus and used it to teach for two years.
• An early Greek manuscript said Paul used the hall during the midday siesta break when school was not in session to teach the Word.
• And through this “school” “all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the Word of the Lord.” (19:10)
• The students coming from and travelling back to the regions took the Word of God with them.
The name of Jesus was made known, not just at Ephesus but throughout the region.
• Some believed that the seven churches mentioned in the book of Revelation 2-3 were founded during this period.
• They were all located around Ephesus in Asia Minor.
Acts 19:11-16 AUTHORITY OF JESUS’ NAME
11God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
13Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 14Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15[One day] the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 16Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
We see here the authority of Jesus’ Name.
• Luke tells us that God did ‘extraordinary’ miracles through Paul. Even for an apostle like Paul, these miracles were unusual and not common.
• Today we have many false teachers going around claiming to do such miracles like they were everyday occurrences.
• Nowhere in the Scripture did we see this. Not even in Jesus’ ministry, although He did more miracles than others.
• Miracles are the works of God, not works manipulated by men.
Luke has to tell us they were “extraordinary” and that even handkerchiefs (likely Paul’s sweat-rags tied around the head) and aprons (used by Paul in his leatherworking) when taken to the sick or demon-possessed, they were healed.
• It wasn’t Paul doing that. It wasn’t Paul initiating it or calling for this to happen. God DID these miracles THROUGH Paul (19:11).
• These items have no inherent powers in themselves and we have no basis whatsoever to repeat such miracles.
• They were taken from Paul likely without his knowledge, to those in need and God, by His sovereign will and grace, healed the sick and demon-possessed.
• The people believed in the Name of Jesus whom Paul preaches.
Putting it in context, Luke went on to highlight an incident for us to understand. The subject of the evil spirits bridges the two sections.
• He contrasted the extraordinary miracles with some inept Jewish exorcists who wanted to imitate the miracles.
• They wanted to “borrow” the Name of Jesus. We can sense Luke’s humour in this. The man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all
• The Jewish exorcists were practitioners of magic, sons of a questionable priest (whose name wasn’t in any records), and they wanted to invoke the name of Jesus.
• They commanded the evil spirit “in the name of Jesus whom Paul proclaims” (19:13) but the spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"
They were powerless because they have no relationship with Jesus.
• It wasn’t about a particular formula or incantation, but the authority of Jesus Christ, which was given to the believers of Christ.
• And they did not know Him, unlike Paul, who knows and believes Him, preaches Him every day. Even the evil spirit recognised Paul as the one who proclaims Christ.
• Do you know Jesus? Do you trust Him personally as your Saviour and Lord?
The exorcists wanted to borrow Jesus’ Name for their purpose and profit.
• Paul exalted Christ and God did extraordinary miracles through him.
• Our faith is in Jesus, the One whom we worship, proclaim and follow.
Acts 19:17-20 THE POWER OF JESUS’ NAME
17When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honour. 18Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 19A number who had practised sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
We see the power of Jesus’ Name in bringing deep conviction.
God worked extraordinary miracles through Paul because Ephesus was a centre for the occult. This incident with the exorcists enlightened many and brought great conviction.
• The many “so-called believers” or ignorant believers who were dabbling with magic and sorcery, repented.
• God demonstrated His power in Satan’s territory. The miracles showed the authority and power of Jesus’ Name.
Many were “seized with fear and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honour.” (19:17) The Name of Jesus was magnified.
• The people confessed their sin and burned their scrolls of magic and sorcery openly.
• Luke wanted us to understand the value of the lot that was burnt – 50,000 drachmas! A drachma (silver) being a working man’s daily wage. So it’s a day’s wage times 50,000, that’s $5 million today.
God brought a conviction so strong that they made a radical and clean break from their sin.
• May the Spirit of God lead us to the same conviction, where we can make a clean break from our past sinful habits and practices?
• We want to destroy everything that is not of God and never to return to them.
19:20 “In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.”
• We see here the impact of Jesus’ Name among the people.
If you are listening and still looking for answers to life, remember Jesus. Only JESUS can save you.
• Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life, and no man can come to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) That’s how important He is to you.
CONCLUSION:
Paul did not build a following for himself; he was pointing people to Christ.
• He was known to preach and exalt Christ, not just in Ephesus but also around the region. Even the evil spirits recognised it.
• At the end of the day, the name of Jesus was held in high honour, His name was magnified (19:16).
It wasn’t about Paul or his miracles; it was about the Jesus whom he believes and proclaims.
• Paul did not use the miracles to market his message or ministry. It was not about the signs and wonders.
• He preaches Christ. It was “the Word of the Lord [that] spread widely and grew in power.” (19:20)
While God does use miracles to aid our faith, it is the Gospel, Paul says in
• Rom 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”
• 1 Cor 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
A young boy attended a wedding in a garden with his parents. At the end of the ceremony, the minister prayed and said, “… in the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN.”
The boy turned to his father and said, “I just heard that man swearing!”
His father was taken aback and realised that the kid has gotten the wrong association of that name from the programmes he watched on TV, the constant swearing he heard.
The father corrected him quickly but he couldn’t get this incident out of his mind.
“What has the world come to when the only thing a child knows about the name of Jesus Christ is that it is used as a swear word.”
Have we, living our lives every day, contribute to the honour or dishonour of the name of Jesus Christ?
With all that has happened at Ephesus, Paul could have taken some credit for it but he did not let it go to his head. He left for Jerusalem.
• His aim was always to proclaim Christ and exalt Him. Let us do the same and give Him the honour due to His Name.
May the light of Christ be seen in us. May our actions draw others to Him.
• We want to echo John the Baptist’s words: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30 ESV) “The one who comes from above is above all.” (John 3:31 NIV)
PRAYER:
Come Lord Jesus, and let your light shine through us, so that through our actions we may be salt for the earth and light in the sight of men.
Help us keep our eyes focused on you and let us reach out to those in need and bless them with your love and grace. Take us and use us to love and serve all people.
May the grace of Jesus, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and forevermore, AMEN.
