Introduction: Paul had just arrived in Ephesus and had finished ministering to a group of men who claimed to be disciples of John the Baptist (verses 1-7). Now he’s moving on into his pattern, “to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (or Gentile, Romans 1:16)”. There’s another pattern, so to speak: some will believe the Gospel; many will not; and Paul will move on to another group who is more receptive. Let’s take a look:
Text, Acts 19:8-12, KJV: 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. 9 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. 10 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. 11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 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.
Thoughts:
1 To the Jew first, verses 8-9a
--Ephesus had at least one synagogue, meaning there were at least 10 practicing or observant Jewish households.
--Paul’s pattern, so to speak, was to attend (weekly?) services there as he had done many times before. Acts 13-18 give several examples of his attendance at synagogues.
--Paul was able to “speak boldly” for three months, debating and explaining, perhaps, things concerning the kingdom of God. Of note, the last verse of Acts (28:31) shows he was doing the same thing, several years later, at Rome!
--And just like Corinth (Acts 18:5-6) and other places, eventually there came a point when some were “hardened, and believed not”. A hard heart was and is something that only God’s Love can penetrate. Think of how many times “hardness of heart” is mentioned in the Scriptures, and how seldom a hard heart was actually softened.
--That was bad enough, but these went on to speak evil “before the multitude”. Paul then decided to leave and “separated the disciples”. Opinions vary among some of the commentators but the common thread is that Paul took the believers away from the unbelievers, probably to avoid distraction and/or persecution.
2 And also to the Greek, verses 8b-10
--“Disputing” is another way to translate the word in the original language for “dialogue (https://biblehub.com/text/acts/19-9.htm )”. This implies some back-and-forth in the material presented as well as discussed.
--John Trapp’s commentary has this note: “(In the school of one Tyrannus) In one ancient copy it is added, "From the fifth hour to the tenth hour:" so indefatigable a preacher was Paul, a very ?a??e?te???, or iron-sides. He had a golden wit in an iron body, as one saith of Julius Scaliger (https://bibleportal.com/commentary/section/john-trapp-complete-commentary/422030).”
--Nothing is known of the “Tyrannus” who owned (?) or at least operated on managed (?) the school where Paul taught the disciples. At the very least he tolerated Paul and the doctrines he explained to the disciples.
--There is no record of the civil authorities being called in, here, to cause trouble for Paul, such as what had happened at Corinth. Had Gallio, in Corinth, sent a message to his counterpart or contemporary in Ephesus?
--Paul was able to continue this ministry in Ephesus for two years. The result was that everyone who lived in Asia (probably the immediate areas around Ephesus itself) “heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks”. To the Jew first, at the synagogue; and also to the Greek, at a school or, knowing Paul, any place he could witness!
3 And these signs shall follow them that believe, verses 11-12 (Mark 16:17)
--Let it be remembered that GOD was the One Who performed the miracles, not Paul nor anyone else. God did use Paul, and others, to be His hands, so to speak, but without God’s help no believer would be able to do much of anything (see John 15:5).
--So far as the text indicates, the only people Paul had baptized up to this point were the twelve former disciples of John (verses 1-7). The only miracle there was that these men spoke with other tongues or languages; proof they had received the Holy Spirit at that moment.
--Now Paul had a double ministry, at least; he was teaching in the school of Tyrannus but he also had a ministry of healing. As an apostle, he had that gift and authority and did not hesitate to use this when needed.
--Paul sent “handkerchiefs or aprons” to those who were sick and to those who were demon possessed. Praise the Lord for those unsung heroes who took these items where needed!
--“Handkerchiefs” is another translation of the word for a face-cloth or head cloth, per https://biblehub.com/greek/4676.htm. “Aprons” seem to be linen or leather aprons, used by workmen to protect their clothes and, perhaps, their bodies; https://biblehub.com/greek/4612.htm. The items worked, not because of what they were, but because of the Lord and His love. .
Scripture quotations taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV)
