Title: What Did You receive?
Acts 19
Introduction:
Doctrine!
When I say the word doctrine, what comes to your mind? Policy? Principles? A set of guidelines? Or, do you visualize a long and boring lecture by someone about canon? Do you visualize long and unfamiliar words about dogma that someone uses like he or she thinks you know exactly what they mean? Well, you may not be the only one that visualizes or thinks about doctrine that way.
The word doctrine in some circles has come to mean a boring or less than pleasant thing. And, that’s because pastors and teachers have made it that way. People have stepped in and made learning about Christians principles and practices a mind-numbing and tedious thing that seldom seems interesting or inspiring.
But whatever we envision or however we describe Christian doctrine, in all actuality it is a needful thing that explains what you believe, in whom you believe, and how you believe. It’s essential to have your doctrine correct, as outlined by the Bible. Paul told young Timothy essentially that in:
1 Timothy 4:16
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
And, then, in Titus 1:9, Paul tells Titus the qualities that should be sought after for an overseer.
Titus 1:9
He [the overseer] must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
Today’s message is not a concentrated, all-inclusive study on doctrine, but rather a selective study on those points presented in Acts 19:
I. What Baptism did you receive? (vv. 1-7)
II. What message did you receive? (vv. 8-10)
III. What Gift did you receive? (vv.11-12)
IV. What Jesus did you receive? (vv.13-20)
V. What Reception Did You Receive? (vv.21-41)
I. What Baptism did you receive?
19:1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and 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." 3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John’s baptism," they replied. 4 Paul 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." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
What baptism did you receive? Paul asks that question of those believers at Ephesus. He probably asked the question because of actions, fruit, or, yes, doctrine. He wanted to be sure in his mind of the type of baptism the Ephesians received. However, in this context it does not mean the act of putting someone in water and baptizing them, but the name into which they were baptized.
Paul found out that the Ephesian believers were baptized through John’s baptism of repentance. This was also what Apollos had been preaching right before Aquila and Priscilla set him straight about the way of the Lord.
John’s baptism of repentance pointed to the coming of the Messiah, it pointed those that were baptized to follow the one that came after John. However, it stopped short of revealing that discovery. The Ephesians were glad to learn of the Messiah, and that they could carry on as John had so indicated to them when they were baptized.
Additionally, the Ephesians did not have the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. But, they gladly accepted the Holy Spirit, which was demonstrated by an overpowering outpouring of the Spirit on those that had gathered to receive Him. Also, they were afforded the opportunity, by speaking in tongues, to experience the power of the Spirit through the WORD OF THE GOSPEL.
II. What message did you receive?
8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 But 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. 10 This 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.
When you became a Christian, what message did you receive? Paul entered the synagogue and spoke, …arguing persuasively [and] …Paul had discussions daily in the lecture hall.
Paul first went into the synagogue and spoke there for three months until the Jews there became so obstinate that he took the Gospel to the lecture hall of Tyrannus (Tee-ra-nuhs). Now, Tyrannus was either the owner of the hall, or a prominent philosopher associated with it. Whatever the case, Paul spoke there probably during the afternoon break from work which was from 11 am to 4 p.m.
The message Paul taught is quite clear and echoes throughout his epistles. Jesus, born of a virgin, lived a sin-free life, went to the cross and was crucified for the sin of the world, and rose again on the third day.
His message was clear, and it must be clear in our minds as well. We cannot live according to a different Gospel or a different Jesus. It must be the Word according to the Gospels and the doctrine laid out in the epistles any more or any less will simply not do. This Gospel is the gift of life. Which brings us to the next question. What gift did you receive?
III. What Gift did you receive?
11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so 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.
Paul was an extraordinary person even before he became a Christian. Yet, now, with the Spirit of God working in and through him, he was able to do even more.
These miracles that God performed through Paul were a confirmation that (1) God was working through Paul, and (2) it was a approval or authentication of Paul’s ministry.
What gift did you receive when you put your faith in the Savior? What has He enabled you to do to further His work on this earth?
IV. What Jesus did you receive?
13 Some 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." 14 Seven 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?" 16 Then 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. 17 When 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 honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
What god were these Jews and Greeks worshipping in Ephesus? If these people were Jewish, why were they embracing something that they had been told in the Old Testament to never do? Obviously, they were worshipping something, but it was not the Living God of the Bible.
These men wanted the power for themselves. These men wanted to profit from the name, but did not want to accept the name. It’s kind of like a person selling baseball shirts at a stadium and not liking the game, or knowing anything about the game.
These men wanted the power for themselves. They wanted the life but not the commitment. Sounds kind of familiar doesn’t it? These men wanted to be recognized as using the trendy words and phrases of these new Christians, but they didn’t want the dedication and commitment to God that goes along with it. They instead were found out and sent on their way. This, in turn, caused the name of the real Jesus to be held in high regard. So, we ask the question, again.
What Jesus did you receive?
V. What Reception Did You Receive?
21 After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. "After I have been there," he said, "I must visit Rome also."22 He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer. 23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: "Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty." 28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.
32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33 The Jews pushed Alexander to the front, and some of the crowd shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: "Men of Ephesus, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today’s events. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it." 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
What kind of reception did Christianity receive in this region? In the beginning it was slow, but it picked up a little bit of steam. And it seems to have grown to such a level as to make an impact on those that worshipped idols in Ephesus. So much so that in these passages it seems to be threatening the livelihood of the metalworkers.
These workers lived off the superstitions of the people, making idols and charms for offering at the temple in Ephesus and, making souvenirs of the temple so the people could take back home. Kind of a proof that I was there kind of thing. But, in the meantime it perpetuated the belief in false gods. In an effort to protect their own selfish gains, these storeowners prompted a riot and impromptu trial of Paul and Christianity.
A Jew named Alexander was pushed to the front, probably to let them know that the Jews had nothing to do with Jesus. But, when they found out that he was a Jew they rejected him. Why? Well, we can reason that the Jews didn’t buy anything from them, since worshipping the Living God in that time did not require those kinds of sacrifice or offerings.
In the end, you’ll know what kind of impact was made by what kind of reception was received. Remember, it’s not really Paul that they are accepting or rejecting, it is Jesus Christ and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Remember, it is not you that people are rejecting it is Jesus Christ and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion: What did you receive?
When our motives or thoughts seem to be confused or misplaced we need to ask ourselves that question, What did I receive from the Bible about that?
Our motives and thoughts should always be aligned with the Bible. Our intended end result should always be looked at through the Bible. Any study, any song, any thought, any action, any conversation, should be viewed through the Bible first. We look through the Bible at our counseling actions. We look through the Bible at our parental responsibilities. We look through the Bible for the directions we should take in life.
The question, What have I received from Jesus about that? may be compared to the statement What would Jesus do? but with more power. It takes the latter statement and personalizes it and attempts to find its basis in Scripture for our lives.
What did you receive?
I. What Baptism did you receive? (vv. 1-7)
II. What message did you receive? (vv. 8-10)
III. What Gift did you receive? (vv.11-12)
IV. What Jesus did you receive? (vv.13-20)
V. What Reception Did You Receive? (vv.21-41)
