Act 19 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Acts 19:1-7: 19:1-7 Paul traveled to Ephesus after Apollos had left. Subsequently, Apollos returned to Ephesus while Paul was still working there (1 Cor 16:12 ). The two men had different personalities, gifts, and roles, but God worked through both of them. • Some believers in Ephesus still had an inadequate understanding of the Christian faith (cp. Acts 18:26 ) and did not receive the Holy Spirit when they believed . They had accepted John’s baptism , which called for repentance from sin , but had not received Christian baptism, which included the gift of the Holy Spirit. When Paul had instructed them further, they were able to receive Christian baptism (19:5 ) and the Holy Spirit (19:6 ).

Summary for Acts 19:1-7: 19:1-7 ^a Paul traveled to Ephesus after Apollos had left. Subsequently, Apollos returned to Ephesus while Paul was still working there (1 Cor 16:12 ^b). The two men had different personalities, gifts, and roles, but God worked through both of them.

• Some believers in Ephesus still had an inadequate understanding of the Christian faith (cp. Acts 18:26 ^c) and did not receive the Holy Spirit when they believed. They had accepted John’s baptism, which called for repentance from sin, but had not received Christian baptism, which included the gift of the Holy Spirit. When Paul had instructed them further, they were able to receive Christian baptism (19:5 ^d) and the Holy Spirit (19:6 ^e).
19:6 ^f When Paul laid his hands on them they received the Holy Spirit, spoke in other tongues and prophesied, thereby experiencing the same filling with God’s power and presence that the disciples had received on the day of Pentecost (2:4 ^g, 11 ^h).
19:10 ⁱ Paul probably wrote 1 Corinthians during this time (see 1 Corinthians Book Introduction, “Date and Occasion of Writing”).
Summary for Acts 19:11-12: 19:11-12 ^j Paul, like other Christian evangelists (3:1-11 ^k; 4:22 ^l; 5:12-16 ^m; 6:8 ⁿ; 8:6-7 ^o, 13 ^p; 9:33-42 ^q), performed unusual miracles.

• evil spirits were expelled: As Jesus and Peter had done (cp. 5:16 ^r; Mark 1:21-34 ^s; Luke 4:31-37 ^t).
Summary for Acts 19:13-16: 19:13-16 ^u Paul’s effectiveness is contrasted with the impotence of the traveling Jewish exorcists, who used the name of Jesus as though it were magical but did not have a relationship with him or the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit (cp. Matt 12:27 ^v; Mark 9:38-39 ^w; Luke 9:49-50 ^x; 11:19 ^y).
Summary for Acts 19:17-19: 19:17-19 ^z The contrast between Paul and the Jewish exorcists was not lost on the people of Ephesus, Jews and Greeks alike. The resulting fear caused the inhabitants to honor and respect the name of the Lord Jesus. It led many to confess and forsake their sinful practices, including sorcery.
19:20 ^aa Luke’s summary of the success of the Good News in Ephesus is short but pungent (cp. 2:43-47 ^ab; 5:14 ^ac; 6:7 ^ad; 9:31 ^ae; 12:24 ^af; 16:5 ^ag; see Rom 1:16 ^ah). When the Christian faith overcame problems of internal dissension, idolatry, and pagan practices, it spread widely and grew rapidly.
Summary for Acts 19:21-22: 19:21-22 ^ai felt compelled by the Spirit: No doubt Paul was troubled by what he had heard about the situation in Corinth (see 1 Corinthians Book Introduction). Instead of going immediately himself, he sent ... Timothy, who was carrying a letter, 1 Corinthians, from Paul to the Corinthians (1 Cor 4:17 ^aj; 16:10-11 ^ak). Paul himself did go over to Macedonia and Achaia not long afterward (Acts 20:1-3 ^al).

• “I must go on to Rome!”: Perhaps compelled by his proven strategy (see study note on 16:8), Paul wanted to proclaim the Good News in the most significant city in the world.
Summary for Acts 19:23-41: 19:23-41 ^am The patron deity of Ephesus was the Greek goddess Artemis. Her birthplace was believed to be Ephesus, so Ephesus was the official guardian of the temple. Twice annually, elaborate festivals were held in her honor with athletic, musical, and theatrical celebrations that included singing Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! The temple of Artemis at Ephesus was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Conversions to Christianity clearly damaged the worship of Artemis and the associated economic activity, but it became clear that Paul and his associates had committed no crime. 19:23 ^an the Way: See study note on 9:2.
Summary for Acts 19:24-34: 19:24-34 ^ao Demetrius, a silversmith whose business was threatened by Paul’s proclaiming faith in one God, whipped up a major riot against him. 19:24 ^ap Silver coins and shrines carrying the image of Artemis were minted in Ephesus; statuettes of the goddess were used in civic processions and are still sold there today.
19:27 ^aq all around the world: The ancient geographer Strabo reports that temples dedicated to Artemis existed in cities from Asia Minor (now Turkey) to what is now France and Spain (Strabo, Geography 3.4.8; 4.1.4).
19:29 ^ar Archaeologists have excavated the amphitheater where the whole city assembled; it held 24,000 people.
19:31 ^as Some of the officials of the province (Greek Asiarchai, “rulers of Asia”): The “Asiarchs” were the appointed leaders in the Roman province of Asia. They served as civic benefactors and usually championed the emperor cult. Some of these officials in high places were friends of Paul—Luke highlights that Christianity was attractive to people of high standing in society.
Summary for Acts 19:35-41: 19:35-41 ^at The demonstration was finally quelled only when the mayor intervened and dismissed the assembly to prevent the city from being charged by the Roman government with rioting. This story demonstrates that Christians in the Roman world were entitled to legal due process. 19:35 ^au The tradition that the image (statue) of Artemis had fallen from heaven might point to its having been carved from a meteor.