Paul in Ephesus

Apostle Paul in Ephesus

ACTS 19 COMMENTARY ◄
Acts 19:6-7 Speaking in Tongues

Acts 19:8-13 Paul in Ephesus

ACTS 19:8 8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.

For the first three months, where did Paul preach in Ephesus?
In the Jewish "synagogue" (Acts 19:8)

ACTS 19:9 9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

Why did Paul depart from the Jews in the synagogue thereafter?
Some not only "were hardened and did not believe" (Acts 19:8) but also began to try to turn the general population of Ephesus against Christianity: "spoke evil of the Way before the multitude" (Acts 19:9). After harvesting in the Jewish synagogue, God was about to harvest in the general population of Ephesus.

What were Paul's morning, afternoon and evening activities in Ephesus after leaving its synagogue?
Greek schools in the Middle East were invariably in session during the cool hours of the morning, with the hot afternoons reserved for siesta (midday nap). If the "school of Tyrannus" (Acts 19:9) was a typical Greek school, it would have been in session during the mornings and vacant during the afternoons. Paul later reminded the elders of Ephesus that while at Ephesus, he worked with his hands to provide for himself and others, most probably by working his trade making tents: "Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me" (Acts 20:34). Paul also reminded them, "I ... taught you publicly and from house to house ..." (Acts 20:20) "to warn everyone night and day ..." (Acts 20:31). Therefore, Paul is likely to have worked as a tentmaker in Ephesus in the mornings, taught "publicly" at the school of Tyrannus in the afternoons, and then "from house to house" at "night."

ACTS 19:10 10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

How long did Paul stay in Ephesus?
"Three years" (Acts 20:31), including "three months" (Acts 19:8) teaching at the synagogue and "two years" (Acts 19:10) at the school of Tyrannus.

What was accomplished during Paul's ministry in Ephesus?
"All who dwelt in Asia" were evangelized: "heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks" (Acts 19:10).

Why did Paul go to Ephesus?
Ephesus was the largest city and the provincial capital of "Asia"; Paul went to the place in the province where the largest number of its people gathered.

To evangelize your town, does your church go to its largest public and online gathering places or mainly stay inside the church building?

ACTS 19:11-12 11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.

Why would Paul wear "handkerchiefs or aprons" (Acts 19:11)?
He is likely to have worn the apron and tied the handkerchief across his forehead while working as a tentmaker.

ACTS 19:13 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.”

Did that work?
See next page.