“The Way” Screen 1 Acts 19:1-23 November 5, 2017 (“A Journey” = “A Way” - Use this phrase all throughout the sermon.) Several weeks ago we began our way in the Book of ACts by DisCussing “GoD’s Screen 2 SeCret To ChurCh Growth” (Acts 8:26-40). Philip, the evangelist leads the Ethiopian eunuCh to the LorD, bapMzes him anD then, “poof” Disappears into another town anD keeps right on preaching. The Ethiopian eunuCh who “went on his way rejoiCing” (vs. 39) is the very first GenMle Convert in the book of ACts. Then, we DisCusseD the following week the “Winning AtuDes” of Paul anD Silas (Acts 16:16-34) as they leD the Philippian jailer to the LorD anD his whole householD - bapMzing all of them. Verse 34b says “AnD he rejoiCeD along with his enMre householD that he had believeD in GoD.” This Philippian jailer is the very first European Convert in the book of ACts. Paul anD Silas leD him to the LorD while on Paul’s seConD missionary journey. Map of Paul’s first journey. —> —> —> Screen 3 Map of Paul’s second journey. —> —> —> Screen 4 On Paul’s first anD seConD missionary journeys, Paul preacheD in new areas that had not hearD the gospel yet - moDern Day Turkey/Asia anD moDern Day GreeCe/ Europe. Map of Paul’s third journey. —> —> —> Screen 5 !1 On the thirD journey, Paul visits no new areas, but goes to strengthen believers in CiMes where he had already been. On the seConD journey, the Holy Spirit DireCteD Paul away from Asia (moDern Turkey) . Acts 6:6 These they set before the apostles, anD they prayeD anD laiD their Screen 6 hanDs on them. beCause GoD wanteD him to spenD most of his Mme in Europe (Philippi, ThessaloniCa, Corinth, Athens, etC.) On this thirD journey, most of Paul’s Mme was spent in Asia (moDern Turkey) in the City of Ephesus. To be exact, three years are all summarizeD in Acts 19. Acts 20:2 When he had gone through those regions anD had given them muCh Screen 7 enCouragement, he Came to GreeCe. Ties Ephesus in with MaceDonia anD his goal is “enCouragement”. There has never been a Mme in my life where the ChurCh of Jesus Christ neeDeD more enCouragement than toDay. (I only know this from a first hanD experienCe with Southern BapMst ChurChes.) The past Couple of weeks I met with an Screen 8 Assembly of GoD pastor at Seacoast ChurCh in Charleston, South Carolina; Southern BapMst ChurCh pastor in Clermont, Georgia; another Assembly of GoD pastor in Griffin, Georgia (actually three total Assemblies of GoD pastors anD one Southern BapMst). They all neeD enCouragement. Some years ago, I met with Leith AnDerson anD I stole his vision for ministry anD made it my own - “to give hope, enCouragement anD vision” to all believers/ !2 people - espeCially those in leadership posiMons in the LorD’s ChurCh (people neeD enCouragement as they go about their journey/their way.) Acts 19:1-3 1 AnD it happeneD that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passeD Screen 9 through the inlanD Country anD Came to Ephesus. There he founD some DisCiples. 2 AnD he saiD to them, “DiD you reCeive the Holy Spirit when you believeD?” AnD Screen 10 they saiD, “No, we have not even hearD that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 AnD he saiD, “Into what then were you bapMzeD?” They saiD, “Into John's bapMsm.” ToDay, there is eviDenCe for groups well into the fourth Century - 300’s AD - who ClaimeD John the BapMst as their founDer. >InteresRng how far away from Israel they were.< Research groups calling John the BapRst their founder.—> —> —> One CoulD Call this group in Acts 19 as “pre-saveD” but Definitely on the right road. They were “this Close” to salvaMon (hold up hand and show inch.) Acts 19:4-5 AnD Paul saiD, “John bapMzeD with the bapMsm of repentanCe, telling Screen 11 the people to believe in the one who was to Come a`er him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were bapMzeD in the name of the LorD Jesus. Paul preaches the “rest of the gospel” (not just the beginning of the gospel) to them - the gooD news of Jesus Christ, anD they are immeDiately saveD anD bapMzeD. John DiD a great job preparing them. !3 Acts 19:6-7 6 AnD when Paul had laiD his hanDs on them, the Holy Spirit Came Screen 12 on them, anD they began speaking in tongues anD prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all. The exact same thing happens to the twelve “DisCiples” of John, now of Jesus, in Ephesus as happeneD to the 120 in Acts 2:1-13. Ephesus was a very mulMCultural/ internaMonal City. It was the banking Center for the whole area of Asia (moDern Turkey). Pilgrims from all over the Roman Empire woulD finD their way anD travel there to worship Artemis anD /or see her temple whiCh was one of the seven wonDers of the anCient worlD. The GenMle PenteCost oCCurreD in Acts 10:9-48 where Cornelius at Caesarea, Israel anD his householD experienCeD tongues anD prophesying a`er Peter’s vision anD here it happens again to these former DisCiples of John 1191 miles away from Jerusalem. [If this is not enCouraging, I Don’t know what is! These disciples were Jewish as we shall soon see.] Acts 19:8 AnD he entereD the synagogue anD for three months spoke bolDly, Screen 13 reasoning anD persuading them about the kingDom of GoD. “he entereD the synagogue” - even though in . Acts 13:46 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went Down to SeleuCia, Screen 14 anD from there they saileD to Cyprus. Paul says he will “turn to the GenMles” he sll goes a`er Jews, too (fasCinaMng). “three months” - a long Mme in a loCal Jewish boDy of worship to get to explain Jesus as Messiah. !4 Acts 19:9 But when some beCame stubborn anD ConMnueD in unbelief, Screen 15 speaking evil of the Way before the CongregaMon, he withDrew from them anD took the DisCiples with him, reasoning Daily in the hall of Tyrannus. ”some” - this some ruineD it for the all (Never happens in AmeriCa, right?) “the way” Screen 16 John 14:4-7 4 AnD you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas saiD to him, “LorD, we Do not know where you are going. How Can we know the way?” 6 Jesus saiD to him, “I am the way, anD the truth, anD the life. No one Comes to the Father exCept through me. 7 If you had known me, you woulD have known my Father also. From now on you Do know him anD have seen him.” “the way” is useD in an interesMng way (pun intenDeD) in ACts - more later l l l “took the DisCiples with him” - he takes the Jewish/former DisCiples of John, now of Jesus, with him to “the hall of Tyrannous” - the hall of the tyrant - some manusCripts read “from the fi`h hour to the tenth (from 11: AM to 4 PM). This woulD have been siesta Mme in that Culture. Acts 19:10 This ConMnueD for two years, so that all the resiDents of Asia hearD Screen 17 the worD of the LorD, both Jews anD Greeks. “two years” - he reasoneD Daily in the hall of the tyrant. So far Paul has spent two years anD three months in Ephesus. Acts 20:31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I DiD not Screen 18 Cease night or Day to admonish every one with tears. !5 He says he spent three years in the great City. (While there, he also wrote 1 Corinthians.) Acts 19:11 AnD GoD was Doing extraorDinary miracles by the hanDs of Paul, Screen 19 “extraorDinary miracles” - Dr. Luke says. Acts 19:12 so that even hanDkerChiefs or aprons that had touCheD his skin Screen 20 were CarrieD away to the siCk, anD their Diseases le` them anD the evil spirits Came out of them. “hanDkerChiefs” or sweat hanDs MeD arounD the head (banDana). “aprons” - or towels for wiping off perspiraMon (the Way is harD work - brutal at mes). Jesus’ Cloak - Luke 8:44 Screen 21 Peter’s shadow - Acts 5:15 Acts 19:13 Then some of the iMnerant Jewish exorCists unDertook to invoke the Screen 22 name of the LorD Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proClaims.” From here through the enD of the Chapter Paul enCounters false religion(s) in Screen 23 Ephesus - both Jewish anD pagan. In the GreCo/Roman worlD Jewish exorCists were helD in high esteem beCause of their religion anD the use of Hebrew inCantaMons (worDs). !6 - WorDs are powerful! The Jews knew this . (Genesis 1:3 “anD GoD saiD . .”, etC.) - Page 403 “The New American Commentary” here —> —> —> Screen 24 Acts 19:14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest nameD SCeva were Doing this. “seven sons of a Jewish high priest nameD SCeva” - (Artemis was one of the seven Screen 25 wonDers of the anCient worlD.) SCeva, while not names by Josephus, CoulD have been: (1) from a high priestly family or (2) his sons CoulD have lieD about it to get more money. Acts 19:15 But the evil spirit answereD them, “Jesus I know, anD Paul I reCognize, Screen 26 but who are you?” “Jesus I know” - Compare to: James 2:19 You believe that GoD is one; you Do well.