potential answers to questions on Act 19 1-22.
Michael J. Sapko
Study Questions for Chapter 19:1-22.
1. In verse 1 of Acts we read that when Paul returned to Ephesus he found people identified as disciples of Jesus, but only through the teaching of John and/or his disciples. Their understanding of the faith was poorly developed and Paul had to rectify their ignorance.
Can you draw any parallels between this limited understanding of the Christian faith and similar situations in Christianity today?
a. Many Christians of the current day regard Christ as a great man: They miss entirely his Godly component. Also, too, are those Christians who fail to recognize God’s grace and the salvation won on the cross: they insist on being “born again” or “accepting Christ as their savior” disregarding grace, full and free. Salvation by grace is completely missed.
2. In spite of the incomplete nature of the teaching of John’s disciples, what value do you think if had in preparing these people of Ephesus for the full gospel? Consider this in the context that John’s baptism was one of repentance.
a. The teaching of John’s disciples gave birth to the knowledge of need. An analogy might be “the more I know, the more I know I don’t know”. The incompleteness of their information certainly was fertile ground for the spirit to enter their hearts and minds. The complete baptism with the Holy Spirit’s after the death and resurrection of Christ fully represents God’s plan for man’s salvation.
3. This stay at Ephesus of two years and three months was the longest one that Luke records in Acts. To what extent do you think the availability of the Hall of Tyrannus contributed to the length of this stay? What guidance does this pattern give us in ministry?
a. The availability of the Hall of Tyrannus certainly provided Paul with an easily accessible venue for his preaching and teaching. Ephesus, a center of commerce, and travel afforded an ample audience for Paul’s energetic efforts and led to a great spreading of the gospel message. His break with the synagogue congregation and removal to the hall added greatly in his ministry to the Gentiles. God will provide the audience we just have to spread the message. When people are not listening or just rejecting the Gospel message just move on.
4. Paul Maier states, in his book “The First Christians” that Ephesus “was a rich commercial center like Corinth, yet it also sheltered the wildest collection of pagan priests, exorcists, magicians, religious prostitutes, cultists and charlatans in the Roman Empire.” Do you suppose that this is why God aided Paul’s work in such a city by His direct intervention with so many miracles?
a. In a city ripe with belief in magic, witchcraft and supernatural powers, Paul (powered by God’s word) was able to “out-perform” Satan’s disciples. This display of power, Word, and love propelled the spread of the Gospel. ‘Bloom where you are planted” seems to be at work here: God used Satan’s sorcerers to demonstrate his own grace.