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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

CHAPTER NINETEEN:
EXPERIENCES IN EPHESUS

[“Abuse, Disturbance and Confusion”]
Key word: Ephesus

Acts 19:1-7 – Fruitage in Ephesus

AC19:1 Now it happened that while Apollos was staying in Corinth, Paul traveled through the upper areas 836 and came then to Ephesus. 837 There he discovered some disciples.

836	Upper areas: Or, upper coasts, country, inland districts, hinterland, higher route. That is, in the provinces of Galatia and Phrygia.

837	Ephesus: Many think Paul wrote First Corinthians from here during this period.

AC19:2 And he said to them: “Did you receive the holy Pneuma when you believed?” And they said: “No, we have never even heard that there is a holy Pneuma.” 838

838	We have never even heard that there is a holy Pneuma: If these disciples did know of the holy Spirit, this seems an unusual way of expressing it. Certainly they were unaware of the outpouring of the Pneuma. They clearly knew of God and Jesus Christ. They certainly were not “trinitarian.”

AC19:3 So Paul asked: “Into what, then, were you immersed?” They said: “Into the baptism of John.” 839

839	Into the baptism of John: It is possible that in isolated pockets some persons had been baptized in John’s baptism as a symbol of their repentance of sins against the Law of Moses. This baptism was no longer valid following Pentecost.

AC19:4 Paul said: “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the One coming after him – Jesus.” AC19:5 Having heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Master Jesus. AC19:6 Now when Paul had laid his hands upon them, 840 the holy Pneuma came upon them. Then they all began to speak in tongues and prophesied. 841

840	Paul had laid his hands upon them: For details on the laying on of hands see Hebrews 6:1. The charismatic gifts of the Pneuma were imparted by the apostles. [Acts 8] This indicates Paul is now so blessed and authorized.

841	Speak in tongues and prophesied: See notes on 1 Corinthians 12, 14. These gifts were to “pass away” when the Church reached maturity. See notes on 1 Corinthians 13:10. Note this gift came upon these 12 men.

AC19:7 Now there were about twelve men in all.

Acts 19:8-10 – Three Months in Synagogues [52-56 AD]

AC19:8 Now Paul entered the synagogue speaking boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading regarding the kingdom of The God. AC19:9 However, when some [Jews] became hardened and disobedient – speaking harmfully about the Way 842 before the crowd – he stood away from them. 843 He separated the disciples from [the synagogue] 844 and began to reason daily in the school [lecture theater] 845 in the hall of Tyrannus.

842	Speaking harmfully about the Way: Or, denounced, spoke offensively, discrediting, finding fault, criticized, slandered. Though the name “Christian” has been used since Acts 11:26, the designation “the Way” is still used.

843	He stood away from them: Or, departed, separated. The Greek is APOSTAS, the root of “apostasy.”

844	He separated the disciples from [the synagogue]: Or, NEB: withdrew his converts. The Greek is APHORISEN, and literally means “limited off”. More and more Paul begins to withdraw from the Jewish system.

845	School [lecture theater]: Or, lecture hall, schoolroom. Paul sets the example for Christians to come in the future – meetings may be held in schools, homes, the open air – where ever there is a convenient and proper location. Some manuscripts add: “from 11 AM to 4 PM.”

AC19:10 This went on for two years, so that all those inhabiting Asia [Minor] heard the Word of the Master, both Jews and Greeks.

Acts 19:11-20 – Powerful Works and Magic Books

AC19:11 Now The God performed dynamic powers 846 through the hands of Paul.

846	Dynamic powers: Or, KJV: special miracles; GDS: extraordinary wonders; PME: unusual demonstrations; NEB: miracles of an unusual kind.

AC19:12 Even when sweat cloths and aprons 847 flowing from his body touched the sick their diseases left them and the wicked demons came out of them.

847	Sweat cloths and aprons: Or, handkerchiefs, towels, bits of linen. Some renderings suggest pieces of Paul’s clothing were taken to the sick. Others infer just the passing brush of such cured the ill. Compare Mark 6:56; Acts 5:15.

AC19:13 Then some traveling Jewish exorcists 848 began to use the name of the Master Jesus over those who possessed wicked demons, saying: “I adjure you by the Jesus Paul preaches.”

848	Jewish exorcists: Compare notes on Matthew 12:27.

AC19:14 There were seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva who were doing this. AC19:15 However, the wicked demon answered them, “I know Jesus and I know Paul, but who are you?” AC19:16 Then the person in possessed by the wicked demon leaped upon them and got the mastery over all of them by exerting strength 849 against them. As a result, they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

849	Exerting strength: Superhuman strength may have a demonic influence. [Matthew 8:28]

AC19:17 Now this became known to all the Jews and Greeks inhabiting Ephesus, and so fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Master Jesus continued to be magnified. AC19:18 Also many of those who became believers came [to Paul] making confession and making known their [former] acts. AC19:19 Many of those who had practiced certain curiosities 850 brought all their books together and burned them 851 in front of everybody. The value of all these books was estimated and discovered to be worth fifty thousand pieces of silver.

850	Curiosities: Or, curious arts, magical arts. Curiosity has always been the first step toward demonism. [Genesis 3] The Greek is PERIERGA [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #4021, curious arts]. Note the English word “curios” as sold to tourists, often of a religious nature.

851	Burned them: The Church did not burn books, but rather individuals burned their magical arts books at tremendous cost.

AC19:20 Thus the Word of the Master kept growing and exerting strength. 852

852

Kept growing and exerting strength: Or, TCN: irresistibly did the Master’s message spread and prevail; WEY: spread and triumph; GDS: growing and wonderfully in influence BAS: full of power; RIE: the victories of the Word of the Master continued to spread and demonstrate its power; NEB: spreading more and more widely and effectively.

Acts 19:21-22 – Plans for Macedonia and Rome [54 AD]

AC19:21 Now when all this was completed, by the Pneuma Paul planned 853 to travel through Macedonia and Achaia and continue on to Jerusalem, saying: “After arriving [in Jerusalem], it is necessary for me to also see Rome.”

853	By the Pneuma Paul planned: Or, KJV: Paul purposed in the spirit; LAM: made up his mind; GDS: under the spirit’s guidance.

AC19:22 Then he sent off to Macedonia two of those who served him, Timothy and Erastus, he delayed for a while in Asia [Minor].

Acts 19:23-28 – Uproar in Ephesus

AC19:23 Now during this period of time a considerable agitation 854 occurred regarding the Way.

854	Considerable agitation: Or, no small stir, disturbance, commotion, tumult, great riot.

AC19:24 For a certain silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines 855 of Artemis 856 that furnished a lot of working profit to the [local] artisans.

855	Shrines: Or, temples. The Greek is NAOUS [NAO, NAOS, NAON]. Likely little miniature “curios” or shrines where the spirit of The God resides.

856

Artemis: Or, Diana. The Roman Diana was goddess of the hunt, however the Artemis of the Ephesians was a fertility goddess with many breasts and a halo. It is thought by many that all of these goddesses had a common origin. A Dictionary of the Bible: “Artemis presents such close analogies with the Phrygian Cybele, and with other feminine envisagements of the divine power in Asiatic countries, like the Cappadocian Ma, the Phoenician Astarte or Ashtaroth, the Syrian Atargatis and Mylitta, as to suggest that these are all mere varieties of one ultimate religious conception, presenting in different countries certain differences, due to varying development according to local circumstances and national character.” [Edited by J. Hastings, 1904 (Vol. I, page 605)]

AC19:25 Demetrius gathered together these artisans along with other workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you are quite aware that our prosperity comes from this business. 857

857	Prosperity comes from this business: It is a fact that throughout human history that religion has become big business in one form or another. Nothing has changed even among modern Christian sects.

AC19:26 Now you can see and hear that not only at Ephesus but almost throughout all Asia [Minor] this Paul has continued to persuade a lot of people to change their position, 858 saying that these things [we have] made are not gods.

858	Change their position: Or, turned away, change their allegiance. The number must have been considerable in order to affect their income.

AC19:27 As a result this trade of ours is in jeopardy of falling into disrepute, and also this temple area 859 of the great goddess Artemis may be rated as nothing. Also, she may even be removed from her magnificent position in all Asia [Minor] and her veneration in all the inhabited earth.”

859	Temple area: The Greek is HIËRON, unlike the NAOS above. This was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world

AC19:28 When they heard this they were filled with anger, and screamed: “Great is the Ephesians’ Artemis!”

Acts 19:29-34 – Confusion in the City Theater

AC19:29 As a result, the city was filled with the confusion; and they rushed with one thought into the theater, dragging with them Gaius 860 and Aristarchus, 861 Macedonians who traveled with Paul.

860	Gaius: There are a number of disciples by the same name. [Acts 20:4, 5; Romans 16:23; 1 Corinthians 1:14; 3 John 1, 3-6]

861	Aristarchus: Compare Acts 20:4; 27:2; Colossians 4:10; Philemon 23, 24. Some think him “the brother” of 2 Corinthians 8:18-20.

AC19:30 Paul wanted to enter in among the populace but the disciples would not permit him. AC19:31 Also some of the Asiarchs 862 who were friends of his, sent to him and entreated him not to enter into the theater.

862	Asiarchs: Or, KJV: chief of Asia; WEY: public officials; NEB: dignitaries; TCN: chief religious officials; NWT: commissioners of festivals and games.

AC19:32 Now some screamed one thing while others something else, for the whole assembly was in confusion, and the majority did not even realize why they had gathered. 863

863	Why they had gathered: An unreasonable mob. There are some cultures where when there is some kind of uproar begin to gather just to see what is happening and in the process become part of a mob.

AC19:33 Some of the crowd pushed Alexander 864 forward, the Jews also ushering him to the front. Then, wishing to make his defense to the people, Alexander motioned with his hand.

864	Alexander: A Jew.

AC19:34 But when they recognized that he was a Jew for two hours they kept screaming with one voice: “The Ephesians’ Artemis is great!”

Acts 19:35-41 – An Appeal for Order

AC19:35 When the [city] scribe 865 quieted the crowd, he said: “Men, Ephesians, what person is there who is not aware that the city of the Ephesians is temple-keeper 866 of the great Artemis, and of the sacred stone that fell from Zeus? 867

865	Scribe: Or, town-clerk, recorder, secretary of state, mayor.

866	Temple-keeper: Or, warden, guardian. The Greek is NEOKOPON.

867

The sacred stone that fell from Zeus: Or, KJV: the image which fell down from Jupiter; TCN: statue that fell down from the sky; KNX: the image which is Jupiter’s offspring; NEB: that symbol of her which fell from heaven. Views on the Greek vary. Such a stone [or, meteorite] is very similar to that one worshipped by Moslems.

AC19:36 Since this is all without contradiction, it is binding you all settle down and do nothing rash. AC19:37 For you have brought these men here who are neither temple plunderers nor blasphemers of our goddess. AC19:38 So, if Demetrius and those artisans with him have something to say against any one, the court forum is open, and there are proconsuls [there]. Let them bring charges against one another. AC19:39 But if you seek something beyond this, it will be settled in the lawful congregation. AC19:40 For today we are in danger of being charged with sedition, because there is no justifiable reason we can provide for this disorderly mob.” AC19:41 Now after he had said these things he dismissed the congregation.

Review Questions on Chapter Nineteen