Acts19:11-41 Miracles and Disturbances Along the Way

We are on Paul's third missionary journey. Have you rested your camels enough? Ok, let's go. Appears we have some excitement ahead.

This is Acts036 - Acts 19:11-41 Disturbances On The Way

There are seven questions in this study. The questions are simply for the purpose of encouraging discussion. Feel free to work with these questions or any other aspect of the study that you wish. I will continue to give a synopsis on certain portions of Scriptures rather than do a Scripture by Scripture commentary.

Vss11,12: "God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out."

... The Greek term Luke uses for 'extraordinary miracles' (tugchano dumamis) speaks of miracles so unexpected and rare as to be beyond the normal. This is the one place this term is used in New Testament writings.

It was on the basis of these kinds of miracles that Paul could challenge those who claimed to be apostles. He alludes to these apostolic wonders in his second letter to the Corinthians, when he writes, "The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles." (Peter's shadow falling across people for healings and deliverances is another instance of 'apostolic miracles.')

Q1: Are there Scriptures that set apart the original apostles of Jesus Christ as being distinct from all other ministers and ministries throughout the Church age?

Vss13-17: Synopsis: Certain Jewish exorcists attempted to use the name of Jesus for casting out demons. They thought that Paul's power was in the use of this name. The problem was they had no right to use the name that is above all names. In trying to cast an evil spirit out of a man, the spirit said, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, who who are you?" The spirit then leaped on these seven sons of the Jewish chief priest, Sceva, and left them bloodied and naked.

Q2: Are there lessons to be learned from this happening?

Vss17-20: "This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing."

... The powers of darkness were uncovered and put to shame. The victory centered upon one thing alone. It had to do with the power and authority that is in the name of the Lord Jesus. Notice how those who worked in the occult were turning from Satan to the kingdom of God.

Q3: Why is it that the name of Jesus Christ has such power for a believer? (Feel free to elaborate.)

Q4: Is there any place for the power of the name of Jesus Christ to become available to a sinner?

Vss21,22: "Now after these things were finished, Paul purposed in the spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, saying, 'After I have been there, I must also see Rome.' And having sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while."

... This is the first time we see that something is compelling Paul about Jerusalem and about Rome. Later a goodly number warnings will be given to Paul that distresses await him in Jerusalem. Some find it strange that Paul would seemingly ignore all these warnings, and insist on going on to Jerusalem. (The next two questions will include areas we haven't covered in these studies, but which have their roots in Paul's determination to go to Jerusalem and then to Rome.)

Q5: What is your opinion on this issue of Paul being continually warned about going to Jerusalem, and yet he was determined to go?

Q6: Is there a lesson here for our own personal experiences in the Lord?

Vss23-41: Synopsis - While in Ephesus, a maker of idols named, Demetrius, gathered the tradesmen together and created an uproar over how Paul was turning peoples away from idolatry. The tradesmen were filled with rage, and it begin to spill over into the city. A mob grabbed Paul's traveling companions and drug them into the theater. But certain disciples would not let Paul enter. Interestingly enough, most of the people didn't even know why they were there. When they saw Alexander the Jew, a roar begin in the crowd that lasted for two hours. They were chanting 'Great is the Artemis of the Ephesians.' Then the town clerk begins to quieten things down, and tells the peoples that if the craftsmen have a complaint to make, they need to bring it to the authorities. After this the crowd was dismissed.

... It is amazing how the Lord can use people who are nonbelievers in bringing about a positive result for His people.

Q7: Is there any Scripture that indicates God can work in the heart of a nonbeliever to achieve His own purposes? (Feel free to elaborate.)

This study was originally part of a series on the book of Acts given to members of Hebraic Foundations from July 10, 2002 through January 19, 2003. They were written by Pastor Buddy Martin, a former United Pentecostal Church minister, who founded Christian Challenge International. Writings are the copyright of Buddy Martin and reprinted on this site by permission. For a list of all the articles in this study, go here.

Page added October 22, 2004

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