Acts 19 will cover some important information on Baptism and again how the Kenites have infiltrated the church. Verse 1 reads.
Acts 19:1] And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
These are the disciples of John the Baptist. Remember they were sent out before Jesus had come.
Acts 19:2] He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
I know it doesn’t matter to most but to me, the Holy Ghost is Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:3] And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
[4] Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Now they know that the Christ has come.
Acts 19:5] When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
[6] And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
[7] And all the men were about twelve.
Now we have another twelve, kind of interesting that John would have twelve disciples that he would send out also. That they spoke with that “cloven” tongue, in which all languages understood.
Acts 19:8] And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Here we have Paul teaching what the Old Testament had to say about Jesus. And notice he had to persuade them of what was written in God’s word. Some will believe and some won’t.
Acts 19:9] But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
Someone or a few, is the meaning of diverse. Then he took the twelve away from them and taught in the school. Separating these twelve from the Kenites that opposed them.
Acts 19:10] And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Teaching both Judah and gentiles.
Acts 19:11] And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
[12] So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
He healed and cast out evil spirits in the name of Jesus Christ.
Acts 19:13] Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
Wait a minute, are they playing church? This is very dangerous and I want you to see what happens if you play church also. Learn from this, of course we can cast out devils “in the name of Jesus Christ”, but don’t play around with evil spirits. It can be very dangerous. Know what you are doing.
Acts 19:14] And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
This man was chief of the priest, how much is that going to help him?
Acts 19:15] And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
In other words, I don’t know you. This man didn’t know Jesus, but the evil spirit did. And he knew that this man had no power over him. He didn’t use the name of the Lord. This is going to hurt.
Acts 19:16] And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
They got their embarrassment kicked. Let’s go to Jude 1:9 and read how Michael handled talking with Satan, when they were disputing about the bones of Moses.
Jude 1:9] Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
This is how we deal with evil spirits. It is best to rebuke them in the name of Jesus Christ. and send them back to the Father from whence they come. But know you have power over them, Luke 10:19. now back to verse 17 and it reads.
Acts 19:17] And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
An example of how God uses evil for good.
Acts 19:18] And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
[19] Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.
Burned all the evil books. That’s a lot of money. But, the glory of the LORD prevailed.
Acts 19:20] So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
[21] After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
The Lord would tell Paul “Be of good cheer Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.” Acts 23:11.
Acts 19:22] So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
[23] And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
Meaning there was a big stir.
Acts 19:24] For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
[25] Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
These people are losing money because the Word of God has been received by the gentiles in this area.
Acts 19:26] Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
This is true. Why worship something made with hands, and call it a god.
Acts 19:27] So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
Let’s think about this for a minute. These people can’t have a different belief other than what they believe? Does this sound familiar, maybe something to do with our politics of today? They were gentiles, there were many different religions in the area at that time. though this idol was in the majority. It is always about money. And these guys were losing a lot of it.
Acts 19:28] And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
[29] And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul’s companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
[30] And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
Paul was about to rush in and protect his companions.
Acts 19:31] And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
[32] Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
Confusion is Babel, Babylon.
Acts.19:33] And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
[34] But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.
[35] And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
If you believe in Diana, then what is your problem if a Jew doesn’t, don’t all Jews believe differently than us.
Acts 19:36] Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
[37] For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
[38] Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
If these guys have a legal problem, then let them take it up in the courts.
Acts 19:39] But if ye inquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
[40] For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
Keep it down for we are under Roman authority, and we don’t want them to come down on us.
Acts 19:41] And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.
This man was smart enough to dismiss the gathering of a mob. The silver smith was angry that he was losing money, but what was the crowd upset about? See how easy it is for Satan to get into a crowd and have them “gnashing their teeth”. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible