“Supernatural WORD-Based Missions (Acts 18:24 - 19:20)” | 7/24/22
Acts 18:24 - 19:20 | 7/24/22 | Thad Yessa
Have you ever had the experience of finding out that something wasn’t true or as accurate as you thought when you bought it? When you try and buy a knock off version of something and then only afterwards find out you didn’t not get what you were hoping for?
I had this experience in highschool when we were on a mission trip to Argentina exploring some shops on one of our free afternoons. To our group's amazement we found so many great things that were only a fraction of what they would cost in the US: clothes, movies, electronics, shoes. Several of us found some very nice shoes that one very kind shopkeeper convinced us we needed and even gave us an even better deal of buy one get one. It was’t until later that evening that we discovered non of the size was correct and in most cases each shoe was a different size, the soles might has well been a ripped up cereal box, and the soles were a type of plastic that made it seem like every smooth surface was a patch of ice. We had thought we were getting true shoes but instead we got a bunch of fakes.
A real experience with the True WORD (Jesus) brings about change and is the fuel for missions.
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1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and dthe Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John 1:1-5
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24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in jthe way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the Scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.
Paul in Ephesus
19 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland1 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 they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.
The Sons of Sceva
11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them. 13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. 18 Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. 19 And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
Pastoral Prayer
Interaction with the True WORD brings *EXCITEMENT. *
(Acts 18:24-28)
A new character walks onto the scene, Apollos, who from what the Scriptures tell us is a well educated man who was very competent in the Scriptures, meaning he knew the Old Testament very well. He had been instructed in the way of the LORD and spoke and taught accurately the ways of the Lord.
There are some who feel reluctant to label Apollos a believer because Luke says in writing the book of Acts that Apollos “knew only John’s baptism” (18:25).
Nevertheless something was indeed definicient in his understanding. Because Aquila and Pricilla, who we met last week pulled him aside and the godly couple, explained the word of God to him more accurately.
I think it should be noted that Priscilla and Aquila give us a great model for discipleship in the way they came alongside and explain to Apollos the word of God more accurately, now this could be about the baptism of Jesus or something completely unrelated, but they were convicted to not allow him to continue in the same path. They intentionally interjected themselves into his life, and Apollos listened. We would be wise to make sure there are Aquila and Priscilla’s in our lives who will speak truth to us to more faithfully understand and live out the Scriptures, but at the same time make sure there is someone we are speaking the truths of Scripture into their life.
Regardless of whether Apollos was saved or has just now been converted, he has a certain excitement about him to not only continue proclaiming Jesus but he wants to go and tell more people in Achaia. When Apollos arrived, he “was a great help to those who by grace had believe.” (18:27) The text says, “he powerfully refuted the Jews in public.” Apollos with his real interaction with the True Word couldn’t help but tell others and proclaim Jesus.
Interaction with the True WORD brings *EMPOWERMENT.* (Acts 19:1-7)
We are now introduced to “some disciples” or as Allister Begg calls them, “12 almost Christians” We don’t know what it is about these disciples that causes Paul to ask some important spiritual questions. Perhaps Paul observed something in their behavior and demeanor that made his question whether or not these disciples have had an interaction with the True WORD. It might seem odd that Paul question about their faith is about the Holy Spirit, but we must remember that one of the true indicators of a person's faith is not in religious work, correct theological wording, a servant heartedness, but by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is the key indicator of ones faith. “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him.” Romans 8:9
Not all who profess to be Christians are truly followers of Jesus Christ, regardless of the Christian language they use or the Christian activities in which they participate. These “almost Christians” try their best, struggling to do for themselves what God, in His grace, has already accomplished.
Only after a discussion about the Spirit, baptism, and the real Jesus were they baptized “into the name of Jesus.” Paul then lays hands on them, and we experience some sort of mini-Pentecost, with speaking in tongues and prophesying.
Often religious people, like these disciples, are unconverted people. Those who often attend Chrsitin religious events but can’t articulate the basic truths of the gospel and who show no signs of a heart changed by Jesus serve as examples. This is why we must explain the true gospel to religious types; they too are in need of salvation.
The story of John Wesley’s conversion, which bears some similarity to what we see here. Wesley was the son of a minister, attended Oxford and became double professor of Greek and logic at Lincoln College. He served as his father’s assistant and was later ordained by the church. Wesley left Oxford to become a missionary to the American Indians in Georgia.
After failing in his work among them, he was forced to return to England. He wrote, “I went to America to convert the Indians; but, oh, who shall convert me?” By God’s grace, in America he encountered some Moravians, a Christian group that emphasized Bible reading, prayer, and worship. Their spiritual vitality had a tremendous impact on him. He sought out one of the leaders after being convinced of his own unbelief. Wesley wrote in his journal on May 24, 1738:
In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street where one was reading Martin Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me, that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”
But what do we do with this speaking in tongues and prophesying after believing. These signs are visible and public indicators that they are indwelt with the Spirit. But we need to note that this isn’t the universal pattern in the book of Acts that everyone who experiences salvation experiences such manifestations. But at the same time, everyone who believes in the TRUE JESUS experiences the empowerment of the Spirit. Jesus promised in John 16 that He would send a helper to all who believed who would act as a guide. Paul also says in 1 Corinthians 12:5-6
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
All of those who are true followers of Jesus have been indwelt with the Spirit and empowered with the gifts of the Spirit for the benefit of the church and the expanding of the church. Saints if you are a follower of Jesus the Spirit has given you gifts to use in the church that when you are not using them actually hurts the church.
Interaction with the True WORD brings *MOVEMENT.*
(Acts 19:8-10)
As is Paul’s custom he heads to the synagogues to preach! And probably much to his surprise he is able to preach the gospel for three months before facing opposition. Now, we have spent much time in our study of Acts that we can expect there to be opposition when the Gospel is proclaimed and we should not lose heart, but notice what Paul does; he takes the believers to a new location in order to continue pointing them towards the TRUE WORD and as a result we read that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.
We see Paul really deviating from his typical plan and he stays here for two years, longer than anywhere else he stayed. As a result of his time there and dedicated disciples there is a moment of gospel advancement.
I believe this models well for us that when we have a true interaction with Jesus and are being discipled and expectation should be evangelism. As Paul is teaching those who here are being equipped to go and share the gospel with others. We should be asking ourselves, does our discipleship lead towards evangelism?
Interaction with the True WORD brings *ABANDONMENT.* (Acts 19:11-20)
VV.. 11-12 are descriptive historical events; not prescriptive activity that we should seek to mimic. It should also be noted that the emphasis is placed on God doing the work by the hands of Paul.
VV. 13-17 “The Seven Sons of Sceva” obviously the coolest rock band at the time were a group of itinerant exorcists, traveling demon hunters. They either had witnessed the amazing power of God through the work of Paul or heard stories about how Paul had been performing miracles and saw this as an opportunity to add a new tool to their arsenal, the name of Jesus. So they find a man possessed with an evil spirit and say, “come out by the name of Jesus that Paul preaches.”
The Seven Sons in their best attempt to cast out this demon are even farther from the power of Jesus than they know. Do you see it, come out by the power of Jesus…that Paul preaches.” You think if they were going to try and use the name of Jesus they could do that right.
The demon I imagine scoffs and laughs at the Seven Sons as he seemingly taunts them by saying, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know but who are you???” Things quickly go from bad to worse, “ the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”
If there is any question on who won in this encounter Matt Chandler puts it this way, “If when the fight started you were wearing pants and when it was over you were no longer wearing pants, you lost.”
As humorous as this text might be we have to ask what does this mean for us? In Jewish culture being physically exposed was the most humiliating thing that could happen, I don’t think that is just a Jewish culture thing. But even more than Al Mohler points out that their physical exposing was also a symbol of their spiritual exposing. They wanted all the power of the TRUE WORD, Jesus, but without any of the commitment.
You can imagine that the news of the Seven Streakers of Sceva spread like wildfire through the town as the people of Ephesus recognize the lack of power that these exorcists had and that true power came from the TRUE WORD. As a result we see a vivid picture of confession and repentance. Luke says “believers” were confessing and disclosing their practices.
We shouldn’t be shocked that “believers' ' were burning books. After all, salvation leads to a process of growth – a work of sanctification in which the Spirit shapes us into the image of Christ. After believing in Christ, then there are often practices and ideas that new believers realize they must abandon as they come to understand more about Jesus.
Take note that they don’t just give the books away or sell them; they destroy them. That was a costly thing to do, considering the total expense of those burned volumes. Commentators suggest that the 50,000 pieces of silver is the equivalent of millions of dollars. Yet these believers wanted a radical break with all that was ungodly in their lives because the Spirit of God produced a deep change in their hearts. Selling the volumes would have only spread the poison of what they contained: Christ’s followers are to spread the good news instead.
These Ephesian believers had a new affection and an abandonment of their former ways. They had a new love for Jesus, and their actions shouted that the TRUE WORD was sweeter and far more valuable to them than any god, power, false source of trust or any amount of money. BUT we must not forget the warning from Revelation 2:4 when charges are brought against the church at Ephesus, “ But I have this against you, that you have abandoned lthe love you had at first.” We may begin with passionate adoration of Jesus, but we must not grow cold in our love for the Savior. Continue to cultivate your love for him by confessing your sins, forsaking ungodly practices, and abandon a love for this world. Seek the TRUE WORD and his words and remember that he is your greatest good and your highest jouy. Reject all rivals and revere the Son of God, who loved you and gave himself for you.