Read or listen The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 19 online (ESV, Bible Gateway)

There are no two levels of Christianity! – Acts 19:1-7

Our title “Christianity without Spirit” can be written with a capital or a small initial letter. Today, the church is often criticized for being unspiritual - for being rigid in formulas, etc. But we are studying now the relationship between the Holy Spirit and Christianity. So we will write the title with a capital letter: Christianity without Spirit?

Almost unnoticed, Luke begins to describe Paul’s third—and final—missionary journey. At the end of the previous chapter, he told about Paul's visit to Jerusalem and his return to Antioch in Syria (18:22). Immediately afterward, he recounts Paul’s new journey (18:23), but the account is interrupted by the account of Apollos’ visit to Ephesus (18:24-28).

The story of Apollos also serves as an introduction to the following story. Paul arrived in Ephesus only after Apollos had left for Corinth (verse 1). So the two did not meet.

In Ephesus, Paul encountered a group in the church that caught his attention. Apparently, the apostle had noticed that these men were completely ignorant of the Holy Spirit, and so he asked them two questions (verses 2 and 3). Luke avoids calling the men Christians. He speaks only of “disciples” (verse 1), because it soon becomes clear that the men had not been baptized with Christian baptism.

Men had only been baptized with the baptism of John the Baptist (verse 3), which was a baptism of repentance, a human act (verses 3 and 4, see also Luke 3:3). Now men were baptized with Christian baptism and they also received the visible witness of the Holy Spirit (verses 5 and 6).

The entire New Testament holds that it is impossible for a person to be a Christian without the Holy Spirit (see, for example, the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:9). One of the most important functions of the Holy Spirit is to teach that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior (John 16:13-14).

There can be no Christianity without the idea, the doctrine, that Jesus is the Messiah promised in the Old Testament. This, again, can only be taught to us by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it is impossible for there to be “Spiritual” and “Spiritless” Christianity. Only the Holy Spirit can give birth to a living, genuine faith. Therefore, all Christians have the Holy Spirit. Christians cannot be divided into two groups: those who have the Holy Spirit and those who do not. There is only “Spiritual” Christianity.

When can I be rebaptized?

The scripture we are discussing now is one of the most important reasons for Anabaptists (rebaprists) to practice it. Two things must be distinguished: adult baptism and rebaptism. Yes, Lutherans and Catholics baptize adults if they were not baptized as children. On the other hand, Anabaptists baptize adults even if they were baptized as children. This is based on the teaching that infant baptism is not true baptism. In fact, for example, Pentecostals believe that Lutherans who were baptized as children are unbaptized.

This is the only place in the Bible where someone is baptized a second time. So we must ask what is true Christian baptism. Why was John's baptism not acceptable to Paul, but men who had been baptized with it were rebaptized? This question has traditionally been answered: true baptism is that which is administered in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

If a person who has been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit transfers from another church to the Lutheran church, he or she is not rebaptized, because there is only one baptism (Ephesians 4:5). This is also the practice of the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Instead, those baptized with other baptisms are baptized “again.”

The Holy Spirit testified in a visible way that the right thing had been done. The same thing had happened three times before, and each time it was about accepting a new group into the Christian church:

Pentecost, Acts 2, Jews Samarian Revival, Acts 8:1-25, Samaritans Cornelius' House, Acts 10, Gentiles

In a sense, this time is different from the others. While the previous three times it was about whether a certain group can be accepted into the church, now the focus is on whether John's disciples must also be baptized. There is no other gate to the church for them either.

The second center of Paul's activity - Acts 19: 8-10

Corinth became the center of Paul's mission in the area of present-day Greece. Although Paul did not himself found the church at Ephesus, as we saw at the end of the previous chapter, it became another center of Paul’s activity. From Ephesus he worked on the eastern shore of the Aegean Sea, in what is now western Turkey.

Ephesus was the largest city in Asia Minor, with a population of about 250,000. Jews made up about 10% of the population in the Roman Empire, and there were usually even more in the cities. They were often craftsmen and merchants. Therefore, the Jewish community in Ephesus was large.

For three months Paul was allowed to teach in the synagogue. After that, the separation between Jews and Christians was inevitable. Paul transferred to the school of Tyrannus.

In all, Paul stayed in Ephesus for about three years (Acts 20:31). During that time, the gospel spread throughout the province of Asia (verse 10), that is, the eastern coast of the Aegean Sea. Apparently, those three years fall between 53 and 56 AD. During that time, the churches of Laodicea and Colossae were founded, as well as perhaps the other four of the seven churches of Revelation (Rev. 2-3, the seventh being Ephesus, of course).

The time in Ephesus was also a time of crisis in Paul's missionary work. Problems arose in both Corinth and Galatia. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians and Galatians most likely in Ephesus, and 2 Corinthians on the way from Ephesus to Corinth, apparently in Macedonia. Paul defeated his opponents. Unfortunately, Luke does not tell us about those struggles.

Jesus defeats the power of evil - Acts 19:11-20

The events in Ephesus resemble the actions of the apostles, especially Peter, in Jerusalem (Acts 5:12-16). In both cases, Jesus’ prophecy about “greater works” than what he himself had done was fulfilled (John 14:12).

But another prophecy of Jesus also came true: his name began to be used as a spell (Matthew 7:21-22, compare also 1 Corinthians 12:3). The Jews were known in ancient times for their magicians and sorcerers. The seven sons of the high priest Scevas also tried to use the name of Jesus as a spell, but with little success.

There is no known high priest named Scevas in Jerusalem. Verse 14 is either explained as being interpreted broadly: “the seven sons of Sceva, who was of the high priestly family,” or the sons had invented a background that sounded great to them.

Revival in Ephesus

The fate of the sons of Sceva caused not only fear among both Jews and Greeks (verse 17), but also a reformation in the church (verse 18).

Many Christians had secretly clung to the old pagan customs, beliefs, and books. Now it had been realized that such “limping on two feet” (1 Kings 18:21) would not work. They wanted to abandon the old faith and its customs and objects. Books worth 50,000 pieces of silver were burned. It is worth noting that they were not sold, as they did not want to pass on the power of evil to others, but wanted to put an end to them.

This story is one indication that Ephesus was the leading center of syncretism, or the mixing of religions, and magic in the Roman Empire, along with Alexandria in Egypt. New religions and their marketers were constantly coming to Ephesus from the East, and there was a constant danger of mixing the Christian faith with these foreign religions.As pagan religions were abandoned, the church grew stronger:

"So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily."
(verse 20)

An interesting detail related to these topics is that a papyrus has been found in Egypt on which is written the incantation: “I command you in the name of Jesus, the god of the Hebrews.”

The account is also a reminder of the importance of staying awake. Very soon the Christians in Ephesus had returned to their old way of life, or perhaps they had never completely abandoned it.

The story is a reminder that the kingdom of evil exists. An English pastor said that there are more Satanist priests in London than all Christian priests combined. The work of evil is also evidenced by the fact that newspapers advertise Black Bibles, various clairvoyants hold their columns, etc.

Travel plans - Acts 19:21-22

Paul felt that his work was done at the eastern end of the Mediterranean. He wanted to go to Rome and from there even further west, to Hispania, or modern-day Spain (verse 21, Romans 15:23-29). Before that, however, he wanted to visit Macedonia and Achaia - that is, present-day Greece. Even though it would have been a short journey from Achaia to Rome, Paul still wanted to "go around" via Jerusalem and deliver the collection from the Gentile churches to help the poor of the Jerusalem church (Romans 15:26).

The Acts of the Apostles tells us that Paul's plans did not come to pass. He did reach Rome, but as a prisoner. Whether he ever reached Hispania is not known for certain, although Christian tradition says that he did. We too should not abandon our reason and understanding in worldly matters. Yes, we can make plans. God is powerful to change them if they are not according to his will.

Riot in Ephesus - Acts 19:23-40

Paul's missionary work had been so effective that the servants of the idols in Ephesus began to feel their position threatened.

Demetrius earned his living by selling silver “souvenirs” at the temple of Artemis. As a result of Paul’s work, Demetrius’ income had decreased. Demetrius skillfully stirred up not only the other temple earners but also the entire population of Ephesus against Paul. Demetrius combined the economic threat with national pride and religious prejudice. While Paul was still among the suspicious Jews, Demetrius succeeded in stirring up a large crowd.

The Temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was four times larger than the Pantheon in Athens and its columns were as high as a five-story building. Artemis was one of the most widely worshipped goddesses of antiquity. At least in Ephesus, her worship was combined with the worship of the ancient Asia Minor mother goddess.

The people rushed to the theater of Ephesus, the very well-preserved ruins of which can still be seen today. The theater's auditorium could accommodate about 25,000 people. As is usually the case with unorganized public gatherings, some of those gathered were unclear as to why they were actually gathered.

Paul would have liked to go and defend his faith, but his friends prevented such foolish boldness. One should not seek martyrdom, God will grant it if it is part of his plans! Paul’s friends were right: the excited crowd would not have listened to Paul.

The Jewish Alexander, who apparently tried to explain to the crowd that the Jews had nothing to do with Paul and his faith (verses 33-34), also noticed the stubbornness of the crowd. The crowd knew that, like the Christians, the Jews also despised idols and their images (compare, for example, Isaiah 44:9-17 and Jeremiah 10:1-5). So Alexander was not allowed to speak.

Also the Jew Alexander, who probably wanted to explain to the crowd that the Jews had nothing to do with Paul and his faith (verses 33-34), was rejected by the people. The crowd knew that, like the Christians, the Jews also despised idols and their images (compare, for example, Isaiah 44:9-17 and Jeremiah 10:1-5). So Alexander was not allowed to speak.

Alexander’s attempt to speak only made the situation worse. For two hours the crowd shouted: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” This cry came from the liturgy of the annual festival of Artemis. The city leaders were alarmed by the situation. They remembered that a century earlier there had been a rebellion in Ephesus, which the Romans had put down bloodily. If the situation worsened further, the Romans might well interpret the situation as another rebellion. That would mean the loss of Ephesus’ status as a free city.

The town clerk calmed the crowd. He pointed out that neither Paul nor his two friends whom the crowd had dragged into the theater (Gaius and Aristarchus, verse 29) had committed any criminal act. If they had, they could have been brought before the legal courts. Instead, it seemed that the issue was simply a matter of reducing the income of Demetrius and his companions (verse 38). As a result of the secretary's speech, the crowd dispersed and Paul was saved.

Whether this incident is the same as the one Paul refers to in 1 Corinthians 15:32 and 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 is unclear. The passages in the Corinthians seem to indicate that Paul himself was present in the theater at the time, in the midst of the crowd. Perhaps these are two different situations. Yes, there must have been several dangerous situations in Ephesus during the three years he was there. Apparently, Luke recounts this particular incident in the Acts of the Apostles because it clearly shows that the Christian faith was not a threat to the Roman state and its order.