The Acts of The Apostles

Acts was taught by Dr. James Modlish

 

Chapter Nineteen
(19:1-41)

Intro:

Here in (Acts 19) the Pentecostal - Charismatic movement grabs scripture entirely out of context.

The new believer in Christ is approached by the charismatic with "the question"....(Acts 19:2) "Have you received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" The question is not asked in (Acts 19:2) to a born again child of God who has trusted in the shed blood of Jesus Christ by faith through the completed revelation of Old and New Testaments as the charismatic would like you to think. The people are disciples of John the Baptist, who have not yet gone past (Matt. 3).

The teaching of the Charismatics based on this and other passages is:

[1]. You can be saved and get the Spirit of Go by believing on Christ, BUT

[2]. After you are saved you need to get the Holy Ghost.

[3]. Thus the expression (out of context... always), "Have ye", received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?"

These had not received the Holy Ghost for they were in the same position that the Samaritan converts were in (Acts 8).

Notice (vs. 3), the appropriate question... "Unto what then were ye baptized? "If they were saved, born again, believers, they would have been baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38) - "Holy Ghost" Many similarities exist in (Acts 8:12-17).

In (Acts 8 & 19) Peter and Paul must show that their ministries are authentic proven by the fact that both give the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands. The believers in both cases are baptized in the name of the "Lord Jesus' (See Acts 10:48.

Vs. 6

The believers (Jews - converts to John's baptism, at worst a combination of Jew and Gentile - Samaritans, Acts 8), when hands are laid upon them they speak with tongues and prophesy.

[1]. In (Acts 2) there are no laying on of hands and only the apostles speak in tongues.

[2]. In (Acts 10) Cornelius speaks in tongues and the Holy Ghost falls on him as on the apostles at Pentecost, yet again there is no laying on of hands. Baptism in the name of the Lord.

[3]. In (Acts 8) there is laying on of hands, tongues and prophesying and baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus.

[4]. In (Acts 19) there is no laying on of hands, tongues and prophesying and baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus.

There is no pattern set through all the events. To further complicate matters for the Pentecostal, the Ethiopian Eunuch and Philippian jailer and Lydia (Acts 16) all are saved and baptized with no laying on of hands, no tongues...no nothin!

The four occurrences where tongues are or could even be implied (Acts 8) all are individual cases setting down individual incidents for individual reasons. To derive a pattern for salvation and what should happen to you from them is impossible.

[1]. In (Acts 2) Jewish apostles speak in tongues.

[2]. In (Acts 8) Samaritans (half Jew, half Gentile) receive the gospel.

[3]. In (Acts 8) a Gentile receives the gospel of Isaiah 53.

[4]. In (Acts 10) a Gentile receives the gospel and speaks in tongue a sign to the Jews that the Gentiles were accepted as the Jews were to Peter.

[5]. In (Acts 16) Lydia, a Gentile is saved and baptized.

[6]. In (Acts 16) the Philippian jailer, a Gentile, is saved and baptized.

[7]. In (Acts 19) Jewish converts to John's baptism of repentance are saved and baptized, with tongues and prophesying.

In each case where tongues occur the are for an initial sign (not evident to a Jew).

In the Corinthians Epistle, the reader was first told that tongues were a sign (1 Cor. 14:22) to Israel (Isa. 28:11,12); then he was told that prophecy served the believer. Paul is a believer, hence the double notice of (Acts 19:6).

Here Paul acts as Simon Peter acted in Acts 8. He temporally becomes a link between Jerusalem's authority and people who are acquainted with John's baptism.

Vs. 8-12

Again Paul spends time preaching to the Jews (Acts 9:15). One Tyrannus opens his school to Paul and allows him to preach and teach the Word. Through this school the-seven Asian churches of Revelation were probably established (vs. 10). (See Acts 13:44,45; 16:6,7; 1 Cor. 16:9; Col. 1:7; Philemon 23)

Vs. 11

The apostolic signs are still in use, (Acts 9:15,16; Rev. 2:2).

Healings - (2 Tim. 4:20; Phil. 2:27)

Vs. 13-20

The signs in the ministry of Paul were so evident, some of the Jews decided to get into the action. (Acts 13:6,8:9)

Note: (vs. 15) that the demons were fundamental, they knew Jesus and they knew Paul! The implications are interesting to realized that these demons knew Paul; he was a problem to the demons.

Through the episode:

[1]. The name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

[2]. Many believed and,

[3]. Made open confession of their deeds.

[4]. They burned their educational idols.

[5]. And the Word of God grew and prevailed. (Acts 6:7 and 12:24)

Vs. 21-28

(2 Cor. 1:15,16; 1 Cor. 16:5-7)

Timothy and Erastus go ahead of Paul into Macedonia (vs. 22 - Rom. 16:23; 2 Tim. 4:20) It is springtime in Asia and the great festival for Diana is on the way.

As sure as a revival takes place, the devil doesn't like it and "all hell breaks loose" (vs. 23). There arose no small stir (Acts 12:18). For the Love of Money is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10).

Demetrius the silversmith makes a good living selling St. Christopher statues, rosaries and other assorted "aids to worship." The "idol union, see a potential recession and they gather to discuss some sound business moves to head off the inevitable. He first appeals to their "cents" of well being (vs. 25). They also recognize that this may be becoming a national trend (vs. 26). He secondly appeals to their deep religious commitment (vs. 27) and exaggerates Diana's popularity just a bit ...or does he?

Their wrathful response... "Great is Diana of the Ephesians", or better translated, "Our great wealth is definitely endangered."

Vs. 29-41

The craftsmen take advantage of the "mob" (Matt. 27:20) without discussing what Paul was preaching or what was wrong with it, or what their motive was in defending the Great Goddess Diana.

The craftsmen create a big disturbance and blame it on those troublemaker Christians, Gauls and Aristarchus (Acts 20:4; 27:2; Col. 4:10; Philem. 24). Alexander tries to get the attention of the crowd, but the disturbance is so great that he is drowned out by the multitude of Greeks screaming, "Great is Diana..." Finally the town clerk pacifies the crowd, the whole plan then backfires and Gauis and Aristarchus go free. The clerk then advises Demetrius that if he has any complaint he ought to take these men to court.

Alexander of (vs. 33) - (2 Tim. 4:14)

"Diana" and "Jupiter" are changed in the new Bibles! (Acts 14:11,12, 17)

Churches (vs. 37) is also changed under the assumption that "heathens" do not worship in churches.

Vs. 37

The town clerk clears the Christian men, suggests that they be taken to court if appropriate. He then warned if they don't break the unlawful assembly up, someone will be taken to task about it. The guilty (vs. 41) decide it wasn't important to stick around.

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