Acts Chapter 19 — Ministry and Riots in Ephesus
Paul travels to Ephesus, where he baptizes disciples, performs miracles, and witnesses the word of God spreading despite a major riot led by local silversmiths.
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Notable Verses
Acts 19:11
“God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul,”
This verse highlights the supernatural confirmation of Paul's message during his long stay in Ephesus.
Acts 19:20
“So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.”
This serves as a summary of the effectiveness of the ministry in Asia despite significant spiritual and social opposition.
Acts 19:26
“You see and hear that not at Ephesus alone, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are no gods that are made with hands.”
This identifies the primary theological conflict between the early church and the pagan cultures of the time.
Chapter Summary
Paul arrives in Ephesus and encounters twelve disciples who had only received the baptism of John. After Paul explains the gospel of Jesus, they are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit. Paul spends three months in the synagogue before moving to the school of Tyrannus, where he teaches daily for two years. During this period, God performs extraordinary miracles through Paul, even through articles of clothing. When the seven sons of Sceva unsuccessfully attempt to use Jesus' name for exorcism, the event sparks a spiritual awakening, leading many to burn their magic books. The chapter concludes with a massive riot instigated by Demetrius the silversmith, who fears that Paul’s message against idolatry will ruin the trade for shrines of the goddess Artemis. The town clerk eventually disperses the crowd, warning against unlawful assembly.
Frequently Asked Questions
They were the sons of a Jewish chief priest who attempted to cast out evil spirits by using the name of Jesus as a magical formula without having personal faith. The spirits recognized the authority of Jesus and Paul but attacked the sons of Sceva, leaving them wounded and naked.
New believers who had previously practiced sorcery and magic chose to publicly burn their expensive scrolls as an act of repentance. The total value of these books was fifty thousand pieces of silver, representing a massive financial and cultural break from their past.
Demetrius was a silversmith whose livelihood depended on making silver shrines for the goddess Artemis. He incited a riot because Paul’s teaching that man-made gods were not real was causing a decline in shrine sales and threatening the prestige of the temple of Artemis.
After facing opposition in the synagogue, Paul moved his teaching to this public lecture hall. He used the space to reason and teach daily for two years, allowing the message of the Lord to reach nearly everyone in the province of Asia.
Study Note
The 50,000 pieces of silver mentioned in verse 19 probably refer to drachmas, which would represent roughly 160 years' worth of daily wages for a common laborer.
Related Chapters
Acts 18
Shows the arrival of Apollos in Ephesus and the beginning of Paul's journey to the city.
Ephesians 1
The letter Paul later wrote to the very church established during the events of this chapter.
Revelation 2
Includes a direct message to the church in Ephesus, providing insight into its later spiritual state.
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