At Ephesus, Paul finds disciples knowing only John's baptism who receive baptism in Jesus' name and the Holy Spirit with tongues and prophecy, then teaches for two years in the hall of Tyrannus until all Asia hears the word. Extraordinary miracles through Paul include handkerchiefs and aprons healing the sick and expelling demons, while Jewish exorcists attempting to use Jesus' name are overpowered by an evil spirit, prompting widespread fear, confession of magical practices, and book burning worth fifty thousand silver pieces. Demetrius the silversmith incites a riot over declining sales of Artemis shrines, the city is in uproar for two hours shouting 'Great is Artemis of the Ephesians' until the town clerk disperses the crowd warning of Roman charges of rioting.
Read Acts Chapter 19 Summary
Characters in This Chapter
Places in This Chapter
Corinth was a wealthy Greek port city known for its commerce and notorious for its immorality. Paul spent 18 months there founding a church and later wrote two letters to the Corinthians addressing various problems in the congregation. The city had two harbors and was a crossroads of trade, making it strategically important for spreading the Gospel.
Ephesus was a major city in Asia Minor and home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Paul spent over two years there establishing a church that became influential throughout the region. The riot of silversmiths threatened Paul's life. The book of Ephesians and the letter to the church of Ephesus in Revelation were written to this congregation.
The Temple in Jerusalem was the permanent house of worship built by Solomon on Mount Moriah. Destroyed by Babylon, it was rebuilt by Zerubbabel and later greatly expanded by Herod. Jesus taught in the Temple courts, cleared it of merchants, and predicted its destruction, which occurred in 70 AD.
Position in Book
Ephesus, final journey to Jerusalem.
Bible Bites
The Gospel Spreads in 28 Chapters
The book of Acts contains 28 chapters chronicling the explosive growth of the early church from Jerusalem to Rome. Written by Luke as a sequel to his Gospel, it begins with 120 believers in an upper room and ends with Paul preaching boldly in the capital of the Roman Empire.
ActsThe narrator joins the story
In Acts 16:10, Luke suddenly switches from 'they' to 'we,' revealing he personally joined Paul's missionary journey. These 'we passages' (Acts 16, 20-21, 27-28) provide eyewitness accounts showing Luke was present for key events including Paul's shipwreck.
Acts 16:10