Acts 19:13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed.
No one ever exercised greater power over demons than Jesus, and those who were delivered experienced great relief (Luke 8:35). Jesus gave this power to his representatives who also cast out demons (Luke 10:17). And Paul exercised such power over Satan that even handkerchiefs he touched were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them (Acts 19:12).
Paul’s success at driving out demons led seven imposters to imitate him. In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out (Acts 19:13), they said. But the evil spirit replied, Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you? (Acts 19:15). Then the demonized man gave them such a beating that they ran away naked and bleeding (Acts 19:16).
Demons hate everyone made in God’s image, and often attack believers as well. This is why Jesus taught us to pray, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Matthew 6:13). Likewise, Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against . . . the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12), wrote Paul. This has led some Christians to wonder if they could be helped by having a demon cast out. Answer: probably not.
There are three reasons for this conclusion. First, there’s no example in the New Testament of an apostle casting a demon out of a Christian. Second, the apostles never taught believers to cast out demons, or to seek deliverance. Third, once we receive Christ as Lord (Colossians 2:6), we have all the power we need to resist Satan. [T]ake up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16), wrote Paul.
James, the brother of Christ, is also helpful. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you (James 4:7-8), he wrote. Satan won’t be completely defeated until he’s thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). Until then, we must oppose him daily by saying yes to Christ and no to sin.
*****
Acts 19:23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.
Paul’s ministry in Ephesus lasted a couple years, and was so successful that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord (Ephesians 19:10). This was great for all who believed, but not for the local idol-making industry. Christianity was hurting their business, so those involved began to push back.
Acts 19:24-27 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there.
He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia.
He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.
Ephesus was home to the temple of Artemis, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was over four hundred feet long, two hundred feet wide, sixty feet high, and had over one hundred white marble columns. People came from all over the world to see it, and to buy images of Artemis.
Paul stepped into this world of idolatry and taught that it was false. Artemis was not divine, and idolatry was a sin (Exodus 34:17). Paul’s preaching undermined the city’s religious foundation and hurt it financially. The intrusion of Christianity created social, religious and economic chaos. Did Paul have a right to do this? Should he have gone somewhere else?
We must be clear that the purpose of Christianity is not to improve people’s lives. That’s often the effect, but it’s not the point. The point of Christianity is to reconcile people to God, through faith in Jesus Christ, so they can avoid eternal punishment, and live with him forever. If Christianity is true, it must be preached at any expense. If it isn’t true we should believe something else, and leave the poor pagans alone. That, of course, never crossed Paul’s mind.
Acts 19:29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar.
They went to the amphitheater (which could seat around twelve thousand people) and shouted in unison for about two hours: Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! (Acts 19:34). But all their shouting didn’t prove a thing. Their crazed devotion to Artemis was based on little more than an image which they believed fell from heaven (Acts 19:35). But this is a weak foundation on which to build a religion, and very few people follow Artemis today. All that’s left of her temple, in fact, is a single column that’s been rebuilt from fragments recovered at the site.
It should be noted that Christianity is not a frenzied religion, with little or no proof, but a thoughtful religion based on many convincing proofs (Acts 1:3), wrote Luke. The most compelling proof, besides the resurrection, is knowing Christ for ourselves. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent (John 17:3), said Jesus. The personal knowledge of Christ leads to calm assurance, not to wild fanaticism.
*****
Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread.
Paul was in the city of Troas but was leaving the following day. Since he was only there for a week, he wanted to impart as much teaching as possible. Therefore, he kept on talking until midnight (Acts 20:7) wrote Luke.
Most of those gathered probably enjoyed the meeting, but a young man named Eutychus drifted off to sleep. He may, in fact, be the first person to fall asleep in church. Some preachers go on too long, but preachers everywhere should be encouraged that even Paul put someone to sleep.
Acts 20:9 When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.
Imagine the alarm this brought to the little congregation. They had a wonderful time with Paul, but this was a terrible way to end. It’d take years for this memory to fade, and his parents might never recover. And Paul would blame himself.
Paul had done many miracles (Acts 19:11-12), but never raised anyone from the dead. Perhaps he thought of the prophet Elijah who raised a child from the dead by laying on him (1 Kings 17:21). A few years later, in fact, the prophet Elisha did the same thing (2 Kings 4:35). So Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. Don’t be alarmed, he said. He’s alive! (Acts 20:10). This was no time to go home, of course, so they went back upstairs and Paul talked until morning. Some preachers never learn.
Reflection and Review
Should Christians cast out demons?
What is the purpose of Christianity?
Is Christianity boring?
No one ever exercised greater power over demons than Jesus, and those who were delivered experienced great relief (Luke 8:35). Jesus gave this power to his representatives who also cast out demons (Luke 10:17). And Paul exercised such power over Satan that even handkerchiefs he touched were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them (Acts 19:12).
Paul’s success at driving out demons led seven imposters to imitate him. In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out (Acts 19:13), they said. But the evil spirit replied, Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you? (Acts 19:15). Then the demonized man gave them such a beating that they ran away naked and bleeding (Acts 19:16).
Demons hate everyone made in God’s image, and often attack believers as well. This is why Jesus taught us to pray, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Matthew 6:13). Likewise, Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against . . . the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12), wrote Paul. This has led some Christians to wonder if they could be helped by having a demon cast out. Answer: probably not.
There are three reasons for this conclusion. First, there’s no example in the New Testament of an apostle casting a demon out of a Christian. Second, the apostles never taught believers to cast out demons, or to seek deliverance. Third, once we receive Christ as Lord (Colossians 2:6), we have all the power we need to resist Satan. [T]ake up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16), wrote Paul.
James, the brother of Christ, is also helpful. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you (James 4:7-8), he wrote. Satan won’t be completely defeated until he’s thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). Until then, we must oppose him daily by saying yes to Christ and no to sin.
*****
Acts 19:23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.
Paul’s ministry in Ephesus lasted a couple years, and was so successful that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord (Ephesians 19:10). This was great for all who believed, but not for the local idol-making industry. Christianity was hurting their business, so those involved began to push back.
Acts 19:24-27 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there.
He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia.
He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.
Ephesus was home to the temple of Artemis, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was over four hundred feet long, two hundred feet wide, sixty feet high, and had over one hundred white marble columns. People came from all over the world to see it, and to buy images of Artemis.
Paul stepped into this world of idolatry and taught that it was false. Artemis was not divine, and idolatry was a sin (Exodus 34:17). Paul’s preaching undermined the city’s religious foundation and hurt it financially. The intrusion of Christianity created social, religious and economic chaos. Did Paul have a right to do this? Should he have gone somewhere else?
We must be clear that the purpose of Christianity is not to improve people’s lives. That’s often the effect, but it’s not the point. The point of Christianity is to reconcile people to God, through faith in Jesus Christ, so they can avoid eternal punishment, and live with him forever. If Christianity is true, it must be preached at any expense. If it isn’t true we should believe something else, and leave the poor pagans alone. That, of course, never crossed Paul’s mind.
Acts 19:29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar.
They went to the amphitheater (which could seat around twelve thousand people) and shouted in unison for about two hours: Great is Artemis of the Ephesians! (Acts 19:34). But all their shouting didn’t prove a thing. Their crazed devotion to Artemis was based on little more than an image which they believed fell from heaven (Acts 19:35). But this is a weak foundation on which to build a religion, and very few people follow Artemis today. All that’s left of her temple, in fact, is a single column that’s been rebuilt from fragments recovered at the site.
It should be noted that Christianity is not a frenzied religion, with little or no proof, but a thoughtful religion based on many convincing proofs (Acts 1:3), wrote Luke. The most compelling proof, besides the resurrection, is knowing Christ for ourselves. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent (John 17:3), said Jesus. The personal knowledge of Christ leads to calm assurance, not to wild fanaticism.
*****
Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread.
Paul was in the city of Troas but was leaving the following day. Since he was only there for a week, he wanted to impart as much teaching as possible. Therefore, he kept on talking until midnight (Acts 20:7) wrote Luke.
Most of those gathered probably enjoyed the meeting, but a young man named Eutychus drifted off to sleep. He may, in fact, be the first person to fall asleep in church. Some preachers go on too long, but preachers everywhere should be encouraged that even Paul put someone to sleep.
Acts 20:9 When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.
Imagine the alarm this brought to the little congregation. They had a wonderful time with Paul, but this was a terrible way to end. It’d take years for this memory to fade, and his parents might never recover. And Paul would blame himself.
Paul had done many miracles (Acts 19:11-12), but never raised anyone from the dead. Perhaps he thought of the prophet Elijah who raised a child from the dead by laying on him (1 Kings 17:21). A few years later, in fact, the prophet Elisha did the same thing (2 Kings 4:35). So Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. Don’t be alarmed, he said. He’s alive! (Acts 20:10). This was no time to go home, of course, so they went back upstairs and Paul talked until morning. Some preachers never learn.
Reflection and Review
Should Christians cast out demons?
What is the purpose of Christianity?
Is Christianity boring?