Paul In Ephesus; Acts 19:1 – 22

Church History: Date: A.D. 53–57

1While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." 3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?""John's baptism," they replied. 4Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7There were about twelve men in all. 8Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord. 11God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. 13Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." 14Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15One day the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. 17When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. 19A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. 21After all this had happened, Paul decided to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. "After I have been there," he said, "I must visit Rome also." 22He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia a little longer.

Ephesus was a city of great note in Asia, famous for a temple built there to Diana, which was one of the wonders of the world. Paul came here to preach the gospel while Apollos was at Corinth; while he was watering there, Paul was planting here, and was not upset that Apollos was following in his footsteps and was building upon his foundation, but rejoiced in it, and went on in the new work that was cut out for him at Ephesus with cheerfulness and satisfaction, because he knew that such an able minister of the New Testament as Apollos was now at Corinth, carrying on the good work there. Though there were those that made him the head of a party against Paul (1Corinthians 1:12), yet Paul had no jealousy of him, nor any way disliked the affection the people had for him. Paul having gone through the country of Galatia and Phrygia, having passed through the upper coasts, Pontus and Bithynia, that lay north, at length came to Ephesus, where he had left Aquila and Priscilla, and there is where he found them. When he first arrived he met with some disciples who professed faith in Christ as the true Messiah, but were as yet not instructed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but were under his usher John the Baptist. They were in number about twelve. They had a similar understanding to that which Apollos had when he came to Ephesus (for he knew only the baptism of John. They had not had the opportunity of being acquainted with Aquila and Priscilla, or had not been in Ephesus as long or were not as willing to receive instruction as Apollos was, otherwise they might have had the way of God explained to them more perfectly, as Apollos had.

Paul Begins His Third Missionary Journey; Acts 18:23 – 28 Part 3

Church History: Date: A.D. 53–57

He made good use of his gifts in public. He came, probably, recommended to the synagogue of the Jews as a good man qualified to be a teacher there, according to the light he had, and the measure of the gift given to him. He was willing to be employed (Acts 18:25): Being fervent in the Spirit, he spoke and taught diligently the things of the Lord. Though he didn’t have the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, he made use of the gifts he did have.
If Paul or some other apostle or evangelist had been at Ephesus, he would have instructed him; but, for lack of better help, Aquila and Priscilla (who were tent-makers) explained to him the way of God more perfectly. Aquila and Priscilla heard him preach in the synagogue. Though in knowledge he was much inferior to them, yet, having excellent gifts for public service, they encouraged his ministry. Finding him defective in his knowledge of Christianity, they took him in, and explained to him the way of God and the way of salvation by Jesus Christ.
Paul had made plans to go into Achaia and particularly at Corinth, the county-town. Many were stirred up by his preaching to receive the gospel, and they needed to be confirmed; and many others opposed the gospel, and they needed to be confronted. Paul was gone, was called away to other work, and now there was a need to fill this vacancy. It was an opportunity for Apollos to step in. He was one who was better to water than to plant, to build up those that were within than to bring in those that were without.
Believers were greatly edified, and those that had received the gospel were very much confirmed: He helped those who had believed through grace. Unbelievers were greatly mortified. Their objections were fully answered. their clever, false and misleading arguments were refuted. They had nothing left to say in defense of the opposition they made to the gospel; their mouths were stopped, and their faces filled with shame. Ministers must be able not only to preach the truth, but to prove it and defend it, and to convince gainsayers with meekness and yet with power, instructing those that oppose themselves; and this is real service to the church.

Paul Begins His Third Missionary Journey; Acts 18:23 – 28 Part 2

Church History: Date: A.D. 53–57

The sacred history of Paul’s travels continues; He leaves and goes to meet Apollos at Ephesus, and to give us an account of him. Apollos was a Jew, born at Alexandria in Egypt, but of Jewish parents; there was an abundance of Jews in that city, since the dispersion of the people, as it was foretold (Deuteronomy 28:68): The Lord shall bring you into Egypt again. His name was not Apollo, the name of one of the heathen gods, but Apollos, some think the same with Apelles, (Romans 16:10).
He was a man of excellent character, and well fitted for public service. He was an eloquent man, and learned in the scriptures of the Old Testament, in the knowledge of which he was, as a Jew, brought up. He had a great command of scripture-language, and this was the eloquence he was noted for. He came to Ephesus, which was a public place, to trade with that talent, for the honor of God and the good of many. He was not only ready in the scriptures, able to quote texts off-hand, and repeat them, and tell you where to find them (many of the carnal Jews were so, who were therefore said to have the form of knowledge, and the letter of the law); but he was mighty in the scriptures. He understood the sense and meaning of them, he knew how to make use of them and to apply them, how to reason out of the scriptures, and to reason strongly; a convincing, commanding, confirming power went along with all his expositions and applications of the scripture. It is probable he had given proof of his knowledge of the scriptures, and his abilities in them, in many synagogues of the Jews. He knew only the baptism of John; he was instructed in the gospel of Christ as far as John's ministry would carry him, and no further; he knew the preparing of the way of the Lord by that voice crying in the wilderness, rather than the way of the Lord itself. We cannot but think he had heard of Christ's death and resurrection, but he was not let into the mystery of them, had not had opportunity of conversing with any of the apostles since the pouring out of the Spirit; or he had himself been baptized only with the baptism of John, but was not baptized with the Holy Spirit, as the disciples were at the day of Pentecost.

Paul Begins His Third Missionary Journey; Acts 18:23 – 28 Part 1

Church History: Date: A.D. 53–57

23After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. 24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. 27When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

He returned through those countries where he had formerly preached the gospel. He went and spent some time in Antioch, among his old friends there. This was where he was first begun to preach among the Gentiles. He went down to Antioch, to refresh himself with the sight and conversation of the ministers there. It is very refreshing to a faithful minister to have for awhile the society of his brethren. Paul's coming to Antioch would remind him of the earlier days, which would give him a renewed confidence and for fresh thanksgiving. He then went through the regions of Galatia and Phrygia, where he had preached the gospel, and planted churches, which, though very briefly mentioned (Acts 16:6), was yet a glorious work, as appears by (Galatians 4:14-15), where Paul speaks of his preaching the gospel to the Galatians at the first, and their receiving him as an angel of God. These country churches (for such they were (Galatians 1:2), and we read not of any city in Galatia where a church was) Paul visited in order as they lay, watering what he had been instrumental to plant, and strengthening all the disciples. His very coming among them, and accepting them, were a great strengthening to them and their ministers. Paul's support of them was encouraging them; but that was not all: he preached that to them which strengthened them, which confirmed their faith in Christ, their resolutions for Christ, and their pious affections to him. Disciples need to be strengthened, for they are compassed about with infirmity; ministers must do what they can to strengthen them, to strengthen them all, by directing them to Christ, and bringing them to live upon him, whose strength is perfected in their weakness, and who is himself their strength and song.

Churches Established By A.D. 52 – Part 3

Church History: Churches Established By A.D. 52

Philippi – Established during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey; Act 16:12

Philippi is a city of proconsular Macedonia, so called from Philip king of Macedon, who repaired and beautified it; whence it lost its former name of Dathos. It was constituted a Roman "colony" by Augustus, and as such possessed certain peculiar privileges, which made it a "chief city of that part of Macedonia." This expression however, is supposed to mean that it was the first city the traveler met after landing at its port Neapolis, from which it lay ten miles northwest on an extensive plain. Here was fought the celebrated battle in which Brutus and Cassius were overthrown by Octavius and Antony, B. C. 42. Here, too, Paul first preached the gospel on the continent of Europe; A. D. 52, having been led hither from Troas by a heavenly vision. The first convert was Lydia; and the church which at one sprang up here was characterized by the distinguished traits of this generous and true-hearted Christian woman. Having cast out a spirit of divination from a young damsel here, Paul and Silas were seized and cruelly scourged and imprisoned. But their bounds were miraculously loosed, their jailer converted, and they permitted to pass on to Amphipolis. Luke appears to have remained here, and to have rejoined Paul when he again visited Philippi on his fifth journey to Jerusalem, A. D. 58, Ac 16:8-40; 20:3-6. The site is now strewn with ruins.
Paul's Epistle To The Philippians, written during his first imprisonment at Rome, A. D. 62, gratefully and warmly acknowledges the receipt of their gift by the hand of Epaphroditus, and their continued affection towards him; also their irreproachable Christian walk, and their firmness under persecution, Philippians 1:7; 4:23; 2:12; 4:10-15. See also 2Corinthians 8:1-2.11

Rhodes – Established Prior To Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Though Not Visited by Paul Until A.D. 58; Acts 21:1

Rhodes is an island and a famous city in the Levant, the ancient name of which was Ophiusa. Its modern name alludes to the great quantity and beauty of the roses that grew there. The island is about forty miles long and fifteen wide; its mountains are well wooded, and its valleys highly fertile. The city of Rhodes, at the northeast extremity of the island, was one of the most celebrated of the Greek cities. It was famous for its brazen Colossus, which was one hundred and five feet high, made by Chares of Lyndus: it stood at the mouth of the harbor of the city, on sixty marble columns, and continued perfect only fifty-six years, being thrown down by an earthquake, under the reign of Ptolemy Euergetes king of Egypt, who began to reign B.C. 244. When Paul went to Jerusalem, A.D. 58, he visited Rhodes, (Acts 21:1). Modern Rhodes is a Turkish walled town of 15,000 inhabitants, and considerable commerce. The air of Rhodes is proverbially pure, and its climate serene.11
Rhodes is mentioned in the New Testament only as a point where Paul touched on his voyage southward from the Hellespont to Caesarea (Acts 21:1); but in 1 Maccabeus 15:23 we are informed that it was one of the states to which the Romans sent letters in behalf of the Jews.

Thessalonica – Established during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey; Act 17:1

This is a city and seaport of the second part of Macedonia, at the head of the Thermaic gulf. When Emilius Paulus, after his conquest of Macedonia, divided the country into four districts, this city as made the capital of the second division, and was the station of a Roman governor and questor. It was anciently called Therma. It was inhabited by Greeks, Romans, and Jews, from among whom the apostle Paul gathered a numerous church. There was a large number of Jews resident in their city, where they had a synagogue, in which Paul, A. D. 52, preached to them on three successive Sabbaths. Some of the Jews determined to maltreat the apostle, and surrounded the house in which they believed he was lodging. The brethren, however, secretly led Paul and Silas out of the city, towards Berea, and they escaped from their enemies. Thessalonica, now called Saloniki, is at present a wretched town, but has a population of about 70,000 persons, one-third of whom are Jews. When Paul left Macedonia for Athens and Corinth, he left behind him Timothy and Silas, at Thessalonica, that they might confirm those in the faith who had been converted under his ministry. He afterwards wrote to the church of the Thessalonians two epistles.10

Thyatira – Established during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey; Act 16:14
A city of Lydia, in Asia Minor, a Macedonian colony, anciently called Pelopia and Euhippia, now Ak-hisar. It was situated on the confines of Lydia and Mysia, near the river Lycus, between Sardis and Pergamos. It was the seat of one of "the seven churches," Revelation 1:11; 2:18, 24. The art of dyeing purple was particularly cultivated at Thyatira, as appears from an inscription recently found there; and it still sends to Smyrna, sixty miles southwest, large quantities of scarlet cloth. Ak-hissar is a poor town, with six thousand inhabitants, chiefly Turks.10
One of The Seven Churches: Letter Written to Church [Revelation 2:18]

Troas – Established during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey; Act 16:8

A maritime city of Mysia, in the northwest part of Asia Minor, situated on the Egean coast, at some distance south of the supposed site of ancient Troy. The adjacent region, including all the coast south of the Hellespont, is also called Troas, or the Troad. The city was a Macedonian and Roman colony of much promise, and was called Alexandria Troas. The Turks call its ruins Eski Stamboul, the old Constantinople. Its remains, in the center of a forest of oaks, are still grand and imposing. The apostle Paul was first at Troas for a short time in A. D. 52, and sailed thence into Macedonia. At his second visit, in A. D. 57, he labored with success, 2Corinthians 2:12-13. At his third recorded visit he tarried but a week; at the close of which the miraculous raising of Eutychus to life took place, Acts 20:5-14, A. D. 58. See also 2Timothy 4:13.

Churches Established By A.D. 52 – Part 2

Church History: Churches Established By A.D. 52

Cenchrea– Established during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey; Act 18:18
A port of Corinth, now called Kikries, whence Paul sailed for Ephesus. It was a place of some commercial note, and the seat of an early church, Romans 16:1. It was situated on the eastern side of the isthmus, eight or nine miles east of the city. The other port, on the western side of the isthmus, was Lechaeum.10

Corinth – Established during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey; Act 18:1
Corinth is a Grecian city, on the isthmus which joins the Peloponnesus to the mainland of Greece. It is about 48 miles west of Athens. The ancient city was destroyed by the Romans (B.C. 146), and that mentioned in the New Testament was quite a new city, having been rebuilt about a century afterwards and peopled by a colony of freedmen from Rome. It became under the Romans the seat of government for Southern Greece or Achaia (Ac 18:12-16). It was noted for its wealth, and for the luxurious and immoral and vicious habits of the people. It had a large mixed population of Romans, Greeks, and Jews. When Paul first visited the city (A.D. 51 or 52), Gallio, the brother of Seneca, was proconsul. Here Paul resided for eighteen months (Ac 18:1-18). Here he first became acquainted with Aquila and Priscilla, and soon after his departure Apollos came to it from Ephesus. After an interval he visited it a second time, and remained for three months (Ac 20:3). During this second visit his Epistle to the Romans was written (probably A.D. 55). Although there were many Jewish converts at Corinth, yet the Gentile element prevailed in the church there.11

Galatia – Established during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey; Act 18:23
Galatia has been called the "Gallia" of the East, Roman writers calling its inhabitants Galli. They were an intermixture of Gauls and Greeks, and hence were called Gallo-Graeci, and the country Gallo-Graecia. The Galatians were in their origin a part of that great Celtic migration which invaded Macedonia about B.C. 280. They were invited by the king of Bithynia to cross over into Asia Minor to assist him in his wars. There they ultimately settled, and being strengthened by fresh accessions of the same clan from Europe, they overran Bithynia, and supported themselves by plundering neighboring countries. They were great warriors, and hired themselves out as mercenary soldiers, sometimes fighting on both sides in the great battles of the times. They were at length brought under the power of Rome in B.C. 189, and Galatia became a Roman province B.C. 25.
This province of Galatia, within the limits of which these Celtic tribes were confined, was the central region of Asia Minor.
During his second missionary journey Paul, accompanied by Silas and Timothy (Acts 16:6), visited the "region of Galatia," where he was detained by sickness (Galatians 4:13), and had thus the longer opportunity of preaching to them the gospel. On his third journey he went over "all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order" (Ac 18:23). Crescens was sent thither by Paul toward the close of his life (2Timothy 4:10).11

Neapolis – Established during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey; Act 16:11
Neapolis was a new city, a town in Thrace at which Paul first landed in Europe. It was the sea-port of the inland town of Philippi, which was distant about 10 miles. From this port Paul embarked on his last journey to Jerusalem (Acts 20:6). It is identified with the modern Turco-Grecian Kavalla.1

Churches Established By A.D. 52 – Part 1

Church History: Athens – Established during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey; Act 17:15

The capital of Attica was the most celebrated city of the ancient world. It was the seat of Greek literature and art during the golden period of Grecian history. Its inhabitants were fond of novelty and were remarkable for their zeal in the worship of the gods. It was a sarcastic saying of the Roman satirist that it was "easier to find a god at Athens than a man."

On his second missionary journey Paul visited this city and delivered in the Areopagus his famous speech. The altar of which Paul there speaks as dedicated "to an unknown God" (Acts 17:23) was probably one of several which bore the same inscription. It is supposed that they originated in the practice of letting loose a flock of sheep and goats in the streets of Athens on the occasion of a plague, and of offering them up in sacrifice, at the spot where they lay down, "to the god concerned."11

Amphipolis – Established during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey; Act 17:1
This is a city of Macedonia, situated not far from the mouth of the river Strymon, which flowed "around the city," and thus created its name. The village which now stands upon the site of the ancient city is called Empoli of Yamboli, a corruption of Amphipolis. It was visited by Paul and Silas.10

Apollonia – Established during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey; Act 17:1
This is a city of Macedonia located between Amphipolis and Thessalonica, from which it was distant about 36 miles. Paul and Silas passed through it on their way to Thessalonica.11

Berea – Established during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey; Act 17:10
This is a city of Macedonia, not far from Pella towards the southwest, and near Mount Bermius. It was afterwards called Irenopolis, and is now called by the Turks, Boor; by others, Cara Veria. Paul preached the gospel here with success; the ingenuous Bereans examined his doctrine by the Old Testament scriptures, and many believed.