Grace Bible Church Gillette, Wyoming

2. In spite of the persecution Paul had received from Jews in the synagogues, he “continued speaking out boldly” (imperfect tense of parrêsiazomai - speak freely, openly, and boldly, Ac 4:31; 9:28; 13:46; 14:18:26; Ep 6:20).

3. For three months, he continued doing this in his usual manner of “reasoning” (dialegomai - reasoned dialogue, Ac 17:2, 17; 18:4, 19) from the Scriptures and logical arguments. In addition, it was necessary for him to do his usual “persuading” (peithō - Ac 17:4; 18:4; 28:23) regarding the “kingdom of God” (i.e. Christ, Ac 28:31).

B. Reasoned in the School (9)

1. Even though the Jews in Ephesus were favorable in the beginning (Ac 18:20), they were now becoming hardened and disobedient. The term “hardened” (sklêrunō - stubbornly refuse to listen) speaks of a progressive stubborn refusal to listen to Paul’s gospel.

2. If one rejects the gospel he is also “disobedient” (apeithō - disobedient and/or refusal to believe cf. Jn 3:36; Ac 14:2) to God’s command to believe.

3. This escalated to the point that they began “speaking evil” (present participle of kakologeō) of the Way (Ac 9:2; 19:23; 24:14, 22 cf. Ac 16:17; 18:25-26), attempting to influence the people.

4. Paul, not being able to teach without distraction, withdrew and took the disciples to a different place. He made arrangements to teach in a building which was the school of Tyrannus. Tyrannus (tyrant) may have been a philosopher who held the school for his philosophy students. Since activities dwindled during the midday heat (3-5 hrs), no one used the building. Paul took this opportunity to teach “daily” and energize the disciples who attended (Ac 19:9). In addition, Acts 20 (Paul’s farewell speech to the Ephesians, Ac 20:17ff), suggests that Paul also continued his tent-making trade to support himself (Ac 20:33-34) while teaching. Furthermore, we can deduce that he also taught in the evening because he taught “night and day” (Ac 20:31) for a total of three years (teaching in the synagogue, the school, and house to house).

C. Reached All of Asia (10)

1. Paul taught in the school for two years. He had such a powerful ministry in Ephesus’ trans-commerce city “that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord.”

2. When the apostle John wrote to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3, they were all in Asia and all in or near the region of Paul’s missionary journeys.

II. AUTHENTICATED APOSTOLIC MINISTRY (Ac 19:11-12)

A. Extraordinary Miracles by Paul (11)

1. Luke not only wrote of Paul’s powerful teaching ministry but he also showed that God authenticated his apostleship through miracles. It was God who performed the miracles, but God did it through the hands of Paul, His apostle and spokesman.

2. In keeping with

3. Luke characterized these miracles “extraordinary” (tugchanō - used with miracles extraordinary or uncommon). In other words, all miracles are divine and miraculous, but these particular miracles were uncommon.

B. Extraordinary Superstitions (12)

1. So extraordinary were the miracles that mere “handkerchiefs” (soudarion - face cloth for wiping perspiration) or “aprons” (simikinthion - workers apron) needed only come from Paul and touch the sick. Immediately they were healed of diseases and evil spirits were expelled.

2. This as similar to the healing ascribed to Peter’s passing shadow (Ac 5:15). Luke did not say whether Peter’s shadow actually healed the sick or the people had merely supposed it to be the case. But Luke specifically wrote that the diseases left them and evil spirits went out.

3. God used these extraordinary miracles for the extraordinary superstitious people of Ephesus. Clearly, this was a miraculous gift solely given to an apostle for that city.

III. ALL-ENCOMPASSING TEACHING MINISTRY (Ac 20:20-21)

A. Teaching Model (Ac 19:9)

1. In the book of Acts we have the model for the church in regard to many areas, including witnessing (Ac 1:8), missions (Ac 13:3), ordination of Deacons (Ac 6:6), ordination of men (Apollo, Ac 18:27).

2. Here we have the model of a teaching ministry or even a Bible School.

B. Teaching Topics (Ac 20:20)

1. Paul not only taught what the Ephesians needed to know, but also biblical teaching for the things which they were expressly dealing (persecution, answers for the pagan religions, practical topics (Ep 4:1-3; 6:1-9).

C. Teaching Demographics (Ac 20:20)

1. Paul taught anywhere and to anyone who desired the Word. His ministry was about the Word. The thrust of the context is Ac 19:10 in that “all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord.”

2. This is reiterated in Ac 20:20-26.

D. Teaching Depth (Ac 20:27)

1. Paul did not refrain from teaching all the deep truths of Scripture. We do not get the idea that Paul kept back some truths or teaching from the people of God. All the deep truths that Paul taught are the same ones that he wrote about in his epistles.

2. These are the deep truths in Scripture that we as believers search. We search them in order to deepen our faith and understand the mind of God. These are the truths that Paul taught at Ephesus.

a) Paul taught about the mysteries of Christ and the church (Ep 3:8-12).

b) Paul taught about the heavenly blessings in Christ (Ep 1:3; Ep 1:4-14).

c) Paul taught about the predestination of the elect (Ep 1:4).

d) Paul taught about the eternal purpose of God (Ep 1:11 cf. Ep 2:10).

e) Paul taught about the future riches in the ages to come (Ep 2:7)

E. Teaching Apologetics (Ac 20:28-30)

1. Paul taught the leaders of the church (and everyone in the church) to be on guard for false teaching.

2. The spiritual leaders of the church are overseers who are to shepherd the church of God. They do this similar to Peter who was asked by Christ to Feed the lambs and feed the sheep with the Word of God (Jn 21:15-17).

3. They were to guard from “savage wolves,” false teachers, who were attempting to destroy the church.

F. Teaching Growth (Ac 19:20)

1. The conclusion to Ac 19:8-19 was that the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.

2. The Word was the method used by Paul in the midst of persecution and spiritual warfare. It alone brings mighty and prevailing growth.

G. Teaching Spiritual Warfare (Ac 19:20; Ep 6:12, 17)

1. Though we have more to say on spiritual warfare, it is the teaching of the Word, the sword of the Spirit that is the believer’s ultimate weapon.

2. Furthermore, the Word gives believers the true victory over the wiles of the devil.

Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516