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III. The Lord Jesus Christ at work by the Holy Spirit through the apostles to the uttermost part of the earth, Chapters 13 — 28

Chapter 18 — The second missionary journey concludes with Paul in Corinth. Corinth was the sin-city of the Roman Empire, a city of corruption.

(See notes on 1 Corinthians for a pen-picture of Corinth). Apollos comes to Ephesus.

vv. 1-3 — Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla who had escaped from an anti-Semitic campaign in Rome. They were tentmakers as was Paul, and he stayed with them. They were apparently his first converts in Corinth.

vv. 4-17 — Paul begins his public ministry in the synagogue. Silas and Timothy join him in Corinth. Many believe, including Crispus who was the chief ruler of the synagogue. The Lord encourages Paul to speak boldly. For 18 months he ministers the Word. An insurrection is made against Paul, and he is brought before Gallio. Gallio is not careless, but refuses to handle acase that has to do with religious liberty.

vv. 18-22 — Paul sails for Antioch but goes by Ephesus. He takes Priscilla and Aquila with him as far as Ephesus. Paul makes a vow and shaves his head. Under grace, this was an exercise in Christian liberty. He had a right to do this, not an obligation.

vv. 24-28 — Apollos from Alexandria, an eloquent preacher and one who knew the Old Testament, came to Ephesus. He was fervent in the spirit and taught zealously the things of the Old Testament up through the ministry of John the Baptist. He knew nothing beyond the baptism of John. Aquila and Priscilla had the privilege of bringing him up to date and also to conversion.

He went to Achaia (visiting the churches in Greece, including Corinth and Athens) and began to preach Jesus as the Messiah and Savior.

Chapter 19 — Paul’s third missionary journey. Paul returns to Ephesus after retracing part of his first and second missionary journeys. He spends 2 years here where he speaks daily in the school of Tyrannus.

Paul performs miracles which lead to the march against him led by Demetrius and his fellow silversmiths. The mob is quieted by the town clerk who urges them to appeal to the law and not resort to violence.

vv. 1, 2 — The proper translation of verse 2 should be “Did ye receive the Holy Spirit when ye believed?” They had heard only the preaching of Apollos which went no farther than the baptism of John.

vv. 3, 4 — Paul explains to them that they must believe on Jesus to be saved.

vv. 5-7 — These men respond to the preaching of Paul, and when they believe they receive the Holy Spirit.

vv. 8-10 — Paul withdraws from the synagogue under the fire of opposition but continues his ministry in the school of Tyrannus for a period of 2 years.

vv. 11-16 — Paul performs special miracles which lead to the 7 sons of Sceva attempting to duplicate the miracles of Paul. This attempt backfires to their humiliation and hurt.

vv. 17-22 — As a result, many who had traffic with demons believe in Christ. So great are the results that Paul postpones his trip to Corinth and continues to minister in Ephesus — “But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.

For a great door, and effectual, is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Corinthians 16:8, 9).

vv. 23-41 — The uproar of the silversmiths led by Demetrius centered about their bread and butter — they made little images of Diana and sold them. The temple of Diana in Ephesus was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world (see notes on Ephesians). The meeting ends in confusion with the mob crying incessantly, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians” (v. 28), until the town clerk brings order. He explains that they need not worry about the worship of Diana and that a legal charge should be made. The uproar ceases and the crowd goes home, but now the work of Paul in Ephesus is ended.

Chapter 20 — The third missionary journey concludes. Paul continues on to Macedonia to Philippi, back to Troas, and to Miletus.

vv. 1-5 — This brief section covers the visit of Paul to Thessalonica, Berea, and Philippi in Macedonia and also to Corinth and Athens in Greece.

vv. 6-12 — This section records the visit of Paul to Troas and the episode of the young man, Eutychus, who goes to sleep in a window while Paul is preaching and falls down 3 floors to his death. Paul raises him from the dead.

vv. 13-38 — Paul goes by Miletus, the port of Ephesus, so he can visit the Ephesians and still be in Jerusalem for Pentecost. The elders of the church meet him and they have a tender reunion. Paul knows he will encounter danger in Jerusalem, but he is determined to go. He gives a report of his stewardship of the gospel in Ephesus. He had been faithful. He knows that the church in Ephesus will be subjected to false teaching (v. 29).

Note the tender farewell (vv. 37, 38).

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