The Word and Your Inheritance: Acts Paul in Ephesus

Encounters in Ephesus First Encounter: Acts 18:17-21, 2 nd Missionary Journey – ~52 AD, 2-3 years after writing Galatians – Brief visit, planted representatives Ministry of Apollos: Acts 18:23-28, Beginning of Paul’s 3 rd Missionary Journey – ~53 AD – “mighty in the Scriptures,” and “teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus” Long Visit: Acts 19, 3 years Farewell: Acts 20:17-38, on Miletus

Ministry of Apollos Acts 18: Now a certain Jew named Apollos, who was born in Alexandria,a man of words, (=erudition/learning), arrived in Ephesus, being able ( dunato~ ) in the Scriptures. 25This one, because he had been taught the way of the Lord and because he was alive (=fervent) in spirit, spoke and taught accurately the things concerning the Lord, even though he was acquainted only with the Baptism of John

26Now this one began to speak boldly in the synagogue. So after hearing him, Akula and Priskilla drew him near and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27So when he wanted to go into Achaia, the brothers in Ephesus encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him, who upon arriving threw together greatly (=helped) with those who had believed, by means of the grace gift (= his spiritual gift)

28 For with might he disputed with the Jews publicly by demonstrating through the Scriptures that the Christ is Jesus.

Ministry of Apollos Acts 18:24-28Byz 24 Ἰ ουδα ῖ ος δέ τις Ἀ πολλ ὼ ς ὀ νόματι, Ἀ λεξανδρε ὺ ς τ ῷ γένει, ἀ ν ὴ ρ λόγιος, κατήντησεν ε ἰ ς Ἔ φεσον, δυνατ ὸ ς ὢ ν ἐ ν τα ῖ ς γραφα ῖ ς. 25 Ο ὗ τος ἦ ν κατηχημένος τ ὴ ν ὁ δ ὸ ν το ῦ κυρίου, κα ὶ ζέων τ ῷ πνεύματι ἐ λάλει κα ὶ ἐ δίδασκεν ἀ κριβ ῶ ς τ ὰ περ ὶ το ῦ κυρίου, ἐ πιστάμενος μόνον τ ὸ βάπτισμα Ἰ ωάννου· 26 ο ὗ τός τε ἤ ρξατο παρρησιάζεσθαι ἐ ν τ ῇ συναγωγ ῇ. Ἀ κούσαντες δ ὲ α ὐ το ῦ Ἀ κύλας κα ὶ Πρίσκιλλα, προσελάβοντο α ὐ τόν, κα ὶ ἀ κριβέστερον α ὐ τ ῷ ἐ ξέθεντο τ ὴ ν το ῦ θεο ῦ ὁ δόν

. 27 Βουλομένου δ ὲ α ὐ το ῦ διελθε ῖ ν ε ἰ ς τ ὴ ν Ἀ χαΐαν, προτρεψάμενοι ο ἱ ἀ δελφο ὶ ἔ γραψαν το ῖ ς μαθητα ῖ ς ἀ ποδέξασθαι α ὐ τόν· ὃ ς παραγενόμενος συνεβάλετο πολ ὺ το ῖ ς πεπιστευκόσιν δι ὰ τ ῆ ς χάριτος· 28 ε ὐ τόνως γ ὰ ρ το ῖ ς Ἰ ουδαίοις διακατηλέγχετο δημοσί ᾳ, ἐ πιδεικν ὺ ς δι ὰ τ ῶ ν γραφ ῶ ν ε ἶ ναι τ ὸ ν χριστ ὸ ν Ἰ ησο ῦ ν.

The Long Visit: Acts 19 vv1-7: Transitional Nature of Acts – Aftermath of Apollos’ ministry – Instance of believers who have not yet received the Holy Spirit vv8-10: The Introduction of the War Between Kingdoms – Synagogue + Kingdom of God (v8) = Hardened and disobedient (v9). – School of Tyrannus—alternative to synagogue. vv11-20: Immortal Combat in the War Between Kingdoms

The Authentication of the Word vv11-20: Immortal Combat in the War Between Kingdoms – Paul’s miracles confirming the Word, vv – Jewish exorcists attempting to use this power that works, vv – The Gospel is magnified and the Kingdom of Darkness is defeated by it, vv17-20.

vv21-22: Paul’s ultimate goals vv23-40: Clash of Kingdoms Again! The subtle link between worship of money and idolatry – vv23-27: The Enemy Argument, concealed in pragmatism – vv28-41: The world’s embrace of the enemy’s argument vv28-29: The mob forms vv30-31: Paul kept away vv32-34: Mob ignorance unites behind the enemy argument, with possibly violent results vv35-41: The town clerk keeps peace through subtle pragmatism

Paul's Farewell to the Ephesians: Acts 20:17-38  v16: Meeting scheduled on Miletus because Paul wants to be in Jerusalem on Pentecost  vv17-18a: Summons of the “elders of the church”  vv18b-21: Paul’s ministry to them: anaggellw and didaskw  vv22-24: Paul’s present journey and future  vv25-27: Paul’s summary of ministry: anaggellw  vv28-31: Warning of the church wolves, emphasizing his foundational, apostolic ministry  vv32: Paul’s COMMENDATION  vv33-35: Paul’s example  vv36-38: Final farewell

The Commendation Acts 20:32Byz 32 Κα ὶ τ ὰ ν ῦ ν παρατίθεμαι ὑ μ ᾶ ς, ἀ δελφοί, τ ῷ θε ῷ κα ὶ τ ῷ λόγ ῳ τ ῆ ς χάριτος α ὐ το ῦ, τ ῷ δυναμέν ῳ ἐ ποικοδομ ῆ σαι, κα ὶ δο ῦ ναι ὑ μ ῖ ν κληρονομίαν ἐ ν το ῖ ς ἡ γιασμένοις π ᾶ σιν. And now I commend you, brothers, to God and to the Word of His Grace, which is able to build up and to give you inheritance with all those being sanctified

What Paul Expects of Us 1.After establishing the Church in the Gentile world, Paul directs us to God and the “Word of His Grace.” 2.The “Word of His Grace” means the content of God’s Self-revelation. 3.We get this from the Apostolic and prophetic writings or Scriptures. 4.But the meaning here of “Word of His Grace” is the message found in these Scriptures. 5.The teaching of the Word of God is how God builds us and gives us our inheritance.