I am not sure Luke really every meant to give us a biography of the great Apostle Paul. Certainly not a full one! Rather, Luke’s history volume in the New Testament (the Acts of the Apostles, most often called) is a history of the spread of the Gospel! (From Jerusalem and Judea to the uttermost parts of the world … Acts 1:8.)

But outside of Paul’s own Literature (often called the Pauline Corpus of the New Testament, 14 Epistles if you include Hebrews) … we would know precious little of the Church’s greatest missionary of all time… apart from Acts!

Today I’d like to give you an example of one of those “nonspecific” instances from Luke’s pen. Acts 20:1-3 … “And after the uproar (in Ephesus, that riot) was ceased, Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. And when he had gone over those parts … he came into Greece, and there abode three months.”

What disciples?

What Cities or Churches in Macedonia?

Where in Greece?

And what did he do those three months, otherwise unaccounted weeks of Paul’s ministry?

See what I mean?

Very general, almost vague, “nonspecific” is the best word I could discover to us.

(There is also the question of those “three years in Arabia!” mentioned in Galatians 1:17-18! And the years (how many we do not know) between Paul’s going to Tarsus and returning to Antioch sketched in Acts 9:30 compared to Acts 11:25-26!)

Nonspecifics!

Or the missing years of Paul’s later life … when Acts 28 ends with Paul’s first Roman imprisonment! (We believe there were two such stints.)

Wow!

The “point” today?

I think we are indirectly being told that certain periods in Paul’s life and ministry were more fruitful than other times!

Psalm 1:3 does say we bring forth fruit “in season!”

Any Christian servant of the Lord might face a “dry spell” (less fruit or maybe even no fruit for a time) in his or her journey to Heaven!

Perhaps even Paul!

I say this to encourage someone today. If you’re in one of those “hard times” … stay faithful! Keep sowing the Seed! Fruit will be borne!

Galatians 6:9 … And let us not be weary in well doing: FOR IN DUE SEASON WE SHALL REAP, if we faint not.

Wow!

By the way, back in our text for this morning … even with all those generalities … Luke did add that Paul gave those he met “much exhortation!” (Acts 20:2, where “exhortation” is the great New Testament “encouragement” word!)

THAT is certainly possible … even when your fruit quotient is rather “low” … find someone and encourage, uplift them!

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

Paul in Ephesus … his longest (in time) local Church ministry of all! Luke’s pen tells us the most: “He himself (the Apostle) stayed in Asia for a season. And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines (idols) for Diana, brought no small gain (profit) unto the craftsmen; whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: so that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.” Acts 19:22-27

Such amazing progress the Gospel has made … that the idolatry of the city is about to topple!

“Almost throughout all Asia!”

“This Paul hath persuaded much people!”

“There be no gods made with hands!”

“The temple of Diana is being despised!”

And maybe most painful of all … “Our craft (our profession, financial security, back account, money) is in danger!”

To which we all as Christians can say, “Hallelujah, Praise the Lord!”

Paul was preaching JESUS!

But in America today, I fear all the advances listed above (concerning Ephesus) are in retreat!

We are now living, looks like, in a post-Christian Land!

And heathenism is again surfacing!

I am so glad Jesus is coming again!

After all, future events will reveal … through Jesus our Saviour … we’re still on the winning side!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Revelation 11:15 … yet to be literally fulfilled: “And there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”

Even so, come Lord Jesus!

.

Let me begin by declaring that I believe there was only ONE Pentecost, as far as the holy Spirit coming down to inhabit the Church, its members, truly born-again people.

And yet again let me assert I DO BELIEVE there have been many Holy Ghost Revivals showered upon our land. Worldwide in fact.

And what happened at Ephesus in Acts 19 is at least an example. I am nearly ready to call it (as today’s Lesson’s Title suggests) an “Ephesian Pentecost!” Or maybe better, a “gentile Pentecost!”

The Chapter begins with certain Old Testament rites that no longer” fit” the dispensation of the Grace of God, the period “post” (after) Jesus’ Death and Burial and Resurrection. Read if you can Acts 19:1-7 where the “Baptism of John” was “unto” the remission of sins. Whereas our Baptist is “after” the remission of sins! BIG DIFFERENCE!

See the difference? Baptism prior to Calvary … or Baptism after Calvary, after one’s salvation! Those disciples of John the Baptist were still following an “obsolete” approach to Jesus, since our Lord had now (by Paul’s time in Ephesus) died on the Cross, shed His Blood, and been physically raised from the dead!

So Paul (or one of his team) rebaptized them! Likely they had already believed in Jesus, but had not entered fully into the “riches” we now enjoy via the Power of our resurrected Saviour! They did not yet know the “delights” of daily living in the Presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit! (A Pentecostal Result!)

Next in Acts 19 … after the Old had been laid aside … the HOLY SPIRIT fell on these men. (Duplicating what happened in Acts 2, the Real Pentecost!) No mentioned “rushing mighty wind” or “cloven tongues of fire” … but still “The Holy Ghost came on them.” Acts 19:6

Next, they spoke with “tongues,” in languages! Acts 9:6 again, just like Pentecost! Then Luke tells us that they “prophesied,” witnessed (in those languages maybe) or testified about Jesus! (Just like Pentecost!)

Then, still in Acts 19 … the Jews heard and rejected (just like Pentecost) … but gentiles believed (some did at Pentecost) too!

Then lastly, still very similar to the Acts 2 Pentecost, miracles ensued! (Think of the miracles of Acts 2 and 3 and 4!) Now read with me Acts 19:11-12 … “God wrought SPECIAL MIRACLES by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.”

Wow!

Truly, as seen here in today’s Text, God is no “Respecter of persons!” Acts 10:34 informs us of this fundamental Truth!

And what He did for Jews (largely) in Acts 2, Pentecost … He did for the gentiles (largely) in Acts 19!

To me as a Bible student … this is BEAUTIFUL!

Oh, by the way, are You living to day in the conscious awareness of the Holy Spirit of God being “in your life, in your very body?”

Are you, using Paul’s inspired words, enjoying “the communion of the Holy Ghost?”

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

Here’s Luke’s report on Paul first visit to the city Ephesus, a chief Roman city. “And he came to Ephesus.” Acts 18:19 … pretty brief, isn’t it?

Yet, once settled in, the Apostle preached three full years there! According to Acts 20:31. Then later he wrote what may be the New Testament’s most sublime Epistle … addressed to that Church, the saints at Ephesus.

Here’s one outstanding victory during Paul’s stay in that famed city. “Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and BURNED them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.” Souls saved, rescued from the clutches of spiritism, demonism, heathenism, Acts 19:19.

They gave up all association with the spirit world … the evil spirit world that is. (Recall here 1 John 4:1 please. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.”)

Yes, many of the Ephesians tuned their backs on that past life of anti-Christian philosophy, those “doctrines of devils.”

And they grew in their knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.” Acts 19:20

As if, when they jettisoned interest in any false spirit … the Holy Spirit of God rewarded them with intimate Fellowship, Communion!

And that thought brings me to the Epistle of Ephesians! And the point of today’s Lesson.

Perhaps in no other Body of Literature (divinely inspired) did Paul convey a higher sense of Spiritual Privilege! For example, there we learn that we Christians are already “seated in heavenly places” in Christ Jesus our Lord! (Ephesians 2:6)

Wow!

I am simply saying this: to the congregation that spurned all those wrong spirits … God gave the fullest knowledge of the TRUE SPIRIT, the Spirit of Almighty God, the very Holy Spirit Himself!

They spurned hellish demons … even at great cost! Luke says this much: “Fifty thousand pieces of silver!”

But they certainly were compensated to an infinitely greater degree than mere silver or gold!

In Ephesians, especially to these folks …

Paul penned verses like these, undoubted realities: “After that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that Holy Spirit of promise.” Ephesians 1:13

And … “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may GIVE unto you the (Holy) Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” Ephesians 1:17

“For through him (Jesus) we both have ACCESS by one (Holy) Spirit unto the Father.” Ephesians 2:18

Jesus … “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:22

Wow!

“That He (our Lord Jesus Christ) would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be STRENGTHENED with might by His (Holy) Spirit in the inner man.” Ephesians 3:16

Where (in Ephesians) we learn that the Holy Spirit is a Person of the Godhead, and can thereby be “grieved!” Ephesians 4:30

Where we learn of the “Fruit of the Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 5:9

Where we learn that we are expected to be “filled with the Holy Spirit!” Ephesians 5:18

Where we learn about the “Sword of the Holy Spirit!” (Which is the powerfully sharp Word of God) Ephesians 6:17

And where we learn about praying in the Holy Spirit! “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the (Holy) Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Ephesians

They indeed gave up on set of spirits … but became intimate with The Holy Spirit of God!

And that is likely why, in my opinion, Paul labored so abundantly at Ephesus for three years! A record for a Church stay for him!

Thank God today for the Ministry of the Holy Spirit in your life!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.

Chronologically, it was his longest ministry. His longest “pastorate,” one might accurately say. I mean Paul’s time in the city of Ephesus.

Generally … Paul and his team (which often varied in both numbers and membership) stayed in a place only a short time. Though occasionally he did leave a Preacher behind to further strengthen the work, young Timothy coming to mind.

For example, they were in Thessalonica only “three sabbath days!” (Acts 17:2) The work there (though a Church resulted) was no doubt cut short due to strong persecution!

Yes, I think I am safe saying “short stays” … as a pattern. Paul longed to go elsewhere and preach Jesus! His own words, Romans 15:20 … “Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named.”A spiritual pioneer!

Wow!

Yet in one place, Ephesus, Paul broke his normal modus operandi. He labored (preaching the Word of God) in the city of Ephesus longer, much longer!

Again, his own testimony: “Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of THREE YEARS I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” Speaking to the men who had become the leaders of the Ephesian Church, Acts 20:31.

Three years!

Why that long?

One idea tomorrow, the Lord willing.

But undoubtedly this, at least … Paul found in Ephesus a healthy hunger for God’s Word, among the believers, that is.

A craving which he helped satisfy, gloriously so.

Now, if anyone asks you to name the place the Apostle Paul stayed the longest (in voluntary Ministry, serving our Lord … just say EPHESUS!

And thanks be unto God, how spiritually enriched we are to be able to have a Book of Scripture (Ephesians) that gives us a glimpse at Paul’s Preaching Material over those thirty-six months!

God is good!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

.