1. Knowing the
Acts 18:23–28 (CSB)
23 After spending some time there, he set out, traveling through one place after another in the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples. 24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was competent in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately about Jesus, although he knew only John’s baptism. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. After Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God to him more accurately. 27 When he wanted to cross over to Achaia, the brothers and sisters wrote to the disciples to welcome him. After he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating through the Scriptures that Jesus is the Messiah.
A. Knowing and teaching the Scriptures is not proof of a true believer. What is? Having the Holy Spirit
B. Notice that the word “spirit” is not capitalized, meaning that it is speaking of the
C. Priscilla and Aquila – They explained the rest of the
D. What is the difference between John’s baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
1) John’s Baptism –
a) Baptism with
b) Baptism of
c) Baptism that looked
2) Baptism of the Holy Spirit –
a) Happens at the
b) Baptism with the
c) Baptism into
d) Baptism into
3) Believer Baptism (Water Baptism Today) –
a) Baptism with
b) Jesus
c)
d) Looks
E. Application: Another baptism of the Spirit that takes place after salvation is not biblical. After salvation believers experience the
2. Having a
Acts 19:1–7 (CSB)
1 While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior regions and came to Ephesus. He found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” “No,” they told him, “we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 “Into what then were you baptized?” he asked them. “Into John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began to speak in tongues and to prophesy. 7 Now there were about twelve men in all.
A. “Disciple” simply means
B. Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of
C. Repentance is a necessary
D. The miracles were to
E. Application: The Holy Spirit in our lives is evidence that we are truly believers. (Romans 8:16) We see the Holy Spirit in our lives by the
3. Endless
Acts 19:8–10 (CSB)
8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly over a period of three months, arguing and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became hardened and would not believe, slandering the Way in front of the crowd, he withdrew from them, taking the disciples, and conducted discussions every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.
A. Though Paul was received well in the synagogue at Ephesus earlier (Acts 18:19-20), this time those with hardened, unbelieving hearts went from debating to defaming the
B. Application: We cannot
4. Being
Acts 19:11–20 (CSB)
11 God was performing extraordinary miracles by Paul’s hands, 12 so that even facecloths or aprons that had touched his skin were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them. 13 Now some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists also attempted to pronounce the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus that Paul preaches!” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were doing this. 15 The evil spirit answered them, “I know Jesus, and I recognize Paul—but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them, overpowered them all, and prevailed against them, so that they ran out of that house naked and wounded. 17 When this became known to everyone who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks, they became afraid, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high esteem. 18 And many who had become believers came confessing and disclosing their practices, 19 while many of those who had practiced magic collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. So they calculated their value and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread and prevailed.
A. It makes sense that Paul was sent to Europe first and to experience encouragement before he came to Ephesus which would be a long, difficult battle against the powers of
B. The name of Jesus is not a magical
C. The seven sons of Sceva (can’t help but see the humor) teach us that there is nothing like the
D. The books they burned by today’s value would have been in the
E. Application: Claiming to be a Christian when you are not, is very
Discussion Questions
1. Do you know people that are Christian in name only? Why do they call themselves Christians?
2. Read 18:23-28. Baptism in the Bible can be confusing. Walk through the three different baptisms and discuss their meaning.
3. Read Acts 19:1-7. Why is repentance important, but not enough to save us? Explain.
4. Read Acts 19:8-10. Why were the Christians in Ephesus called the Way?
5. Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5. Why did Paul say that he decided to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified? How can we apply this to ourselves?
6. Read Acts 19:11-20. The teaching of the Word was accompanied by miracles to verify the message was of God. How did some try to capitalize on this? How significant is the phrase, “but who are you?” Do you have a genuine relationship with Christ?