The Lord is gathering together in one, the children of God scattered abroad. Aquilla and Priscilla helped Apollos to see his place. Paul, who was now at Ephesus, instructs twelve disciples of John the Baptist in the truth. He evidently saw in them something lacking, so he asked them, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” They replied, “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” They did not know that the Holy Ghost had come. They knew there was such a person, for John taught of Him. Paul inquires further, “Unto what then were ye baptized?” And they said, “Unto John’s baptism.” Paul explains that John’s baptism, which was unto repentance, was only pointing to One that was coming after him, on whom they were to believe, that is, on Christ Jesus.
The death and resurrection of Christ, and His place in glory at the Father’s right hand, having finished the work of atonement, and the sending of the Spirit, that other Comforter at Pentecost, all this would be joyful news to them; and when they heard these things, they were baptized in, or, to the name of the Lord Jesus. They were thus brought into the church, or house of God, and when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them, thus making them members of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12, 13).
They were born again when they were John’s disciples; now they have the Holy Spirit, the seal of faith dwelling in them. The difference is manifest, for they spoke with tongues and prophesied. This is intelligent speaking of the things of God; it is one of the three instances mentioned in Acts of speaking with tongues. In each case that which was spoken was understood by those present. It is not to be compared with the unintelligent jabbering of the so-called tongues of the present day spiritism.
Paul goes on boldly speaking the things of God and His Kingdom. For three months he persuades and disputes with the Jews, till the opposition became so great that some hardened unbelievers, speaking evil of that way before the multitude, made Paul go away from them, and he separating the disciples, went on with his work in the school of one Tyrannus. This ministry he continued for over two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
God bore witness by signs and wonders and various acts of power, that Paul was His apostle, so that a number were healed and evil spirits cast out. It was the power of God in a man, but when some Jews who went about pretending to cast out evil spirits, had taken upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.” There were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, who were doing this, but the evil spirit answered, and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” Then the spirit-possessed man leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known to all the Jews and Greeks dwelling at Ephesus, and the Lord used it to arouse consciences. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. Many that believed came and confessed the things which they had done. Many of them also which used curious arts (charms) brought their books together, and burned them before all, and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. The power of God is greater than that of Satan. Thus with might the Word of the Lord increased and prevailed. Men’s consciences are reached when God is before the soul, and the enemy is held in check till the work is accomplished.
After about three years in Ephesus, Paul has it on his mind to go to Jerusalem, by way of Macedonia. He purposed in his spirit to see Rome also. He sent Timotheus and Erastus there to Macedonia, but he remained awhile longer in Asia.
Again the Lord allows a storm to rise. Demetrius, the silversmith, who made silver shrines for Diana, feels his idolatrous gains are diminishing, called together his fellow craftsmen, 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 naught, 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.” Satan works here by selfish interests, and the self-importance of our city and country, to oppose the blessed salvation that the love and grace of God provided.
Demetrius’ speech fills the city with wrath. The mob caught Gains and Aristarchus, and rushed them to the theater. Paul wanted to go also, but the disciples kept him back, and some of the chief men, officers, who were his friends, sent unto him, advising him not to go. For two hours the mob kept up their shouts and cries: “Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” The city was filled with confusion, some crying one thing, and some another. Some did not know what it was all about, and all this after nearly three years of hearing the gospel through Paul and his companions. Yet there were many who had been delivered from Satan’s power in that place.
The Jews now put Alexander forward. He, beckoning with his hand, would have made his defense unto the people, but they did not want the Jew either, and with their shouts, kept up the commotion. The town clerk appeased the people by praising Diana, and asserting that Gains and Aristarchus had done nothing against the law; that Demetrius had the means, to accuse anyone who had wronged him, and that they might be called in question about the uproar before the authorities, and they would be unable to give any account. Then he dismissed the assembly.
We have found in this chapter, the conflict between the Spirit of God working in the Lord’s servants, and the power of Satan kept in check, and overcome by God as long as the work was going on; the Jew and his religion powerless of good; the assembly of God growing amidst the opposition of man, under Satan’s power. In our day, the conflict goes on between truth and error. Though miracles are not needed now, and so have ceased, yet the Lord takes care of His servants. His love and grace are ever the same. He Opens the door, or shuts the door, as and when He will, and sees fit so to do.