Paul is confronted by the synagogue leaders who had resorted to using magic to bring about a curse on Paul. Timothy and the church in Corinth receive a letter from Paul that proves to be confusing.
Acts 19:8-20, Acts 2:1-12
With torch lamps spaced hundreds of feet from one another, deep shadows engulf the arterials that sprawl away from the main streets. The hushed voices of a few men are barely discernible through the hazy night. Walking aimlessly along a darkened street, the men continue in deep whispered conversation.
“Eliezer.” One of the men lets out in a subdued voice. “Have you completed your task?”
“Yes.” Eliezer replies. He turns around and peers to see nothing but an evening fog billowing into two nearby streets. “Perfect!” He thinks as the marine layer encroaches. “Now nobody will see what happens when someone takes us out.” He sighs. “What are we even doing here?”
Interrupting Eliezer’s train of thought, a more excited… an annoyingly nasal… voice chimes in. “How much?”
Surprised by the question of price, Eliezer turns to the hooded man and asks, “What?”
“Were you able to drive down his costs?” The man gripes. “We gave you a lot of money for this.”
Stopping, Eliezer turns around and faces the hooded man from inches away. “What are you, an accountant? Look. This guy threatened me with my life. I couldn’t get out of there quick enough, and you’re asking me if I haggled a good deal. Shut up! You go in there next time.”
Insulted, the hooded man goes toe to toe with Eliezer. His voice grows more shrill with each syllable. “How do we know you didn’t profit from this?”
“Enough.” The lower voiced man says. “Both of you, back down… Eliezer,” He continues, “what has he done for our cause?”
Looking back at his hooded foe, Eliezer shakes his head, spits and takes several breaths before speaking. “To be honest, I’m conflicted,” he says. “What I saw him do.”
“What did he do?” The lower voiced man implores.
“It’s all a blur to me now,” Eliezer continues, “I saw him filet live animals, concoct the vilest of potions. He then altered his state of consciousness and invoked the underworld.”
“And…” the man says. “What does that mean?”
Eliezer turns to look back at the lower voiced man and replies, “It means that the forces of hell have been turned against this false evangelist.”
“Good! Good!” The man with the hushed voiced utters.
“To be honest, this is where I’m conflicted.” Eliezer confesses. “Look, the Law is pretty clear that we shouldn’t even associate with this… whatever he is. Shouldn’t we be calling on the Most High God to deal with the insurrectionist and not this… this… shaman or whatever he is?”
The lower voiced man waves Eliezer’s concern off dismissively. “When God is silent, we must leverage what is necessary to accomplish what is right.”
…
The burly wooden door scrapes along the dirt floor as it opens. Sceva grunts while noting how the rotted wood has nearly split around the hinges. “Another repair.” He sighs. Looking up at the small home, he breathes out and mutters. “You need some attention, my old friend.”
Whatever noises were previously heard coming from inside of the room suddenly halt when Sceva enters the main room. As he walks in his startled sons rigidly come to attention, as if surprised by their father’s unexpected arrival.
Reading the straight faces of some of his sons, Sceva smirks as he watches them overcompensate for… well… whatever it is they’re up to. “What is going on here?” He asks as he places a heavy hand upon the shoulder of his most eagerly informative son. He smiles knowingly at the teenager, thinking a confession, or better, a finger pointing blame at the instigator would come quickly. He glances at the others and sets his attention on his second eldest son whose fists are clenched. Sceva raises a wary eyebrow and sizes up the young man. “What do you have in your hand, Harim?” He asks.
Harim glances furtively over at his older brother, Yedaiah, who responds only with widened eyes.
Sceva lessens the distance between he and his second born and says, “I shall ask only one more time, Harim. What are you holding?”
Harim opens his fist to reveal a gold ring with a pentagram etched onto it.
Sceva then meets Harim’s eyes from only inches away, and the silent tension that ensues feels like a tightened noose around Harim’s throat. “Well.” He asks calmly. “Are you able to command it?”
“I…” Harim stammers. “I don’t know.”
“That’s too bad. I expected greater from you,” Sceva replies while looking around the darkened room. Gaining the full attention of his sons, Sceva cajoles, “Do any of you have what it takes to control the power of this ring?”
Immer, one of his younger sons, steps over and replies, “I do, father.”
“Really.” Sceva skeptically replies. “You have commanded this ring to exorcise a daemon?”
“I have.” Immer says bluntly. “I have been showing them what to do with it.”
Sceva looks around the room and says, “In here?”
“We were rehearsing.” Harim interjects.
“Hmmmmm… What is this I sense?” Sceva thoughtfully calculates to himself. “Defiance? Bravado?”
“I see.” Sceva raises his eyebrow and responds. “In the safety and warmth of this home… you were rehearsing. Was the daemon in this room threatening you enough to exorcise it, hmmm?” He asks. “Well then,” he mocks. “By all means, keep rehearsing.”
Sceva guffaws as he turns to walk towards the door. With his head looking out the door, he replies in a measured voice. “Let us pray your rehearsal here in this room proves to be sufficient. One day, we will see if your training has prepared you adequately enough.”
…
“Well, that’s what is written here.” Timothy says to the curious faces surrounding him. With parchment in hand, he looks up to see an unsatisfied group of people.
Shaking his head, Titius voices his concern. “I don’t know about the others here, Timothy, but I’m thoroughly confused. So is he saying we should have no dealings with sexually immoral people?”
“Makes sense to me,” Sosthanes replies as he shares a glance with Crispus. “It’s appropriately in alignment with the Law.”
“No sexually immoral person shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.” Crispus affirms. “We simply cannot afford to let ourselves be easily swayed by the likes of an Esau who showed no willpower, no self-discipline, and traded his own birthright for a single bowl of soup. Just as he made his bed when he caved in, so are these immoral reprobates who live to please themselves.”
Sensing the immediate tension, Timothy replies, “Hang on guys, if that’s the case, who can we possibly associate with… outside of… us? Why then should we bother with the task of proclaiming the Gospel if we can’t talk with anyone who is sexually immoral?”
Gaius speaks up. “It’s true. Isn’t that why we’re here? Furthermore, how exactly do we find out who is behaving immorally? Are we now supposed to be keeping tabs on all the citizens of Corinth?”
Chloe blurts out. “We’re also forgetting how the Holy Spirit plays an important role in our internal change. If those who are only sexually pure are deemed worthy to hear the Gospel, are we supposed to wait for all these immoral people to clean up their acts before we share it?”
“Indeed!” Apollos finally weighs in.
The room falls silent to hear him speak.
“Chloe is right in asking this.” Apollos continues. “Are we to demonstrate our worthiness before hearing the Gospel? How exactly is that supposed to happen? The futility of our obedience to the Law of Moses should indicate well enough that we can never become worthy without the Holy Spirit first exercising the much needed change within us. If the Holy Spirit takes residence within us only after we hear the Gospel and believe in Jesus, how is it that anyone can be deemed as worthy in the sight of God?”
Fiery voices spread throughout the cavernous room. The numerous conversations bounce off of the walls creating a cacophony of indiscernible noise. Finally raising his hands to quiet the group, Timothy yells out. “People. It is so loud in here, we can’t even think, let alone have a discussion. Please, quiet things down for a moment.”
The room pauses to look back at Timothy who says, “We need to get a better sense of what Paul is saying here.” He looks over at Crispus and Sosthanes standing next to one another. “Sosthanes.” He addresses.
Sosthanes looks up from his private conversation with Crispus and now feels every eye on him. “Me? Yes?”
Timothy replies. “Yes. Would you be willing to pay Paul a visit?”
“In Ephesus?” Sosthanes asks with surprise.
“Yes,” Timothy replies. “We need your help. You can tap into Paul’s legal mind and shed some clearer light on this matter. Plus, there are a number of other concerns that have been raised in our midst that need to be addressed as well.”
“Wow. Will I need to memorize the list, or can you write them down for me?” Sosthanes jokes.
“Actually,” Apollos shares. “I think we would do well to convene our time here. The few of us should then meet to collectively write down all of our pressing questions of Paul. After all, he has been our entrusted Father in the faith, and he can help bring clarity to much of these matters.”
…
“There he is!” A staffer points out to the leaders who stand huddled by the synagogue’s doorway.
“He has amassed quite a following in such a short time.” One of the elders says. “Impressive!”
Eliezer turns around to see Paul walk towards the synagogue with some twenty or so people in tow. He snorts and spits. “Yes, we’ll see about that.” Signalling several other young men, Eliezer and the others line up to form a barrier between Paul and the synagogue’s doorway.
“You!” Eliezer shouts out, calling all attention to himself.
Dozens of congregants scatter towards the sides of the courtyard and form a circle around the two groups.
“You are no longer allowed in the house of God.” Eliezer continues. “You have worn out your welcome here.”
Realizing the immediate tension, Paul turns around to calm those behind him. “It’s okay everyone. Just keep your cool. We’ll figure this out.”
Overhearing Paul, Eliezer counters with a raised voice. “There’s nothing to figure out. You, and those simpletons who blindly follow you must leave.”
Paul turns back to see his accuser and the wall of men backing him. “I see.” He reasons. “I’m surprised by this sudden turn of events. This is now an issue? I’ve been available to you… to the people here in this blessed synagogue… for three solid months. I’ve been faithfully sharing, from right inside that hall behind you, for more than twelve weeks, and now you’re locking me out?” In disbelief, Paul continues. “Maybe a discussion could’ve happened? Maybe a conversation between the elders? I approached all of you on many occasions and have yet to hear back from a single one of you. You didn’t give me the time of day, so I pressed forward. Talk about your conflict resolution skills!”
An elder steps into view from behind Eliezer and replies. “You have now heard from this man, as if you have heard from the elder council. You are not welcome here any longer.”
“Sounds like you have done a fair amount of talking amongst yourselves.” Paul reasons. “Yet none of this reached my ears.” Paul turns around to see an amassing crowd listening in around him. He then turns back to the elders. “Have you soured these good people to the Kingdom of God? Did you give the same courtesy to Apollos who came before me here and shared the message of John? Apollos called you to repent. Did you listen? Did you soften your hearts in preparation for the coming King?”
Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Paul turns to see one of his recent followers smile back at him. “Are you sure you want to do this? These are your people, my son.”
Paul’s pupil smiles back and quietly says, “How can I deny what the Spirit of God has already done through us because of you.” He turns to call several others alongside them. “How can any of us?”
“Yeah.” Another speaks out loud enough to be heard by everyone. “What else does God need to do to prove to you that what this man is teaching is true? The Holy Spirit came upon us right in front of you. We spoke in languages that we didn’t know in front of all of you.”
“Yet, many of you from outlying provinces understood what we were saying,” Another disciple offers. “You were blown away because we spoke in your native tongues!”
“And…” Yet another chimes in. “By the looks of your faces you went from being surprised to angry. It was as if what was coming out of our mouths was speaking God’s judgment against you for your disbelief.”
“Enough.” Eliezer says as he seems to be losing momentum. He continues. “We have said our peace, and we will force you out of here if you don’t…”
Interrupting, Paul raises a hand and says, “Give me a moment please.”
“What the…” Eliezer sighs.
“Guys!” Paul smiles. “I couldn’t be more proud of you. Look, I know you wish to make your stand with me here and now, but this is not your fight. As you said, these people all around us saw what the Lord did through you. Many are as troubled about this situation as you are. Constantly entreat the Lord and pray for me right now my faithful brothers. Pray for these people. Pray for these elders with all perseverance.”
Turning around, Paul then bows to the opposing wall of men. “I will take my leave then.” He finally says. “Let me ask you all standing here a final question. What do you do with Isaiah’s lament over unbelieving Israel, hmmm? Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand on the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved. The Lord will carry out his sentence of wrath upon the faithless earth fully and without delay.”
“Silence!” The elder next to Eliezer yells out. “That you would lecture us about the words of the prophet! Be gone with you.”
Paul looks around to see a deeply conflicted group of witnesses. He turns to exit and calls out, “It was Hosea who had a child with Gomer, a prostitute. Lo-Ammi was his name… Not my people, for Israel is not my people and I am not their God. And she who was not beloved, I will call beloved. And in the very place where it was said to them, you are not my people, there will come a day when they will be called, sons of the living God!”
…
We’re going to stop here for today.
While Paul was familiar with the hostile responses of such synagogue leaders, he had made sizable inroads within Ephesus to grow his group of followers. We see in Acts 19:9 that after this particular exchange and possibly many other heated exchanges like this, Paul finally withdraws and teaches his followers at another venue called the School of Tyrannus.
The judgment of God is upon those who refuse to believe
It is likely that when Paul’s new disciple group spoke in tongues, it was in front of a mixed Jewish audience of both believing and unbelieving leaders and laypeople. Similar to the experience that occurred when the church was just starting at Pentecost back in AD 33 (Acts 2), the disciples of Paul were evidencing a “sign” from God to those Israelis who had either welcomed or rejected Jesus as Messiah. This miracle of speaking various languages not known by the disciples themselves was intended to serve as a message from God to those who were able to understand the words the disciples were speaking. The more looming question that comes to mind from these two particular instances (there were others besides these) is… what were these disciples, who were speaking in languages unknown to them, saying? What was the subject matter of their communication? Moreover, what was God up to here? Why would God use this as a sign to Israel?
By this time in AD 54 and for hundreds of years prior, Israel had long since been scattered around the known world. Large population clusters of Jewish people emerged in Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, and even here in Ephesus. These clusters of Jewish people made up entire subcultures working and living within many large cities throughout the Empire. In some cases, such as in Alexandria, Jews made up one third of the entire population. While working within the boundaries prescribed by Roman law, Jews were more committed to living within the confines of Mosaic Law. No surprise that from time to time these two systems of law would conflict with one another and Jews would be forced to make choices that reflected their priorities. For those who chose Mosaic Law over Roman Law, their allegiance to Moses would occasionally follow with unfavorable consequences. In some cases, however, regardless of what Law was individually upheld and followed, Jews were periodically flagged as a collective whole and negatively dealt with by broad sweeping Roman policies. One example of such a broad sweeping policy is when Claudius expelled the Jewish population outside of Rome’s city limits (Circa AD 49). Many stayed nearby while others left Rome altogether. Priscilla and Aquila left Rome and resettled in Corinth as a result of this expulsion (Acts 18:2).
Using Aquila as a good example of what everyday life as a Jew looked like, he grew up in Pontus which is just south of the easternmost part of the Black Sea, later moved to Rome and then made his way to Corinth. Eventually he and Priscilla landed here in Ephesus. So how many languages did Aquila likely speak? At least three: Koine Greek, Pontic Greek (a dialect that might have been quite foreign to Koine in its own right), and Latin. Aquila possibly spoke Hebrew and Aramaic as well.
Like many Jews who had moved to various regions of the Roman world (and beyond), they had children who would grow up in these foreign lands and be naturalized within their cultures as second generation individuals. They, unlike their parents, would have been comfortable within these cultures. These second generation children (and beyond) would be very familiar with their local customs and languages. They were also unmistakably Jewish, and they would know that world and language as well. So when these second generation folks journeyed back to Jerusalem for a feast like Pentecost, the Holy Spirit used that opportunity to use the disciples of Jesus as vessels to speak the praises and warnings of God into the lives of these pilgrims by speaking in their own native languages known only to them and the group they traveled with.
It’s likely that when Paul unleashed the Holy Spirit here in Acts 19, it was also in front of a larger Jewish audience. While Ephesus was not Jerusalem in that it was not the epicenter of all things Jewish, it still had a thriving group of people from all over the known world. Ephesus was a cosmopolitan city, where many languages were spoken and understood by its inhabitants. It was also a migrant city, where coming and going was commonplace. It also had a large Jewish population of great ethnic diversity. So… when the Spirit of God used Paul and his disciples to showcase a God sign by having his disciples speaking in a foreign tongue, it was likely that a number of Jews of varying ethnicities were present. It was likely they heard a similar message to the message received back in Jerusalem some twenty years earlier.
What happened back at Pentecost in Jerusalem? Let’s take a quick look at Acts 2:1-12
On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.
– Acts 2:1-12
The message? To those who welcomed Jesus and his followers, like Paul, it was a message of confirmation. To those who tried to chase Paul away for his outspokenness, it was a shot off the bow that served as a warning to Israel. In either case, how do you ignore a supernatural God sign such as this?
If the message in Ephesus is similar to the message Peter gave in Acts 2, then the message was about identifying the Holy Spirit of God at work, seeing this as a warning about the judgment to come, and a call to repentance for anyone who believes in the most high God.
There is much more we can talk about here, but I think we’re at a place to wrap things up. How do you ignore the signs when God seeks to get your attention? Do you receive them as a means to search God out? Or… is your mind so made up that you wouldn’t give God or these God signs a second thought?
May you identify the moments God places in your pathway as a motivation to seek Him out further. With that, let’s move forward and seek out God… together.