Beloved, I am pleased to share with you today the above theme from Acts 19:5-7. Indeed, faithful to his promise, the apostle arrives in Ephesus, capital of the province of Asia. He will stay there for three years (Acts 20:29-31), succeeding Apollos, while in Corinth it is the latter who “waters” where the apostle planted (Acts 18:19-28; 1 Corinth 3:5-11). We see between these servants of God neither jealousy nor claim of a particular field of work. Indeed, the baptism of John, the only one known to these Ephesians, prepared the repentant Jews to receive a Messiah reigning on earth. But the Christian, on the contrary, has a heavenly position, he is put in relation by the Holy Spirit, with a dead and risen Christ. And this is the truth that the epistle to the Ephesians especially emphasizes.
Then there was in Ephesus a splendid temple dedicated to the goddess Diana who was one of the famous seven wonders of the ancient world. His visit and the silver miniatures sold as souvenirs, provided a big profit to the craftsmen of the city. But the preaching of the gospel could only harm their business, so we see them joining forces to support their interests by hypocritically giving their action a religious pretext (Rev 18:9-13).
How sad it is to note that many people even today, instead of ardently seeking the truth, are held back by material considerations concerning their “well-being” or by the opinion of others. For immense clamors are raised in favor of the goddess… proving only that she was unable to show her “greatness” by defending herself, as in the time of the prophet Elijah against Baal (1 Kings 18:25-29).
In fact, this Christ who came after John was rejected; and his kingdom in glory could not be established. Jesus died, thus doing the work of redemption. Instead of the glorious kingdom, the gospel of grace proclaims the salvation of sinners. And those who receive it are part of the Church whose blessings are spiritual and heavenly.
Today, the effects of the power of the Holy Spirit are not manifested in miraculous gifts. But the Holy Spirit, whom one receives after believing today as then, accomplishes all that the Lord said about him in the Gospel of John, in favor of Christians, where he presents him as the Comforter who dwells with them to remind them of the things that Jesus had said here on earth, to lead them into all truth, to announce to them what is to come, to take what is in the Lord and communicate it to them (Jn 14:15-20, 26; Jn 15:26; Jn 16:12-15); in a word, to invoke the Word in hearts, to carry out God’s work in believers and in the Assembly that the Lord nourishes and cherishes by this means. In the believer, the Holy Spirit is also the seal by which God recognizes him as his child. One cannot say to God the Father without having the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:15, 16).
Then there were exorcist Jews in Ephesus, characters who claimed to cast out demons. Seeing that Paul was probably more successful than they were, they wanted to use Jesus’ name to achieve more success and said, “I adjure you through Jesus that Paul preach.” But the name of Jesus does not lend itself to the deceitful man to give him importance; so those who wanted to use it for this purpose, had the humiliating experience of it. For one of the chief Jewish priests, named Seva, had seven sons who claimed to use the name of Jesus to cast out a demon. “But the evil spirit, responding, said to them, ‘I know Jesus and I know who Paul is; but you, who are you?” And the man in whom the evil spirit was rushed upon them, and they fled naked and wounded (Acts 19:14-16). For the demons knew Jesus better than men. In Mt 8:29, they say to Him, “What is between us and you, Son of God? Did you come here to torment us before time? “They know he is their judge. In Mark 5:7, one of them also said to him, “Whatis between me and you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you in the name of God, do not tormentme.” Similarly, in Luke 8:28; And James 2:19: “Youbelieve there is one God, you do well; the demons believe it too, and they tremble.” But they have sinned, there is no forgiveness for them, and they know that the day of their judgment by the Lord will certainly come.
We also see in this confession of demons, the proof of the divinity of Jesus. For they recognize him as the one to whom they have sinned and, despite the humanity he has clothed, they see in him the God who will judge them, which they shudder, while man, a creature who is inferior to them and also guilty, to whom God offers his forgiveness, refuses to believe in Jesus and his divinity, he who presents himself to all as Savior, waiting to be the judge of those who have not wanted to believe.
This account also shows the superiority of demons as creatures over man. For one of them put on the run the seven sons of Scéva(Jew, one of the chief priests),naked and wounded: their true natural state was manifested and they bore wounds, consequences of their pretensions. These angels of Satan are called in Eph 6:12, “principalities, authorities, rulers of this darkness, wicked spirits in heavenly places.” They are therefore formidable beings, but they cannot do anything to the Christian clothed in the complete armor of Christ, that is, if he presents in his walk the characters of Christ by obeying as he obeyed. This is how the Lord defeated Satan in the temptation in the wilderness. For the men who appear before the great white throne with all their sins, will come out naked: their state of sin will be fully revealed in the bright light of the throne, despite the good opinion they may have had of their religion and honesty. They will not come out wounded, but destined to bear eternally the consequences of their sins, for not having believed in the Lord Jesus as their Savior. And in order not to be found naked on the day of judgment, one must therefore be clothed with Christ.
This action of the devil on the sons of Sceva,”it was known to all the Jews and all the Greeks who dwelt in Ephesus, and fear took hold of them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was glorified,this name which had no appearance in the midst of men, since Paul presented Jesus as dead on the cross, expression of human weakness, but emerged from death as the conqueror of Satan and his angels. But in this name God offered salvation. Also, the effects of his power in grace manifested themselves. For “Manyof those who had believed came to confess and declare what they had done.”
Indeed, when we see ourselves in god’s presence, where what we are and what we have done has been manifested in His full light, we are not afraid to say it in public. This is the true righteousness of which David speaks after confessing his faults before God:”Righteous, rejoice in the Lord and be in joy! Shout with joy, all of you who are right of heart!” And: “Blessed is he to whom the transgression is given,… and in whose spirit there is no fraud!” (Ps 32:1,2,11).
For the mind without fraud does not hide anything from God, does not justify itself; that is what you have to get to in order to get forgiveness. God cannot forgive hidden sins, nor sinners who believe they have done much harm. If a benefactor wants to pay the debts of a ruined man, he must first know from that man’s mouth what his debts are. Once his debts have been paid, he will not be afraid to tell others how great they were, in order to bring out the grace and goodness of the friend who paid them to him. The same will be true for every believer, as for the Ephesians and for the Samaritan woman who went to say to her fellow citizens: “Come, see a man who told me all that I have done”, because she had seen herself in the presence of God to whom nothing is hidden.
But such an uproar risked accusing the city of sedition, as there was no reason to justify the unrest. For the secretary said:”You have brought these men, who are guilty neither of sacrilege nor of blasphemy towards our goddess. If, therefore, Demetrius and his workers have to complain about anyone, there are days of hearing and proconsuls; let them call one another in justice. And if you have other objects in mind, they will be settled in a legal assembly.” After uttering these words of common sense, he dismissed the congregation.
Through this talk, we see how wisely Paul and his companions preached the gospel among the Gentiles of Ephesus. This is an important lesson to remember when presenting the gospel to the world, especially with regard to a sincerely respected religion. It is not by saying evil that we will make the truth accepted; it is simply necessary to present the Word of God. Indeed, it will make its way into hearts by bringing the necessary light to them; it will manifest error better than if one shows contempt for what passes for sacredness. Paul wrote to Timothy, “Preach the word.” It is the only true offensive weapon that must be used for the Lord to do His work. Through it God created the universe; through it the believer is delivered from the power of darkness and carried into the kingdom of the Son of his love (2:3:5; Hey 1:3; Col 1.13).
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- Examples of Baptism
+believers on the day of Pentecost: Acts 2:41 Those who accepted his word were baptized; and on that day the number of disciples increased by about three thousand souls.
The converts of Samaria: Acts 8:12 But when they had believed in Philip, who told them the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women were baptized.
+the Ethiopian eunuch: Acts 8:38 He had the chariot stopped; Philip and the eunuch both descended into the water, and Philip baptized the eunuch.
Saul of Tarsus: Acts 9:18 At the same moment, he fell from his eyes like scales, and he regained his sight. He rose, and was baptized;
+Lydia of Thyatira: Acts 16:15 When she was baptized, with her family, she asked us: If you judge me faithful to the Lord, enter my house, and dwell there. And she pressed us by her instances.
+the jailer of Philippi and his family: Acts 16:33 He took them with him, at this very hour of the night, he washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his own.
+the believers of Corinth: Acts 18:8 However, Crispus, the head of the synagogue, believed in the Lord with all his family. And several Corinthians, who had heard Paul, also believed, and were baptized.
+the disciples of Ephesus: Acts 19:5 On these words, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
- Name of Christ mighty when invoked in prayer and service
Lk 24:47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins would be preached in His name to all nations, beginning with Jerusalem. Jn 14:13 and whatever you ask in my name, I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Jn 20:31 But these things were written so that you would believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you would have life in His name. Acts 3:6,16 Then Peter said to him: I have neither money nor gold; but what I have, I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. 16 It is by faith in his name that his name has strengthened the one you see and know; it is faith in him that has given this man this whole healing, in the presence of all of you. Acts 16:18 She did this for several days. Tired Paul turned around, and said to the spirit: I command you, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out of her. And he went out on time. Eph 5:20 continually give thanks for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
- Laying on of hands for the ordination or consecration of men for service
Nb 8:10 You will bring the Levites near before the Lord; and the children of Israel will lay their hands on the Levites. Nb 27:18 The Lord said to Moses, Take Joshua, son of Nun, the man in whom the spirit dwells; and thou shat rest thy hand upon him. Dt 34:9 Joshua, son of Nun, was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. The children of Israel obeyed him, and complied with the commands that Jehovah had given moses. Acts 6:6 They presented them to the apostles, who, after praying, laid their hands on them. 1 Tim 4:14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, and that has been given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the assembly of elders. 1 Tim 5:22 Do not lay hands on anyone in haste, nor do you participate in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. 2 Tim 1:6 That is why I urge you to revive the gift of God that you have received through the laying on of my hands.
- Believers of the early Church baptized in the Holy Spirit:
Simeon: Lk 2:25 And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon. This man was righteous and pious, he awaited the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
+believers on the day of Pentecost: Acts 2:3 Tongues, like tongues of fire, appeared to them, separated from each other, and landed on each of them.
+The Christians of Samaria: Acts 8:17 Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
+Cornelius and his friends: Acts 10:44 As Peter still spoke these words, the Holy Spirit descended upon all who listened to the word.
+The Christians of Ephesus: Acts 19:6-7 When Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. In all, there were about twelve men. 1 Co 12:13 We have all been baptized in one Spirit, to form one body, either Jews, Greeks, slaves, or free, and we have all been watered with one Spirit. 1 John 2:20 For you, you have received anointing from the holy one, and you all have knowledge.
From all the above we note that the word of the Lord “grew and showed its strength,” not only by the miracles performed by the apostle, but by its authority over hearts. It caused these believers to confess what they had done and publicly renounce the practices of magic. Filled with “first love” (Rev 2:1-5), these Ephesians no longer wanted to have “anything in common with the fruitless works of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11-14). For the Word of the Lord shows His power to the world through visible fruits in our lives. But, while believing itself to be more evolved and enlightened than before, the world has only changed its gods, but hearts have not changed. Indeed, idols of the stadium, the show or the song, the crowds today adore and follow those proposed to them by the leader of this world, past master in the art of leading souls astray. Our prayers support you all to walk in the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may be shining in my life right now.
Thank you Lord Jesus for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby watering point to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow about “Paul who is being sent to Macedonia.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.