Acts 19:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.

NIV: But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

NASB: But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took the disciples away with him, and had discussions daily in the school of Tyrannus.

CSB: 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.

NLT: But some became stubborn, rejecting his message and publicly speaking against the Way. So Paul left the synagogue and took the believers with him. Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

KJV: But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

NKJV: But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.

The people of the Ephesian synagogue had heard something of Paul's teaching months before and asked him to return (Acts 18:19–21). Now that he has, many of them find it hard to swallow. He is explaining the kingdom of God: how Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross and rose again to forgive our sins and reconcile us to God. But the synagogue is surrounded by witchcraft, demons, and Artemis worshipers (Acts 19:13, 19, 24). This "Jesus," who offers salvation outside of the Mosaic law—God with a physical form—sounds too much like the Greek gods. Fortunately, although Paul's antagonists drive him from the synagogue, they don't run him out of town like in other cities.

Paul finds a hall in town he can rent. One source says the church uses the venue from 11 am to 4 pm, when normal people take a siesta. The church that had started with twelve men grows as Paul preaches there for two years (Acts 19:1–7, 10).

The synagogue troubles may follow Paul back to Jerusalem. Ephesus is on the west coast of the province of Asia in southwestern modern-day Turkey. When Paul returns to Jerusalem, he brings some of the Gentiles with him. Jews from Asia see Paul at the temple and assume he has brought the Gentiles with him. They cause a riot that the Roman guards break up (Acts 21:27–36). Eventually, Paul is arrested by the Romans and, after two years in house arrest at Caesarea Maritima, taken to Rome.

"The Way" is what early Christians called their belief system. In part, it refers to Jesus, "the way, and the truth, and the life," and His work on the cross (John 14:6). It also identifies what we would call "Christianity" (Acts 9:2; 22:4; 24:14, 22).

Acts 19:8–10 gives a quick synopsis of Paul's ministry in Ephesus. He is in the middle of his third missionary journey. Paul, Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos have already shared Jesus' story with the Jews (Acts 18:19–21, 24–26). Now, Paul spends three months in the synagogue, explaining what Jesus taught about the kingdom of God. When he meets resistance, he moves to a lecture hall for two years. People from all over southwestern modern-day Turkey hear the good news of Jesus before Paul moves on.

Acts 19 recounts Paul's three-year visit in Ephesus. He starts by revealing how Jesus of Nazareth has brought to life the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit validates Paul's message by healing those struck with physical ailments and demon possession. Amazed by Paul's authority over evil spirits, so many magicians turn to Christ that the craftsmen who make idols fear for their livelihoods. They nearly incite a riot before the town clerk settles them down. Paul realizes his time in Ephesus has ended, and he travels to Macedonia (Acts 20:1).

Acts 19 is the meat of Paul's third missionary voyage. He has already revisited the churches in central modern-day Turkey (Acts 18:23). Now he returns to Ephesus for a three-year stay. After firmly establishing the church there, rescuing many from pagan magic and the worship of Artemis, he returns to Macedonia and Greece. A threat on his life sends him back up to Macedonia and across to Troas. He meets briefly with the Ephesian elders to tell them they will not meet again (Acts 20). When he returns to Jerusalem, he is arrested and, eventually, taken to Rome.

The summary of the book of Acts is provided in Jesus' words in Acts 1:8: ''But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'' In Acts 2:1–13, the Christ-followers receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:14—7:60 describes the rapid growth of the church in Jerusalem. Chapters 8—12 find Jewish persecution inadvertently spreading the gospel throughout Judea and Samaria. And in chapters 13—28, Paul and his companions spread the good news throughout the Roman Empire.