2 weeks ago we looked at the evangelism of Ephesus on Paul’s third missionary trip. If we look at verse 8 we can see that first of all Paul evangelized in the Jewish synagogue for 3 months. Then in verse 9 and 10 we are told that he continued to evangelize at the lecture hall of Tyrannus for 2 years. Altogether Paul was in Ephesus for 3 years. (20:31) For 3 years Paul never stopped preaching the Gospel “night and day with tears” in Ephesus. (20:31)
Three years was the longest stay in one missionary location that Luke records, but, the Bible records very little about the ministry there. It tells us about the baptism in the name of Jesus Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples who only knew about the baptism of John. We looked at this passage, 19:1-7, two weeks ago. The only other record is this week’s passage, 19:8-20 and from verse 21to the end of the chapter which we will look at next week. For having stayed in Ephesus for 3 years that is a very short passage! That is because Luke chose a few events out of the 3 years worth of events to exemplify his conclusion of 19:20. In other words, Luke was focusing his writings on the fact that the “word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” (19:20) Today let’s look at 3 ways in which “word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” (19:20)
1. At the lecture hall of Tyrannus (vs. 8-10)
When Paul arrived in Ephesus, he went to the Jewish synagogue like he always did and preached the Word of God. However, this time he continued preaching there for 3 months. This was unusual for Paul to continue preaching in a synagogue that long. Before when Paul came to Ephesus the people asked Paul to stay longer and preach. (18:20) so we can assume that Paul was really welcomed there. There Paul “spoke boldly…arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.” (8) However, some of the people who heard Paul preaching “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.” (9)
Tyrannus was a person’s name. We don’t know who he was. He was probably the owner of the hall or one of the main speakers at the hall. The Greek word “hall” is the roots for the English word school. In other words it was a place of instruction where people could discuss and debate together. At that time people worked until about 11:00 a.m. The afternoon was a time of rest, a Siesta time. During this Siesta time some people slept, others enjoyed their hobbies, and others studied. When everyone else was taking their Siesta, the believers and those who were interested in the Gospel, met in the Tyrannus hall to hear the word of God. What zealousness! They gave up their nap in exchange for studying the Word of God. They loved the Word of God more than their nap. Of course, faith isn’t something we do in our free time or for leisure。 However, the fact that they were willing to use their Siesta time for studying the Bible shows their zealousness for the Lord. The way we use our free time shows the type of person we are and the type of lifestyle that we have. No matter what Church you are in, Christians who are using their free minutes to study the Word of God are lay evangelists who a doing a great work for the Lord. Paul was spending time with such Christians everyday discussing the Bible.
However, according to verse 10 this continued for 2 years “so all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” This is amazing! It is thought that during this time the Churches in Colosse, Laodicea, and the 7 churches that appear in Revelations were established at this time. Let’s look at why the word of God spread out to all the provinces of Asia.
1. First was the fact that Ephesus was a strategic center. Ephesus was a huge city like present day Tokyo where many people from local areas met together. Therefore people who heard the Gospel in Ephesus took it back to their local areas. These people really did a wonderful work in their own area. For example, Paul never went to Colosse, but a church was established there because they had learned about the Gospel from Epaphras. (Colossians 1:7) Probably Epaphras came to Ephesus and at the hall of Tyrannus heard the Word of God from Paul. When he returned to Colosse, he preached it. In other words, the ministry at the hall of Tyrannus was like an evangelistic center for all of the provinces of Asia.
We can say the same thing about the huge city Otawara. When you hear that Otawara is a huge city, you may laugh, but it is true. Now with the progress made in public transportation and the internet, even those in the country can live like those who live in huge cities. That means that Word of God that is preached at the Sunday morning service is extremely important. That is because if those who hear the Word of God on Sunday would return to their places and give testimony to the Word, then the Word will spread throughout the country. It will become the roots for the starting of new churches and fruit will grow. We need to spread out our peripheral by putting this perspective in our evangelistic vision.
2. Another reason is Paul continued to preach the Word of God for 2 years. To preach the Gospel is work that requires strong perseverance. You don’t see results right away. You can’t know whether you succeeded or failed right away. You need strong perseverance to be able to continue day after day. The handkerchiefs and aprons that are mentioned in verse 12 were probably used by Paul in his tent making. That means that he was probably making tents as well as evangelizing. In the morning he probably worked like every one else and during the Siesta time preached the Word of God. He must have been very busy with very little free time. He may have even gone to the Tyrannus in his work clothes. Later Paul said to the elders of the Ephesian church, “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia, I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” (20:18-21) “Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” (20:31)
This is something that can not be done without tears. Paul continued training them with tears day and night. As a result all the people in Asia were able to hear the Gospel. The important thing is that no matter the condition we are in to continue to preach the Gospel. I think the words that God spoke to Paul in his dream in Corinth was always in Paul’s heart encouraging him to continue to preach the Gospel.
II. A powerful work (vs. 11-16)
In Ephesus not only did Paul preach the Word of God in the synagogue and the hall of Tyrannus, but many miracles were also performed. If we look at verse 23 and following we can see that Ephesus was a very spiritual city. It was a town of idols centered around Artemis. In this type of city not only preaching the Gospel, but the “extraordinary miracles” (11) were important for the spread of the Gospel.
Here the miracles that were performed by Paul were not the usual miracles, but no ordinary ones, so they were called “extraordinary miracles”. Paul’s handkerchiefs and aprons “were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” (12) This is similar to the miracles performed in 5:15 where “people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of the as he passed by.” In this case the people took Paul’s handkerchiefs and aprons to the sick, “and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” (12)
Ephesus was a city of idols and among them the famous Artemis. Therefore, such miracles were important in showing the people in a way that they could see the spiritual warfare going on. Not only that but it set the stage for the next event which is recorded in verses 13-16.
Here some Jews who drive out evil spirits come on the scene. Since Ephesus was the center of the Asian provinces and was full of idolatry it was only natural that there be people who drive out evil spirits. These Jews who drive out evil spirits were amazed by the miracles that Paul was performing and wanted to be able to do the same thing so they “tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed.” (14) One day they said, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” (15) and the evil spirit responded, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” (15) Then the man with the evil spirit beat them up to the point “that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” (16) These Jews who did this are introduced as the “seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest.” (14)
Their mistake was in thinking the name of Jesus had some kind of special power. They thought that just by saying, “Jesus” that something amazing would happen. They thought that just by saying, “Jesus” that anything they wanted would be done. This kind of thinking is seen commonly in Japan. If you say the Buddhist prayer nothing bad will come upon you. If you hang a safe transportation charm on your car, then you won’t have an accident. However, just because you do that doesn’t mean that you’re necessarily going to be safe. When there is a traffic accident, the car involved often has the sticker from a famous shrine or temple on it.
It is also interesting that when the seven sons of Sceva tried to cast out the demon in the name of Jesus, that the demons said that they didn’t know who the seven sons of Sceva were. In human society we can deceive other people, but we can’t deceive the spiritual world. The “evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.” (16) As a result, “when this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.” (17)
III. They were all seized with fear (vs. 17-20)
This event more that Paul’s “extraordinary miracles” amazed people. And this event became known to all of those in Ephesus. In other words, all Jews and all Greeks living there became aware of the event and were “seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.” (17)
Not only that but according to verses 18 and 19, not only those people who didn’t know Christ, but many Christians too “came and openly confessed their evil deeds.” (18) They brought the scrolls that they had used in sorcery and burned them. “When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.” (19) A drachma was a silver coin worth about a day’s wages.
Ephesians 5:8-12
There are cases when Christians do what “is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.” (Ephesians 5:12) They still have something “to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness.” (Ephesians 5:11) This isn’t just the Ephesians, but us too. If we are involved in such deeds of darkness, we need to bring them out and no matter what their value is burn them and throw them away. This is because “the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth.” (Ephesians 5:9) This is what God desires. If we repent of our sins and return to God, it will have the same purpose as Paul’s “extraordinary miracles”. By fearing God and repentance, the Word of God will spread out. This was the source of the Ephesus revival.
In other words, Paul continued to preach the Word of God in the idol filled Ephesus. Also by the amazing work of God there was victory over the evil spirits. Also by the sons of Sceva being over powered by the demons, everyone was “seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.” (17) Also believers repented and the Word of God “spread widely and grew in power.” (20)
There are times when we wonder if what we are doing has meaning or not. However, we need to continue to preach the Word of God and day and night cry out to the Lord. If we continue in the encouragement of the Lord’s work then people will fear God and repent and people will continue to come into the faith. Let’s believe this and continue in the Lord’s encouragement.