Bible Commentaries
Acts 19

Verses 1-41

The result of the work of Apollos was manifest when Paul reached Ephesus. There he found a company of sincere disciples to Jesus as He had been revealed by John. To them Paul declared the truth in its fulness, and they entered into the experience of the new birth by receiving the Holy Spirit.

For two years Paul remained in Ephesus as a center, influencing all the district. A survey of the whole account shows how all kinds of facts and forces were pressed into the service of the Word. Opposition, however, was fierce, and resulted in an uproar on account of the falling off in the sale of the shrines for the Ephesian goddess, Diana. This uproar shows how men, alienated from God, make all life center around the material. So long as the preaching of "the Way" disturbed the thought of men, or even changed some of their habits, it mattered little; but when these changed habits touched the wealth of the craftsmen, opposition resulted. Vested interests are always saying to Christianity what the demons of old said to Christ, "Let us alone." Christianity is always saying in reply what Christ said to the demon, 'Hold thy peace, and come out of him."