Some present-day
readers of Acts 19 have given the first verses of this chapter a theological
significance that is not warranted, and is actually unhelpful. In Ephesus Paul comes across 'disciples' who
(like the Samaritans in Acts 8) have no understanding or awareness of the
person and presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Their renewed faith is
due to the impact of John the Baptist's ministry of repentance and cleansing
(baptism) in preparation for the coming of Jesus who, John said, would baptise people with the Spirit (Luke
3:16). But it seems that the level of ignorance about this has left them
'unconverted' to Jesus. Paul fills in the blanks of knowledge they need,
baptises them into the name of Jesus, lays his hands on them, the Spirit comes
on them as evidenced by them prophesying and speaking in tongues (Acts 19 v4-7).
For one, this
pattern is not repeated thereafter in Acts. Two, under Paul's ministry, all who
were trusted in Jesus received the Spirit when they believed (Ephesians
1:13-14). Three, in all likelihood, the misunderstanding or ignorance of these
people regarding the Spirit was due to the distance between Ephesus and Galilee
where John was baptising and the time that had elapsed. Acts 19 takes place
years later. News of Jesus death and resurrection may not even have reached
them; even if it had, it's possible they did not make the connection between
John's preliminary ministry and the fullness of the Gospel that Jesus brought.
They didn't know about the Spirit because they didn't know about Jesus and all
he had done. Like Acts 8, this is
another 'special case': people who had responded to John but had not heard
about the Lord. Paul corrects their
ignorance, they are converted to Christ, and in confirmation of which, the Spirit
comes upon them in a tangible and observable way. Again, describes what happens; it's not
establishing a pattern to follow.
From Acts 19:21
onwards, the book carefully follows Paul's journeys, from Ephesus to Jerusalem,
and then onwards to Rome. Having
ministered in Ephesus for a considerable time, Paul gathers the church elders
together for a tearful, final farewell (Acts 20:13-38). And in addressing them and preparing them for
the future, Paul does establish a precedent and a pattern to follow that all of
us in Christian service cold learn from very profitably. Regarding the past
- Paul's motive in all he did was to "serve the Lord" (v19),
his manner was exemplary (v18-19) and his message - both in public and private
(v20) - was always the "gospel of God's grace" (v21,24).
In the present - Paul opens us his heart and tells
them how he feels: despite the prospect
of danger ahead, he feels compelled by God to go to Jerusalem (v22-24). His
willingness to die for the Lord reveals his depth of love and devotion to Him.
Life means nothing, if it is not lived for His glory.
And regarding the future? A warning is necessary (v28-35). In Christian ministry - and Christian living
more generally - there are dangers around us, 'wolves', false teachers who want
to lead the church astray (v29); there are dangers among us (v30-31),
individuals who use the church for personal gain and power (see 3 John 11); and
dangers within us (v31-35), sins that are especially pertinent to Christian
service and to which Christian shepherds are particularly prone.
Acts 21 outlines how
much of what Paul did was frustratingly misread and misinterpreted by friend
and foe alike. I'll leave this outline with you (from seasoned preacher Warren
Wiersbe) as a guide and let you work out the details: his friends misunderstood his plans (v1-17);
the Jerusalem church misunderstood his message (v18-26); the Jews misunderstood
his ministry (v27-40). To be continued…
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