1. May 21, 2017 Unit 2, Study 12 Study Texts: Acts 18:1-19:20
Sunday in the Word Paul’s Journeys: Acts, Part 2 Evangelizing Corinth & Ephesus
May 21, 2017
Unit 2, Study 12
Study Texts: Acts 18:1-19:20

2. Paul’s Journeys: Acts Part 2
Overview: We are studying the ministry of the apostle Paul over the next six weeks
We began with the Spirit’s call to missionary service during Paul’s pastoral ministry in the church at Antioch, Syria
Last week we followed Paul as he took the gospel to Asia (Turkey)
Today’s Study examines a theme throughout the New Testament, the conflict that arose about whether or not Gentile believers had to become converts to Judaism, and how the church dealt with the issue.
Study 11 follows Paul as they venture into Europe at the leading of the Spirit, and both the successes and opposition they encountered.
Study 12 explores the founding of the churches in Corinth and Ephesus
The final study concludes the Book of Acts, and we will examine the account of Paul’s imprisonment and ultimate journey to Rome

3. Area of the Book of Acts

4. Paul’s 2nd Missionary Journey

5. Evangelizing Corinth & Ephesus
Key Verse: Galatians 19:11, 20
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul; 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.(KJV)
11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul; 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.(NIV)
Focus: To consider and appreciate the fact God’s Word is powerful and will prevail over evil
Central Truth: Proclaiming God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit can change lives

6. Corinth in the First Century
Corinth in the first century was a thriving commercial city.
It’s population was above 100,000, of Greeks, Romans and Jews
It was strategically located on important sea routes, and was relatively wealthy in comparison to other cities of the Roman Empire during that period
It was destroyed by the Romans in 146 BC, and rebuilt by Julius Caesar in 44 BC, becoming the provincial Greek capital recognized by Rome
Paul first visited the city in AD 51 or 52, when Gallio, the brother of Seneca, was proconsul of Achaia. Paul resided here for eighteen months. Here he first became acquainted with Priscilla and Aquila with whom he later travelled. They worked here together as tentmakers (from which is derived the modern Christian concept of tentmaking), and regularly attended the synagogue. In AD 51/52, Gallio presided over the trial of the Apostle Paul in Corinth. This event provides a secure date for the book of the Acts of the Apostles within the Bible. Silas and Timothy rejoined Paul here, having last seen him in Berea (Acts 18:5).

7. Corinth in the First Century

8. Eighteen Months at Corinth Acts 18:1-6 (NIV)
Success and Opposition
18 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. 5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah. 6 But when they opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent of it. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

9. Eighteen Months at Corinth Acts 18:7-11 (NIV)
The Church Established
7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue leader, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized. 9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.

10. Eighteen Months at Corinth Acts 18:7-11 (NIV)
Why do you think the Lord appeared to Paul in a vision at a time when he was having great success in ministry in spite of opposition?

11. Eighteen Months at Corinth Acts 18:12-17(NIV)
Further Opposition
12 While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.” 14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off.17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes the synagogue leader and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

12. Two Years at Ephesus Acts 19:1-7 (NIV)
Some Theological Confusion
19 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when[a] you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied. 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues [b] and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
[a] Or after
[b]  Or other languages

13. Two Years at Ephesus Theological Confusion
What is the difference between John’s baptism and believer’ baptism
John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance, which was meant to prepare for the coming of Jesus
Believer’s baptism was to come following a declaration of faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, the promised Messiah
Following Paul’s instruction, the believers were baptized as believers. Paul then laid hands on them and they were baptized in the Holy Spirit, spoke in tongues, and prophesied

14. Two Years at Ephesus Acts 19:8-10 (NIV)
The Gospel Takes Hold
8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9 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. 10 This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

15. Two Years at Ephesus Acts 19:8-10 (NIV)
What can we learn from Paul’s successful ministry in Ephesus?
He was bold and persistant
He taught in the Synagogue as was his custom, until he determined that continuing to teach there had become a futile endeavor (v 9)
He moved his ministry to the school, or lecture hall, of Tyrannus, and taught there daily
He stayed for 2 years, and when he was finished, all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia had heard the gospel (v 10)

16. God’s Word Spreads & Prevails Acts 19:11-16 (NIV)
Attempts at duplicating Miracles Fail
11 God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. 13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had 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.

17. God’s Word Spreads & Prevails Acts 19:11-16 (NIV)
What can we learn from this event?
Gods Miracles are not achieved through a magic formula
They are not the result of an incantation or prescribed choice of words.
Miracles occur when people who are filled with the Holy Spirit surrender to the direction and the wisdom of the Spirit
Signs and wonders are not restricted to Paul and the apostles in the first century
Signs and wonders accompany the preaching of the good news today, and are meant to demonstrate and authenticate the message

18. God’s Word Spreads & Prevails Acts 19:17-20 (NIV)
Seized with Fear
17 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. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. [a] 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
[a]  A drachma was a silver coin worth about a day’s wages.

19. God’s Word Spreads & Prevails Acts 19:17-20 (NIV)
How did people respond to Paul’s ministry?
News of the extraordinary events spread throughout Ephesus
They were seized by fear, recognizing the power demonstrated by the Holy Spirit
The name of Jesus was held in high regard (v 17)
The response was by no means superficial
People who believed openly confessed their sins (v 18-19)
They repented of their witchcraft, and publicly burned their books of magic and sorcery
It was a life changing conversion, costing a fortune

20. God’s Word Spreads & Prevails Acts 19:17-20 (NIV)
What are some of the hallmarks of Paul’s ministry?
They were bold in their proclamation
They were dependent on the Spirit for the power to preach in the midst of hostile circumstances
Signs and wonders accompanied their ministry, drawing attention to their life-changing message
They preached a message that required repentance and life transformation

21. Practical Application
The Gospel has the power to change lives
The Gospel is proclaimed powerfully when we remain dependent on the Holy Spirit
We must recognize that people respond to the gospel when the Holy Spirit acts on them, not because we are able to articulate it with great skill or charisma
The Gospel message must be preached without compromise
Those who place their faith in Jesus receive him not only as Savior, but as Lord of their lives
The power to convince non-believers of God’s truth does not rest with us, but is the work of the Holy Spirit

22. Acknowledgements Material adapted from
Radiant Life: Adult Teacher Guide
Mar-Apr-May 2017 Unit 1, The Era of the Judges
Volume 91 Number 3
Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, MO 65802
@2017 ISSN
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International NIV, Copyright 1973 Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
All Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version of the bible.

23. Study Texts: Acts 23:11; 25:10-12; 27:13-25; 28:16-31
Sunday in the Word Paul’s Journeys: Acts, Part 2 Teaching the Gospel at Rome
May 28, 2017
Unit 2, Study 13
Study Texts: Acts 23:11; 25:10-12; 27:13-25; 28:16-31