 |  |
"So that from his body were brought unto the sick, handkerchiefs or aprons, and the
diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them" (Acts 19: 12).
These miracles are said to be "special"--miracles with "no chance work about them",
intended to "hit the mark". Paul was in a city full of "magic" (see 19: 19). In his
opening ministry at Philippi he had been the subject of Satanic attack through the
instrumentality of the damsel possessed by the spirit of Python, and here again in
Ephesus we have the same sort of contrast. The complete failure of the Jewish exorcists
to cast out the evil spirit by calling over him the name of "Jesus", is exactly parallel with
Paul's refusal to allow Satan to bear witness to the fact that he was showing to the people
"the way of salvation".
As a result both of the positive witness of the "special" miracles, and of the utter
failure of the Jewish exorcists, we read that "fear fell on them all, and the name of the
Lord Jesus was magnified". Moreover, there was a public confession and a burning of
the books relating to "curious arts" to the value of 50,000 pieces of silver. Many of these
magical books and leaves of papyrus--known as Ephesia grammata--have since been
discovered.
Immediately after this public exhibition of the triumph of the gospel over the powers
of darkness, we read of Paul's desire to go to Rome: "I must see Rome also." He had
found the door temporarily shut in Asia (Acts 16: 6), and had seen the vision at Troas
(16: 9). At Philippi, a Roman colony, he had witnessed the failure of the Devil's first
effort to compromise the new witness, and at Ephesus also, the temple-keeper of Diana,
he had seen the triumph of light over darkness. Another round of ministry had been
brought to a glorious conclusion. The gospel had been preached, many had believed, and
the powers of darkness had been driven out of their strongholds.
We conclude this very inadequate survey with a simplified structure, trusting that it
may be of service to any who desire to prosecute their studies further.
Acts 18: 24 - 19: 20.
A | 18: 24 - 19: 7. JOHN'S BAPTISM. |
a1 | APOLLOS.--"Knowing only the baptism of John."
Taught "more perfectly".
a2 | DISCIPLES.--"Unto John's baptism."
"Spake with tongues and prophesied."
B | 19: 8-10. The word of the Lord Jesus heard.
A | 19: 11-19. SPECIAL MIRACLES. |
a3 | PAUL AND EVIL SPIRITS.--"Went out of them."
a4 | SONS OF SCHEVA AND EVIL SPIRITS.--"Prevailed against them."
B | 19: 20. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.