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Acts 19Acts 19:1-41(1) And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,(2) He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

I. Since vs. when: I want to draw your attention to verse 2 and to a dispute that concerns it. The received text records this verse correctly as “Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?” The majority of most modern versions, who lean heavily on the Westcott and Hort text, record this verse as “Have you received the Holy Spirit when you believed?” What’s the difference? Much in every way, really. If we take the word, “since” as being the correct translation (which it is), then it would indicate that there is a second work of grace that is separate and subsequent to one’s salvational experience. This would be consistent with what Jesus told his own disciples back in Chapter 1.

Acts 1:8(8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

In contrast to this, if we lean on the translation of when you believe, it would indicate that the fullness of the Holy Spirit is experienced at the time of salvation, which would be consistent with most Baptist doctrine concerning the fullness of the Spirit. This is why those who have that leaning rely heavily upon that particular translation. However, I want to draw your attention to the fact that even the translation when doesn’t even really support that position.

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If you accept the word when, you will have to admit that what Paul says here in verse 2 (if, indeed, he said “when you believed”) would indicate that it would be possible to be a believer and not receive the fullness of the Spirit. This, we know, is impossible. This is why first one must take their doctrine from the majority text and not the Westcott and Hort, which is contaminated. When you look at the fullness of the scripture, you will see clearly that the fullness of the Spirit, more times than not, is a separate and subsequent work of grace.

a. Forming a pattern: Even from the very beginning in Acts 2 when Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, we saw a pattern beginning to form. I would like to draw your attention to verses 37-39 of that chapter.

Acts 2:37-39(37) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?(38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.(39) For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

You see here that Peter gave them the promise of the Spirit as an experience that coincided with but was subsequent to their repenting and believing in the name of Jesus for the remission of their sins. We see this generally worked out as the pattern throughout most of the book of Acts. The pattern is that those who believed and were baptized were immediately filled with the Spirit most of the time. The only exception being the house of Cornelius because when Peter preached there, the Spirit fell upon them and then they were baptized.

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So, they received the Spirit and were baptized. More times than not, that wasn’t the case.

b. Look at Samaria: If you remember, when Philip when to Samaria, he preached the Gospel there. Many believed and were baptized when they saw the miracles that were done. This is also where Simon the Sorcerer became a believer and was baptized. In Acts 8, it is recorded that when the church in Jerusalem heard that the Samaritans had received the Gospel, they sent unto them Peter and John “(For as of yet [the Holy Spirit] had fallen upon none of them);” that is, the endowment of power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.

Epi: What I’m talking about (which I covered in depth when we first got to it in Chapter 1) is the Greek preposition epi, which means to come upon or to overflow, thus empowering the believer to be a witness.

With you and in you: Once again, I want to refer you back to the 14th chapter of John when Jesus told his disciples:

John 14:17(17) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

There are two Greek prepositions used to describe the relationship of the Holy Spirit to the believer. First, He is with you; secondly, He shall be in you. Before any of us came to Christ, it was the Holy Spirit who was with us, convicting us of our sin and wooing us to Jesus as the answer for our sin, drawing us to the Lord. It was Jesus who said, “No man can come to me, except the Father . . . draw him” (John 6:44). The Holy Spirit is the agent by which the Father draws us to Jesus.

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Now, when you received Jesus, the Holy Spirit took up residence in your body and began to dwell in you. Thus, it is true and Biblical to say that the Holy Spirit dwells in every believer. For those who have read ahead in I Corinthians 6:19-20, you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, for Paul declares in those verses:

1 Corinthians 6:19-20(19) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?(20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

This is true of every believer.

c. Something more: It is true that every true believer is filled with the Holy Spirit (for if he is not, then he is a bastard, or “none of His,” as declared by the Apostle Paul in the book of Romans, Chapter 8, verse 9). However, Jesus promised something more to all those who had believed on Him and received the Spirit. Jesus pointed to an ultimate work of grace—a glorious work of the Spirit—that in the lives of those who experience it there would begin to flow torrents or rivers of living water. I heard Pastor Chuck say one time, “First of all, the Holy Spirit looks at you subjectively because God wants to work in your life His work of the Holy Spirit. This is not a finished work because it is only a subjective work. God also looks at you objectively for what He can do through your life.” So, your life becomes a channel—a conduit—of the overflowing of the Spirit. This is the epi experience when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and is to empower you to be a witness for Jesus Christ.

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d. Why the question: Paul found these twelve disciples, and he asked a simple question, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” Their answer to him was that they hadn’t even heard of the Holy Spirit. I find this odd but not surprising. I think the greater question here is why did Paul ask them. I believe the answer is that there was something missing; there was something absent. What I want to drive home to you is that whatever that thing was that wasn’t there, it was painfully obvious to the Apostle Paul. Therefore, it prompted his question.

What was missing? What was missing that Paul would ask them if they had received the Spirit? Well, I don’t believe that it was because they weren’t speaking in tongues, or prophesying, or manifesting any other gift of the Holy Spirit. I think it was something that was much more evident—something that was lacking and is always evident, even in the lives of those who are “religious.” At the end of Chapter 12 of I Corinthians after having covered the issue of spiritual gifts, Paul declared unto them, “. . . yet show I unto you a more excellent way.” Then Paul goes on into Chapter 13 describing the way of agape or the way of love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-8(1) Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.(2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.(3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.(4) Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,(5) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

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(6) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;(7) Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.(8) Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

I’ve often been asked, “What is the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit?” John Wesley thought it was “Christian perfection” or “entire sanctification,” which even now many of those who follow his teaching have forsaken that one because of its unscriptural nature. Some of my Pentecostal friends would tell you that it is speaking in tongues or some other spiritual manifestation. However, the Apostle Paul declares in I Corinthians 13 that you can have an abundance of the manifestations of the Spirit, but if you do not have love, it will profit you nothing. You are a

“sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” The lack of love; that is, the love of God, the love of His Word, and the love of His people—when that is not overflowing in one’s life, it is a blatant tell-tale sign that you have genuinely not received the Spirit since you believed. Paul’s question is just as relevant today as it was in his time when he encountered these twelve disciples at Ephesus. So, how about you? Have you received the Spirit since you believed?

(3) And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.(4) Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

II. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gave his disciples instruction in baptism in that it was to be done in the name of the

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Father, of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is why Paul was confused by their answer and asked them, “Unto what then were you baptized?”

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Had they been baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, they would have at least heard of the Holy Ghost; thus, Paul’s question.

a. Baptism of John: John’s baptism was a baptism unto repentance, but all John was telling the people was to believe on the One who was to come after him, and that One was Jesus Christ9. These twelve disciples in Ephesus had only heard the former and not the latter.

(5) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.(6) And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.(7) And all the men were about twelve.

III. Manifestation of the Spirit: In the 12th chapter of I Corinthians, Paul listed many manifestations of the Spirit. Two that he mentioned are the ability to speak with other tongues and to prophesy. As we can see by our text, these were the two that manifested at this time. No doubt, they were common manifestations at baptisms or the laying on of hands. We talked last time that many have taken these as the evidence, but as we read Chapter 13 of I Corinthians, Paul said that though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, it profits me nothing. You can prophesy all you want, but if your life isn’t filled and overflowing with the love for Jesus, your brothers and sisters in the Lord, and His church, your gifting profits nothing.

Galatians 5:22-23(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,(23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

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God desires fruit: God desires fruit in your life. If you have received the Spirit since you believed, the Spirit, Himself, will bring forth fruit, as we just read in Galatians 5. It’s not a coincidence, gang, that the very first fruit mentioned in Galatians 5:22 is love. In fact, it was Jesus who said, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another” (John 13:35).

Just to be clear: When Paul encountered these twelve disciples at Ephesus, no doubt, they were having conversations. I do believe it was this lack of love that prompted his question. It was evidenced that they had not received the Holy Spirit, even though they claimed to be disciples. Many Christians today, when asked if they are disciples, will say, “Yes.” Many will point to their spiritual gifting as the evidence of God’s indwelling Spirit in their lives. Many will point to their charitable works or their benevolence toward the poor, but Jesus said, “By this [meaning one thing, and one thing means one thing] shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.”

(8) And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.(9) But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

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IV. That way: Once again, we find a reference to Christians being referred to as “that way.” I point it out to you because I think it’s important that you understand what was meant by “that way.” The term is actually indicative of the fact that Christianity is more than a philosophy. It was used as a derogatory term because the detractors who used it said it of people who were not given only to a philosophy but who were given to a way of life. It manifested itself in their entire lifestyle—as it should.

a. The school of Tyrannus: Tyrannus was a philosopher who had a school of philosophy there in Ephesus. We are told here that Paul began to dispute daily in this school of Tyrannus. Just as an interesting side note, the custom in Ephesus (as it is in other parts of the world even today), was to do business in split shifts. Basically, they would work until 11:00 in the morning and then would close shop until 5:00 in the afternoon, at which time they would open again for business. That part of the day is the hottest part of the day. So, most people would find some place out of the sun to spend the afternoon, and many would take a siesta around 1:00, as many of them still do to this day. There are many Bible teachers who believe that it was probably at this particular time—that 11:00 – 5:00 time—that Paul, himself, would leave off making tents and would go to Tyrannus’ school and teach.

(10) And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

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V. In two years’ time: Paul continued in Ephesus for the space of two years, where he worked and taught the word of God. What I want to point out to you is the effect of his teaching. In the space of two years, “. . . all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.” I think it is extremely important that the fruit of the ministry of teaching is that people hear the word of God because “. . . faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). This is why radio has always been an important part of my own ministry. You can reach so many with the word of God. It is just a great tool of evangelism.

(11) And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:(12) 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.

VI. Special miracles: Many people have questioned what was actually going on here when they would take handkerchiefs or aprons from Paul, and the sick would be healed when they were laid on them and those who had evil spirits would be delivered. Even today, many so-called ministries have sought to capitalize on “special miracles;” thus, they offer small pieces of cloth through their mailings. Unfortunately, it is usually just a tactic to get you on their mailing list to solicit support.

However, I want to make it clear that I, personally, have no problem with the Lord doing anything that He wants to do and how He wants to do it. In fact, sometimes, people need a point of contact in order to strengthen their faith. Time would not allow me to go into the plethora of examples, both from the Bible and others, of God using “special miracles” or something as a point of contact to strengthen someone’s faith.

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One example from the Gospel would be the woman with the issue of blood. She was believing God for a healing and knew in her heart if she could but touch the tassel of Jesus’ prayer shawl, she would be healed, and she was. There’s another interesting story in II Kings 13:21 where they were burying a man, and, because of some marauders, they got into a hurry, and basically they threw him into the sepulcher of Elisha. When the dead man’s body touched the bones of Elisha, he came back to life. Once again, what I’m trying to point out is that God cannot be put into a box. We often do not experience the miraculous in our lives simply because we don’t expect it. We find some things too hard to believe. I would suggest to you that you should lay that aside. I think that you should expect great things from God. I think that you should expect any miracle any way the Lord wants to deliver it. If it takes a cloth as a point of contact to strengthen your faith, so be it. Be open to whatever the Lord wants to do, and you will see great things.

(13) Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

VII. Vagabond Jews: These vagabond Jews were just what the word implies; they just wandered about. You must keep it in mind that Ephesus was a place of great superstition. There were many vendors in Ephesus who made their living by selling magical amulets and good luck charms. Many of the Ephesians would buy these little trinkets and would use them to attract or to ward off all kinds of things. In like manner, many of these vagabond Jews would take portions of scripture and sell them to people in order to attract wealth, health, and the such like. They would encourage people to carry

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these little pieces of scripture on them at all times. These Jews were also in to exorcisms. No doubt, some of them had heard of Paul and probably had even seen him casting out devils in the name of Jesus. So, they took it upon themselves to call upon these evil spirits in “. . . the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.”

(14) And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.(15) And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?(16) And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

VIII. Jesus I know, and Paul I know: This verse has always been interesting to me, and it actually teaches something very significant about the spiritual world that many Christians are ignorant of; that is, if you are doing anything significant in the kingdom of God—if you are fulfilling the call that God has upon your life—and the name of Jesus and His word is associated with your ministry, you better believe that the enemy knows you, and they don’t like you. They hate you, and they want to destroy you or stop the effectiveness of your ministry. There are many fake ministries, such as these vagabond Jews, who, even today, are still selling magical trinkets, little prayer rugs, little prayer cloths, and special vials of healing water telling you and selling you that if you just have enough faith and you just say the right things that everything is going to be okay. To those who do such things, I will say you have nothing to fear from the enemy. Heck, he doesn’t even know who you are. However, if you are a teacher and preacher of the Gospel and you are a propagator of the word of God, the enemy knows your name.

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The good news is that they fear you, for “. . . greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (I John 4:4). The enemy will leap upon them and overcome the vagabonds, but the enemy is overcome by the truth of God’s word, and the servants of the Lord are protected by Him.

(17) And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

The Lord will use anything: I find it humorous that the Lord even used the antics of these vagabonds getting their proverbial butt kicked by the devil to magnify the name of the Lord Jesus.

(18) And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.(19) Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.(20) So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

IX. Many confessed: When Jesus is magnified and His word is taught, the result will be the confession of sin. These people were so convicted by the Holy Spirit through the truth of the word that they freely admitted their wrongdoings, and those of them who practiced curious arts using magical books, realized that those books and those practices were a bridge back to perdition. Therefore, they brought them and burned them before all men.

a. Burning bridges: I think it is important to burn bridges, at least the ones that lead to perdition. Sometimes it is absolutely necessary. Too many times people will come to a saving faith in Jesus; yet, they will physically remain in that place where their lives have been destroyed. That place can be anything; it can literally be a place, but it can also

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be music, books, a philosophy, or friendships—things that have been toxic in their lives.

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Those bridges need to be burned. In the Gospel, Jesus said, “. . . if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body should be cast into hell” (Matthew 5:30). Some bridges need to be burned, and some relationships need to be cut off because they simply lead back to a life of self-destruction. I give these people credit because they saw that these books represented not only evil but a constant temptation to return to it. Therefore, they burned them. Because of that, the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

1. Counting the cost: Just as a side note, you need to make note of the fact that the sum sacrifice that these people made in burning a bridge was fifty thousand pieces of silver. That would be equivalent to around $6,400,000 in today’s currency.

(21) After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

X. Collection tour: It is obvious to anyone reading the book of Acts that once the Apostle Paul put his feet to the mission trail, he was pretty much on it for the rest of his life, never really overstaying anywhere. His purpose this time in leaving Ephesus, passing through Macedonia, was to visit the churches. During these visits, Paul was collecting offerings, which he was taking back to Jerusalem. As we have discussed earlier, the church in Jerusalem had fallen into a form of communism, which, as always, was a total failure. That church was now financially bankrupt.

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I want you to remember, though, that the church in Jerusalem, it would seem, anyway, really wasn’t that cordial to Paul. Yet, his concern for their welfare never wavered. Notice that he never asked for an offering for himself, nor did he ask support for his ministry. At this moment, he was fixated on helping the poor Christians back in Jerusalem. There were churches that helped Paul and financially supported his ministry, such as the church in Philippi, which Paul thanked them for citing that what he desired for them was fruit (Philippians 4:17). It is always nice when people see the necessity of your ministry and want to help by contributing. This always produces fruit in their lives. Paul’s intention after delivering the offering to Jerusalem was to go to Rome.

(22) So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

XI. Paul sends letters: Paul stayed in Asia, but he sent Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia with letters to the church. We know this because we can read about the collection in II Corinthians 9.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8(6) But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.(7) Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.(8) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

(23) And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.(24) For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;(25) Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

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(26) Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:(27) So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

XII. Paul’s effectiveness: This is quite a testimony to the effectiveness of Paul’s ministry. Paul had persuaded many to turn from their false gods and to worship the true and living God, not only here in Ephesus, but in all of Asia. Their biggest complaint about Paul was that his preaching had produced the failure of their business, and loss of income will always stir opposition.

(28) And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.(29) And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.(30) And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

XIII. Gaius: This Gaius is the same Gaius that hosted Paul in Corinth when Paul wrote his letter to the Romans.

XIV. Paul had no fear: I find it amazing that even in the midst of a huge crowd with riot in their hearts because of what Paul had been preaching, he was still willing to go in and talk. But alas, it’s more than likely they would have killed him, so his disciples did not allow him to go.

(31) And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.(32) Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

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XV. Total Confusion: This is a great picture of mob mentality, not totally unlike what we see going on in our own country today. People gather to protest one thing or another and more mindless people show up, and the next thing, some are screaming one thing, and some are screaming something else. Most of the people don’t even know why they have come together. Little has changed.

(33) And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.(34) But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

XVI. Just because you shout it, it doesn’t make it true: When the mob drew Alexander out of the multitude and put him forward, Alexander would have made his defense but when they knew that he was a Jew, they began to shout with one accord, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” They did this for the space of two hours. Here was this huge mob at the temple of Diana in Ephesus, which was an enormous building, around 425 feet long. It had 125 columns and was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

What I want you to consider is why it was built. Someone had found a little black image of Artemis, which is the Latin name for Diana. It was a small carved image of a multi-breasted idol. This is what the idol makers were making—little multi-breasted images. The story had been started that Jupiter had sent down this little image of Diana. Therefore, they built this enormous temple so that they might worship this image. You have to ask yourself, “Who in their right mind would even believe such a thing?”

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Yet, here they were and with one voice, they were chanting for the space of two hours, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians” as though the louder you say it and the longer you say it, makes it true. This, of course, is hogwash. It is no different than listening to a mob of Muslims chant, “Allah Akbar.” Their faith, as every other false religion, has no basis of truth and no way to even back up their extraordinary, ridiculous claims.

(35) And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?(36) Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.(37) For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.(38) Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.(39) But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.(40) For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.(41) And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

In conclusion:As the old cliché goes, “Cooler heads prevailed.” The townclerk, being a man of reason, was able, with his calm speech and common sense, to quell the mob mentality which had overtaken the people. This wasn’t the cause of the Apostle Paul leaving Ephesus because he had already decided to go. As you know, he had already sent Timothy and Erastus ahead to Macedonia to gather up the offerings for him for the church back in Jerusalem. Next time, we will start Chapter 20, and we will see the Apostle Paul coming to Miletus, where he gave a great, impassioned speech to the elders in Ephesus.