The Acts of the Apostles

Activities of the Early Church

Chapter 19

Theme of lesson: Unwavering faithfulness for truth gives life.

Theme verse: Acts 19:8, 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.

Words to know

Certain

Divers

Hardened

Vagabonds

Exorcists

Call over:

Adjure:

Curious arts:

The way:

Nought

Goddess Diana

Confusion

Theatre

Townclerk

Appeased

Deputies

Implead

Questions

  1. What did some the disciples in Ephesus tell Paul?
  2. Why did Paul rebaptize the disciples in the name of the Lord Jesus?
  3. Why did Paul depart?
  4. Who did the evil spirit know?
  5. What was worth fifty thousand pieces of silver?
  6. Why was there no small stir about the way?
  7. Where did Paul’s friends not want him to go?
  8. What did the townclerk recommend Demetrius do?

Thoughts for discussion

  1. What did the disciples mean by saying they had not heard whether there was a Holy Ghost?
  2. Why do you think Paul asked about baptism and not about the disciples’ salvation?
  3. Why do we do not see the kind of miracles and demonic activity seen in this chapter?
  4. How does the counsel of the townclerk help us today?

The Acts of the Apostles

Activities of the Early Church

Chapter 19—Answer Guide

Theme of lesson:Unwavering faithfulness for truth gives life.

Theme verse: Acts 19:8, 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.

Words defined

Certain: something, some

Divers: certain, something

Hardened: resistant, stubborn

Vagabonds: nomads, wanderers

Exorcists: conjuror of evil spirits

Call over: to declare or name

Adjure: to charge, demand

Curious arts: simple, shallow magic tricks

The way: the way, teachings, path of Christ

Nought: nothing

Goddess Diana: a goddess of virginity, women’s concerns, the hunt and the underworld. She presided over the transition of a woman from virgin (parthenos) to married woman (gyne) and protected the virginity of those who were unmarried or wished to remain virgins.

Confusion: riotous chaos

Theatre: place for games and spectacle events

Townclerk: scribe

Appeased: settle down, quieted

Deputies: authorized representatives

Implead: accuse

Answers to questions

  1. What did some the disciples in Ephesus tell Paul? We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
  2. Why did Paul rebaptize the disciples in the name of the Lord Jesus? Because they had only John’s baptism.
  3. Why did Paul depart? Because some were hardened and speaking evil of his message.
  4. Who did the evil spirit know? Jesus and Paul.
  5. What was worth fifty thousand pieces of silver? The burned books of the vagabonds.
  6. Why was there no small stir about the way? Demetrius and other craftsmen making a living off of statues of the goddess Diana felt threatened by the loss of business.
  7. Where did Paul’s friends not want him to go? Into the theatre of the pagan mob.
  8. What did the townclerk recommend Demetrius do? Take his grievance to court of law.

Thoughts for discussion

  1. What did the disciples mean by saying they had not heard whether there was a Holy Ghost?
  2. Why do you think Paul asked about baptism and not about the disciples’ salvation?
  3. Why do we do not see the kind of miracles and demonic activity seen in this chapter?
  4. How does the counsel of the townclerk help us today?

Notes

A description of Diana from the master’s thesis of the author.

Unwavering faithfulness for truth gives life. Paul could have compromised with the certain disciples and not rebaptized them. He could have avoided controversy by not visiting the synagogues. He could have lived peacefully by letting pagans worship their goddess. But instead he preached truth, debated, and accepted persecution and threats. Why? For the way, the truth, and the life. Many believed in spite of adversity and opposition to the message.

The adversity we face: 1) compromise to accept ‘small’ difference, 2) evil accusations of our message, 3) false disciples claiming truth and power in Christ, 4) persecution for our message.

Take away lesson:Commitment to truth is required for unwavering faithfulness in adversity.

Outline

Lesson