Bible Study: Acts 19-20

In these chapters, Paul finishes his third missionary journey, returning to Jerusalem in time for Pentecost. [Remember, Pentecost /Shavuot/ is a Jewish festival, celebrating the revelation of Torah on Mt. Sinai to the Jewish people. It happens 50 days (thus the name) after Passover. It is one of the three pilgrimage festivals, when Jews gather in Jerusalem.  read more here  In Christian tradition, it is 50 days after Easter, celebrating the pouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples in Jerusalem (Acts 2).]

First Paul goes to Ephesus, where he meets disciples who have been baptized by John with water, but not with the Holy Spirit (cf Mark 1:8). Paul teaches them about the Holy Spirit, baptizes them, and lays hands on them, and they receive the Spirit. There are 12 of them; perhaps this is a commissioning of a new group of leaders, parallel to the original 12 in Israel? The story tells us Paul spends 2 years, preaching in the synagogue and in a public lecture hall, so that “all the residents of Asia, both Jews and Greeks, heard the word of the Lord.” (19:10) [Remember “Asia” here probably refers to modern day Turkey and Syria, perhaps Iraq, but does not go further east into Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China, etc.]

Photo of Artemis' temple in Ephesus. Formerly 121 columns surrounded the building; this single one remains. By Adam Carr at the English language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=90242

In Ephesus there is conflict concerning the goddess Artemis (Diana), goddess of the hunt and wild animals. She was worshiped at a famous and opulent temple, and the people of Ephesus see it as their mission to “evangelize” others into the Artemis cult. There is concern about the economic impact on the city if Artemis is devalued by Paul preaching Jesus (19:24-25), as well as the reputation of the goddess to be preserved (19:27). A riot ensues, among the people who feel threatened by the disciples and want to protect their goddess. [The temple of Artemis in Ephesus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Only 1 pillar of this magnificent structure still stands.] This story is an interesting blend of an ancient, documented culture with biblical witness. It’s also a reminder that economic interests are often mixed up with religious practice, as when Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple, as well as the call for sending money to get favors from God that we still see with some large, televised religious organizations today.

In chapter 20, Paul prepares to take leave of the disciples in Troas (coastal town in modern Turkey). Note that they meet to break bread on the first day of the week (20:7). Paul speaks so long into the night that a young man falls asleep during his farewell speech, falls out a window, and dies. Paul revives him, making him the third person in Luke/Acts to revive the dead, along with Jesus and Peter. The chapter ends with a lengthy speech from Paul as he bids farewell to the leaders in Ephesus, presumably those 12 who were baptized in the previous chapter. He does not expect to see them again in person (although we know he does correspond with them; we have a letter to the Ephesians).

Because these events are reported so matter-of-factly, it is easy to overlook the incredible things that happen in these chapters. Paul is interacting, and competing, with one of the greatest and most famous cults in ancient history, those who worship Artemis at the temple in Ephesus. They survive a near riot there. He travels around the coast of the Aegean Sea once more, preaching to and commissioning Jewish and Gentile leaders to continue the work of proclaiming Jesus. He heals people who are ill, and raises the dead. He observes the holidays of his Jewish tradition. He goes to Jerusalem even though he knows his life will be in danger there. Notice the parallels with Jesus’ ministry! As Jesus attributed all his “power” to God, so Paul attributes all his work to the God who raised Jesus from the dead and now sends the Spirit. Although the doctrine of the Trinity won’t be established officially until the end of the fourth century CE, we (who are trinitarian) begin to see shades of it even in Paul’s preaching.

Our guiding questions:

1.     What is God doing?

2.     What are the people doing?

3.     What do we learn as church?