Paul came to Ephesus on his third missionary journey. While he was there “he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God” (Acts 19:8). Preaching and teaching in the synagogues was Paul’s practice throughout his journeys. But, as was the case elsewhere, resistance and opposition arose. “But when divers [some] 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” (Acts 19:9).
Essentially, Paul and those that did believe left the synagogues and he taught in the school of Tyrannus. “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” (Acts 19:10). Paul had a base of operations in Asia and the disciples that he made there went throughout the region with the gospel of Christ making more disciples.
God “wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 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 19:11-12). Such miracles were a means of authenticating God’s messenger and confirming his message (Hebrews 2:4).
Certain of the unbelieving Jews sought to copy this element of Paul’s ministry, evidently to discredit Paul and to gain their own following. But these pretenders lacked a genuine saving knowledge of Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit. When they sought to make use of the name of the Lord Jesus to cast out evil spirits, “the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?” (Acts 19:15). The Scriptures tell us these false messengers were overcome by the evil spirits and driven from the house “naked and wounded”.
These events had a great impact on the community as one might expect. “Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men” (Acts 19:17-19). What a great testimony to the genuineness of their repentance! Many of the Ephesians were caught up with demonic worship and practicing black magic and incantations. When they heard the true gospel and saw its power, they turned away from these practices and burned their books of magic as evidence of their faith in Christ. They turned their backs on their prior sins.
The nature of the gospel demands that we turn from our sins. Christ saves us out of our sins and from sin’s power. Wherever Paul preached, he included this message of repentance. He told the Ephesian elders later “I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:20-21; emphasis added). There is no salvation apart from repentance. “God having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities” (Acts 3:26).
From the Chaplain 