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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
November, 1933
COMMENTARY Children’s Division In Holy Places B y H elen G ailky B y H erbert H . T ay
LESSON Golden Text Illustrations B y A lan S. P earce
Outline and Exposition B y B. B. S utcliffe
Blackboard Outlines B y B essie B. B urcb
DECEMBER 3, 1933 PAUL IN EPHESUS A cts 13:18 to 20:38
o f disease and the casting out of demons (vs. 11, 12). It was necessary in those days that the people be given some ocular proof to accredit the words of the preach ers. Those days have passed now, and today there is a call to accept the naked Word of God as being true without the aid of miraculous deeds. These miracles served as signs accrediting the preacher. The New Testament was not then written; no one with the New Testament in hand needs any signs. When signs are required, it is proof that the New Testament is not be lieved. But these miracles stirred up the cupidity of certain wandering Jews, a sort o f super stitious group who fattened on the credulity o f the people (vs. 13, 14). Seeing the works that Paul did, they would do like wise—but for another purpose. They saw the work, but they did not apprehend the power behind it. The power was unseen, supernatural, and o f God. But these men would go through the formula, repeating what Paul said. “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth” was their address to the demons. They, like many today, had profession without possession, form with out power, the name without the Person. They thought the Christianity o f Paul was a mere system o f occult power against out ward or seen evils. The result was that these imitators were fully routed (vs. 15-17). The evil spirit mocked them, declaring that Jesus was known, and Paul was known, but these were wholly unknown. Then the demons stirred up their victim, so that he leaped upon these exorcists, and they hardly escaped with their lives. This soon became known, throughout Ephesus, with the result that a great fear fell upon them all, and the name o f the Lord Jesus was magnified. God ever brings good out o f evil; Satan has never yet accomplished a victory; he has been, and always will be, defeated by the mighty working of the God Who forces even evil to produce good in the final end. III. T he G reat R evival (18-20). The awesome character o f the testimony o f the demons in refuting the exorcists was such that the believers were revived; they hastened to rid themselves of evil and to get right with God (vs. 18, 19). The re vival was public, as these came with con fession o f their deeds; and it was sincere, because it cost them fifty thousand pieces of silver, the price o f the books of magic that were burned. The final result was that “mightily grew the word o f God and prevailed” (v- 20). This should be the result of every true re vival—the Word of God being given forth with increasing and convicting power. This will be the result whenever Christians are loosed from the things which hinder the free flowing of the truth. Lesson Questions Vs. 8, 9. What did Paul find when he came to Ephesus? Where is Ephesus in relation to Jerusalem? On what other o c casions did the Lord’s servant speak boldly in the synagogue (Acts 9:20; 13:14)? In- what manner did Paul go about to correct
Lesson T ex t : Acts 19:8-20. Golden T ext: “ Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake” (Matt. 5:10). Ephesus I N the Apostle Paul’s day, Ephesus ranked with Alexandria and Antioch as one o f the three greatest cities of the eastern Mediterranean region. It was a commercial city of great importance, and had a magnificent harbor. Nothing remains of this harbor today but a swamp. The great city, too, has disappeared, and all that remain today are a few scattered huts
But certain men o f those who heard were “hardened.” This word has two meanings, one of which means to be dry or parched, as a desert. It is dry, not because o f what is there, but because o f what is not there. When water is brought to it, the sand turns to productive soil, the waste place becomes a garden, and death gives place to life. The other meaning is “to render stubborn,” and this is the meaning here. God poured His living water over the dry waste, but men were “hardened.” This led to their being disobedient and speaking evil of the way. They would not be persuaded; they were willfully in unbelief. They spoke evil of the way by simply rejecting it; they pre ferred their own way to the way of the Lord. Cain was the first man who ever came to such a state; and he was cursed, not because he murdered his brother, but because he was in unbelief, or disobedient to the message which he heard. The result in the present case was the withdrawal o f Paul, together with those who did believe. It was a solemn moment when Paul withdrew, because with him went the testimony of God. There is always hope so long as God remains with His testi mony, but hope goes when God goes. Just so was it when Moses departed from Pharaoh, and Pharaoh’s doom was sealed. II. T he O pposition from S uperstition (10-17). When Paul withdrew from the syna gogue, he began work in the school of Tyrannus. Here he gathered those who believed and taught them daily; that is, he taught them the truth from the Scriptures. The importance of teaching those who be lieve can hardly be overestimated. It is not enough that people are brought to an acceptance o f the gospel: they must have daily and constructive teaching from the Word o f God, if they are to have full, rounded lives o f satisfaction and service. For two years this teaching continued, with the result that from the group taught by Paul the Word of the Lord went through out all Asia (v. 10). It was like a modern Bible Institute where students are taught the truth in class rooms, and then take that truth and scatter it far and wide. Then the Lord began to work special miracles by the hand o f Paul, insomuch that handkerchiefs or aprons which touched his body were instruments for the healing BLACKBOARD LESSON
on a bleak and bar ren hillside. Here and there can be seen some ruins of the old city, and their exten- s i vene s s c o nv e y s some impression of the size and magnifi cen ce o f an c i en t Ephesus. S ome o f P au l’s
chief opponents in Ephesus were the silver smiths. They heard in the gospel o f Jesus Christ which Paul preached, the death knell o f their business. This city was on the site of the beautiful temple of Diana, one of the seven wonders o f the ancient world. People from all over Asia Minor had shared in its construction. It was an edifice o f tremendous size and exquisite beauty. Its peristyle consisted o f 120 jasper columns, set on Parian marble bases. These support ed the roof o f cedar. The building was dec orated with paintings and sculpture by the greatest Greek artists. Within was the image of Diana, which, the natives said, had fallen from heaven. Since it was the site o f the temple, Ephesus was also the center of much idol atrous worship. People came from far and near to worship at the shrine o f Diana, and carried away with them the images which were made by the Ephesian craftsmen. Hence, any new religion, which would over throw the cult of Diana, interfered with their livelihood. For that reason Paul found many adversaries. Outline and Exposition I. T he O pposition from J udaism (8, 9 ). Coming to Ephesus, Paul found certain men who had been instructed in the baptism o f John the Baptist by Apollos. Paul gave the gospel to these men, and then for three months he spoke boldly in the synagogue to all who gathered there. His testimony was from the Old Testament from which he reasoned with them concerning the king dom of God, and persuaded them to accept the gospel which he brought to them. His preaching was not only emotional, but spiritual; he not only persuaded them, but he reasoned with them. God is ever ready to reason with those who would know the truth (Isa. 1 :18).
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