Not A Trivial Matter
Of all the ministries in Acts, only one is reviewed—that at Ephesus. What Paul did at Ephesus is recorded in Acts 19:8–12. His review of what he did is given in today’s reading.
Entries by David Cook
A Superior Power
Paul goes on a third missionary journey (Acts 18:23–20:38). The brief report on the ministry at Ephesus, a city well known for practicing sorcery, follows Paul’s initial contact there in Acts 18:19. It is sandwiched between two accounts of deficiency—those deficient because of ignorance, the disciples of John (Acts 19:1–7) and those who were deficient because of fraudulent imitation, the seven sons of Sceva (Acts 19:13–20). Some interesting contrasts are found here.
Punching Above Its Weight
The gospel is “punching above its weight”. So far, it has won converts in four European cities, but now it comes to Corinth, the toughest of them all.
Living In Harmony With God
The gospel now comes to Athens, the centre of intellectual and philosophical speculation in the ancient world.
Unsurprised By Opposition
The gospel now comes to the seaport of Thessalonica. Ancient seaports were infamous for their prosperity and licentiousness.
Persevere In Adversity
Until now, the gospel has advanced in Gentile territory through the cosmopolitan trading hubs of Asia Minor, the region we know as modern-day Turkey. Now the missionaries come to Europe (Macedonia) and the great intellectual centres of Greek philosophy.
Knowing the Priorities
The important letter from the church council at Jerusalem is circulated, via Judas and Silas.
Salvation By Grace
This section has been called the centrepiece, the watershed, the turning point of the Book of Acts.
Opposition Is Expected
The first missionary journey continues with visits to Iconium (vv. 1–7), Lystra, and Derbe (vv. 8–20). The visit to Iconium features bold proclamation of the gospel, signs, and wonders. At Lystra, Paul’s first miracle of healing takes place (vv. 8–10).