Acts 19

vs 1

We've got so many heroes up in the air now - Peter, Paul, Silas, Timothy, Barnabas, Mark, Apollos - it's hard to follow them all. But Luke doesn't really try. He sort of picks a hero of the hour occasionally, but mainly he sticks with Peter till we get Paul, then Paul to the end.

Paul, now in Ephesus again, has found a group of believers that he again did not raise.

vs 2

Don't get me wrong, but if you haven't heard of the Holy Spirit at all, I would assume you are gentiles. Jews knew what the Holy Spirit was, as it pops up in the OT several times.

vs 3

That they had received John TB's baptism is just testimony to how far it spread. It also possibly shows how enthusiastic Apollos had been. Or someone else in Apollos' position.

vs 4

Paul does not gainsay John TB's baptism. The faith of John TB was a gospel faith, just looking in a forward direction to the Messiah. The faith Paul is preaching is that looking backward to the Messiah, as Jesus.

vs 5

So when Paul tells them who the Messiah is, of course they want to be baptised. Notice that they are being baptised again - I don't think there's a problem with being baptised multiple times. One of the early churches says something like "We recognise the authority of Jesus in the commandment of baptism. We baptise three times, just to be sure."

vs 6

This far lesser known pentecost is the proof that disciples of John the Baptist can become Christian, and that the gospel has gone to them. So we've had Jews, Samaritans, gentiles, and now the little group of TBers is covered too.

vs 7

All 12 of them.

vs 8

He did say he would return to Ephesus, so he made good on his promise.

vs 9

This time, the Jews weren't violent or causing riots - merely their obstinance and public ridicule of "The Way" (what a cool name). But that's enough for Paul - he takes the disciples he's made and sets them up in a public hall where he can teach them without the ridicule.

Note that Paul isn't just giving lectures here. He is promoting discussion and discourse. Christianity is viable, and Paul can defend it, so he doesn't have to be afraid of letting it be discussed. The more formal translations use words like "reasoning" or even "disputing".

vs 10

And notice that these discussions, though held in a hall, were public enough that, through a bit of hyperbole, people from everywhere heard the word of God. I would say that this is as much one of those wrap-up sections, showing the growth and strength of the church. But there's a lot to be said for the fact that the discussion session, having been dead for so long, is now starting to be revived. Viva la discussions! They can only make both Christians and non-Christians stronger.