Throughout the Gospel, we saw how our Lord Jesus has absolute authority over the demons. We saw how the demons recognised who Jesus was. They would obey Him. For example, the demons, like the legion, they were cast out. They entered into the pigs and were drowned. We saw how Jesus not only had absolute control over the demons, but He even forbade them to speak, and they obeyed Him. We saw how the demons knew the eternal destruction, and they pleaded with Jesus not to destroy them even at that moment.
Interestingly, through the centuries, men and women would debate about who Jesus was. Some would say He was a brilliant teacher. Others would say He is a godly prophet. Yet others would say He was just an ordinary man with special abilities. But the demons had no doubt [Music] who Jesus was. They knew that He was the Holy One of God.
When our Lord Jesus sent His disciples out to preach the Gospel, like the 70 disciples, He gave them the power and authority to cast out demons. When the 70 disciples returned, they said to Jesus, "Lord, even the devils are subject unto us because of your name" (Luke 10:17). As the New Testament was being written, such miraculous powers were given to certain individuals, especially the apostles. They were known as sign gifts or miraculous gifts. If you read 2 Corinthians 12:12, it is called the sign of an apostle.
After the Bible was completed, the apostolic era had ended, such miraculous gifts had ceased. Nowhere in the Bible is there any promise that Christians are able to deliver the unbelievers from demons. I use the phrase "deliver the unbelievers from demons" because the Bible teaches us that the believers cannot be possessed by the demons. The reason is that the believers have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. For the demons to possess a believer, he has to overcome the Holy Spirit, which is impossible. 1 John 4:4 tells us, "Because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world."
Today, we do not go around and cast out demons. We still fight against principalities, we still fight against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. But we do it through the preaching of God's word. It is only through the power of God's word that the forces of darkness would fall.
In this passage, Acts 19, verse 8-20, we are going to see how the demons were cast out even without the physical presence of the apostle Paul. At that time, the New Testament was still being written, so miraculous signs or sign gifts were still existing. Nonetheless, we will see that the focus was always on the preaching of God's word.
The title of our message is "The Power of God's Word." Our first point is "The Declaration of God's Word." Remember, in our previous message, we have learned how Apollos had left for Corinth. The apostle Paul went to Ephesus where he baptized the disciples of John. They were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke in tongues. We have dealt with the significance and purposes of tongues-speaking.
Remember in our previous message we have learned how Apollos had left for Corinth. The Apostle Paul went to Ephesus where he baptized the disciples of John. They were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke in tongues.
We have dealt with the significance and purposes of tongue-speaking in the Book of Acts. Let us look at verse 8. And Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God as usual.
Paul would always look for the synagogue where he would preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. During that period, he reasoned with them. That's the word for disputing, from where we get the English word for dialogue. A dialogue is a two-way conversation. You can imagine there will be questions and answers. Sometimes it will lead to a debate, and that is the word persuading, which means to convince by argument.
"Concerning the kingdom of God" means Paul was teaching the things concerning Christ and salvation because the only way to enter into the kingdom of God and to have salvation is through Christ.
But when diverse, which means certain of the Jews, were hardened and believed not, but spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
Whenever God's word is preached, we all know that there will always be some people who will reject the truth. So over the period of three months, the hearts of the unbelieving Jews gradually hardened. They kept rejecting the truth so much so that they came to a point whereby they openly spoke evil of that way, a reference to Christianity.
Notice the progression. First, their hearts were hardened, which led them to reject the message. But they did not just remain in their rejection. They moved on to openly mock and slandered Christianity in front of the multitudes. That is what will happen to some people who continue to harden their hearts. They will reject the truth, and when they keep on rejecting the truth, it will come to a point whereby they would openly mock and slander the church and God's people.
Sometimes when you know that the people are not listening when you are preaching, they keep on rejecting, they keep on scoffing, mocking, slandering the message, the preacher openly, and then influencing the people. What should you do? You mark them, you discipline them. But they continue to do so. It may come to a point where it is spiritually not beneficial for you to continue in that particular place, and you prayerfully bring the Gospel somewhere else. As Jesus taught us, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, because they will not appreciate, lest they trample them under their feet and turn again and rend you" (Matthew 7:6).
That was what Paul did. He knew that he could no longer remain in the synagogue. The people were not listening. They were now openly scoffing, mocking, slandering, not just the message but also the messenger. He took the disciples, those who had truly repented and believed in the Gospel, and went to the school of Tyrannus.
We do not know much about the school of Tyrannus. Apparently, this school was named after a man named Tyrannus, most likely a philosopher. Interestingly, the name Tyrannus means our tyrant. A tyrant we all know means a wicked and cruel oppressor. Why do you think the school would have such a name? School of our tyrant. We wouldn't want to name such a school like that, right?
Some theologians believe that it might be the nickname given by the students to the principal. If that is the case, then it makes sense. That principal must be very strict, very demanding, and he was nicknamed a tyrant, Tyrannus. Again, most likely, it was a school of learning, a school to educate the people. And Paul, being a well-known former rabbi, he was invited to teach there or he was allowed to teach there.
Verse 10 tells us, "And this continued for the space of two years, so that all those which dwell in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks."
Some people believe that during this period of two years as Paul evangelized in that region, that was how the seven churches of Revelation were established. Interesting when you read the book of Acts, as we have learned in time past, that it would be the backdrop of all the epistles, including the book of Revelation. When we know well the book of Acts, then we can understand how the epistles were written, how those churches were established and founded, including the seven churches of Revelation.
Our second point is deliverance from the demons. As we have mentioned, in those days they did not have the New Testament, so God would use signs, wonders, miracles to confirm his messenger as well as the message. That was the only way to ascertain and authenticate someone's message was true because you did not have the New Testament. That was why verse 11 says, "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul."
But the people fail to understand that Paul was just the instrument. Instead of looking to the source of the power, there was God, they looked to the instrument that was Paul. Vestiges from his body, Paul's body, were brought unto the sick, handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
Even today in our modern times, many people still believe that healing power could be magically transmitted. What do I mean? Have you ever visited bookstores whereby the Catholics would sell holy water blessed by the Pope? And then they will tell you that there is magical power that could be transmitted from the Pope to the water. That's why they call it holy water.
Several years back, I visited one of my relatives, a Roman Catholic, and I saw this water of holy water from the River Jordan. My relative told me that the Roman Catholic Church had specially imported water from the River Jordan, and those bottles were specially blessed by the Archbishop. All she needed to do was to take a sip every morning, and she would be free from all kinds of illnesses.
Crazy things people would do. Oh by the way, this relative of mine later on died of cancer. How sad. But this is not something new because they already did that in ancient times.
[Music] When the people saw how Paul was able to perform those special miracles, they were impressed. So much so that they took his handkerchiefs or his aprons. Aprons would be the clothes Paul put on when he worked as a tent maker. So either handkerchiefs or aprons, they used. Amazingly, the sick were healed of their illnesses and the demon-possessed were delivered of the evil spirits.
While God allowed the people to be healed and delivered to the handkerchiefs and aprons of Paul, not because he had any supernatural power, but remember God wanted to authenticate and confirm his messenger and the message. The miracles God performed through Paul were very essential, they were very vital to convince the Ephesians that Paul was truly a servant of God. That was God's divine intent.
There are some people who go around to teach that all sicknesses and diseases are caused by demons and evil spirits. Have you heard of that? Every time a person is sick they will say that it is the work of an evil spirit. That is not true.
Notice the writer of Ex - Luke, who was a medical doctor. He carefully distinguished the difference between diseases and evil spirits. He said, "The diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits ran out of them," to signify that they were two different things. And this is very important because this is to emphasize that not all diseases are caused by evil spirits.
So today if you have cancer, if you have a heart attack, it is a medical condition and there can be various reasons. It can be genetics, it can be due to your lifestyle and diets, it can be the oversupply and lack of certain things. If God allows it to happen, he must have a sovereign purpose - perhaps to humble us, to draw us closer to him, to teach us not to trust in our own strength, to manifest his power, his grace and mercy, to strengthen our faith, etc. But the point is that we must not ascribe everything to an evil spirit.
The charismatics are very prone to do that. Everything is the work of an evil spirit.
Our third point is distraction from the Jewish exorcist. Verse 13, "Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, 'We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.'"
In those days there were magicians, sorcerers, and exorcists - people like Simon Magnus we learned about him in Acts chapter 8, remember the one who thought that the Holy Spirit could be bought with money and manipulated for his own gains? Not their mentality was anything that can work, we are happy to employ. Therefore, they had no trouble at all adding another name onto their whole list of idols. So they are happy to use the name Jesus as long as it works. Notice they did not even know who Jesus was, they were not familiar with him. That was the reason why they said, "We adjure you, we solemnly charge you by Jesus whom Paul preaches." In other words, we do not know who Jesus is, we only know him as the one whom Paul preaches. But we understand that his name is powerful, so we are happy to use his name. [Music] We are happy to charge you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.
Who were these exorcists? Verse 14, "And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew and chief of the priests, which did so."
We do not know for sure who these seven sons were, they were the sons of Sceva, a Jew and apparently he was a member of the high priestly family. Even the Jews at that time were practicing exorcism. Interestingly, they might be able to fool the Ephesians who were gullible, but they could not fool the demons. The demons knew that they had no power at all. The demons in a human voice, verse 15, "And the evil spirit answered and said, 'Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?'"
This is a very interesting statement. Basically, the evil spirit was saying, "Jesus I know, he is the Son of God. Paul I know, he is a servant of God, a preacher, a messenger, an apostle of God. But who are you?" The forces of darkness knew who God was, they knew who his servants were, but they also knew who were the ones who pretended to be on the Lord's side, who used the Lord's name in vain. But in reality, they were false prophets, false teachers, and false believers.
My friends, this is very thought-provoking, don't you think? The forces of darkness know who we are too. For sure they know God, but they also know who are those who are truly serving God, and also who are those who are, in fact, just paying lip services. In reality, they are doing the opposite. Very, very strong statement. Jesus I know and Paul I know, but who are you?
It's another important lesson for us to learn. There's the great danger of assuming power over the demons and Satan and playing the fool with the supernatural realm, like the charismatics who love to go around and cast out demons. They are playing with fire, especially when they have no power at all.
Think about this. These people are going around casting out demons, devils, when in reality they do not have any true power. We should rather learn from Jude 9. Remember when the archangel Michael, who was contending with the devil about the body of Moses, he does not even bring a railing accusation against him but simply said this to the devil: "The Lord rebuke thee." That was what happened to the exorcist.
Verse 16: "And the man in whom the evil spirit was, leaped on them and overcame them and prevailed against them so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded." Take a moment and consider, seven of them. Seven sons of Skiva, and here only one man. He was able to overcome and subdue all of them. How could he do that? Well, remember he was supernaturally possessed by the evil spirit. Obviously, he had supernatural strength, and these people had no power at all. Playing the fool with the demons and evil spirit, they were beaten, shocked, humiliated, so much so they ran out of the house naked and wounded.
My friends, do not play the fool with the supernatural realm. Today, as I've said, we still fight against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. But we do it by preaching God's word. It is only true God's word that the forces of darkness would fall.
A final point is departing from their former practices. So, the whole community at Ephesus came to know what had happened. Look at verse 17: "And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus, and fear fell on them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified." They realized that Jesus was no ordinary person, and fear fell on all of them, and they magnified the name of the Lord Jesus.
They must have heard the gospel which Paul had preached for almost two years and three months by now. Remember, three months he preached at the synagogue, and then he left and preached and taught at the school of Tyrannus for two years. So by now, it will be two years three months. Many who heard believed. They came and confessed and showed their deeds. "Show their deeds" means to reveal and declare their evil practices. In other words, there was true genuine repentance. They had exposed the deceptions and falsehood of their former practices.
How do we know that it is not just talk? Some people may say that, "Well, these people are just talking. Talk is cheap." Well, look at verse 19. "Many of them also which used curious arts," which means magic, "brought their books together and burned them before all men. And they counted the price of them and founded fifty thousand pieces of silver." My friends, in true genuine repentance, there's always first an acknowledgement of our sins and then a confession of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. And there must be a turning away from our sins and believing in the only one who can save us.
These people had experienced all that, and they totally destroyed everything they had with their former beliefs and practices. Think about this, our Lord Jesus was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver. Here, the cost of all the books that were burned, the total amount was fifty thousand pieces of silver. There was a lot of money but it didn't matter. Those things were evil, rubbish, contrary to God. They had to be destroyed. They could not even be sold to someone else because that person would be deceived and stumbled. Everything was burned, was destroyed.
Today, some of our friends maybe former idol worshippers, perhaps they have spent thousands and thousands of dollars buying those idols, maybe golden idols. But once they believe in the truth and embrace Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, all those idols must go. All those idols, no matter how precious, how expensive they were, must be destroyed. Some may be afraid to destroy those idols, they can call the pastor for help, and he will be able to help them. Some of those idols may be made of gold, they could be melted and the money could be used for other meaningful purposes, but they could never be sold to someone else lest someone else be deceived and stumbled. They must be destroyed. There must always be a turning away from our sins, forsaking.
For you, it may not be either, it may not be the physical burning of magical books or physical idolatry, but there may be sins in your life, there may be things that you held onto before you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and those things are not honoring unto Him. Today, you are a believer, all those things must go too. There must be a turning away from our sins.
Finally, verse 20 tells us: "So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed." Notice, it is not the miracles that prevailed, it is the word of God that prevailed. At the beginning of the message I said this, that the focus is still on the preaching of God's word. It started with the declaration of the gospel and it ends with the word of God growing mightily and prevailing. We will end here and continue next week. Let us look to the Lord in prayer.
Father in heaven, we thank Thee for allowing us to continue our study in the book of Acts. Indeed, there are many spiritual lessons we can draw from Thy precious infallible and inerrant word as we study this third missionary journey of Paul. We thank Thee for allowing us to draw spiritual lessons that we may apply into our lives. Help us, Lord, that we will be able to remember and, most importantly, to apply Thy truth so that we will not be hearers only, deceiving our own selves, but always to put into rightful application whatever we have learned. Indeed, we need Thy word at every moment of our lives so continue to teach us we ask of Thee and grant us many such wonderful opportunities to come together as a body of believers to study Thy precious word, to learn through the wonder working of Thy Spirit. We give Thee thanks and we pray all this in Jesus' name. Amen.