Paul arrives in Ephesus and finds some disciples who have only received John's baptism. They did not know about the Holy Spirit. Paul baptizes them in the name of Jesus and lays hands on them, and they receive the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and prophesying. Paul preaches boldly in the synagogue for three months but some reject his message. He then teaches daily in the hall of Tyrannus for two years, and the word of the Lord spreads throughout Asia.

1. EPHESUS
FROM THE LEAST TO THE MOST IN 20
YEARS
ACTS 19:1-10

2. THE PRE-STORY -1
Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the
brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by
Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut
off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken. They
arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He
himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the
Jews. When they asked him to spend more time with them,
he declined. But as he left, he promised, “I will come back
if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus. When he
landed at Caesarea, he went up to Jerusalem and greeted
the church and then went down to Antioch.

3. THE PRE-STORY - 2
After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out
from there and traveled from place to place
throughout the region of Galatia and Phrygia,
strengthening all the disciples.

4. THE PRE-STORY - 3
Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of
Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned
man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures.
He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and
he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus
accurately, though he knew only the baptism of
John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue.
When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited
him to their home and explained to him the way of
God more adequately.

5. THE PRE-STORY - 4
When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the
brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to
the disciples there to welcome him. When he
arrived, he was a great help to those who by
grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted his
Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from
the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.

6. THE STORY -1
While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through
the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some
disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit
when you believed?”
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is
a Holy Spirit.”
So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.

7. THE STORY -2
.Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of
repentance. He told the people to believe in the
one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On
hearing this, they were baptized in the name of
the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on
them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they
spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were
about twelve men in all.

8. THE STORY -3
Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly
there for three months, arguing persuasively
about the kingdom of God. But some of them
became obstinate; they refused to believe and
publicly maligned the Way.

9. THE STORY -4
So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him
and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of
Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all
the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of
Asia heard the word of the Lord.

10. While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at
Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy
Spirit when you believed?”
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to
believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the
Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were
about twelve men in all.
Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing
persuasively about the kingdom of God. But some of them became obstinate; they
refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the
disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This
went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of
Asia heard the word of the Lord.

11. QUESTIONS NEEDING
ANSWERS
1. Who were the disciples and were they Christian?
2. Why did Paul ask them whether they had received the Holy Spirit at
the time when they came to faith?
3. When they answered the Holy Spirit question, why did Paul ask them
about their baptism?
4. Why was it important that they be baptised in Jesus name, even
though they had already been baptised as a sign of their willingness
to look to Jesus?
5. What do we learn about being filled with the Spirit from this
testimony?

12. THE SYNAGOGUE AND THE
WAY
What happened to distinguish the synagogue
from “the Way?”
Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly
there for three months, arguing persuasively about
the kingdom of God. But some of them became
obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly
maligned the Way.

13. WHAT HAPPENED AT THE HALL OF
TYRANNUS?
So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him
and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of
Tyrannus. This went on for two years, so that all
the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of
Asia heard the word of the Lord.

14. IF THIS IS THE TESTIMONY WHAT ARE THE
PRINCIPLES?
1. Equipment: connected to Jesus by being
baptised into him; being filled with the Spirit as
an identifiable experience.
2. Agenda: reaching all people from the closest to
the furthest by discipleship multiplication:
reaching, training and sending.

15. CHECK LIST !
Have I/we got what they got through being baptised
into a very particular relationship with Jesus?
Have I/ we been filled with the Spirit so that it remains a
consistent supernatural experience?
Are disciples being trained, sent and supported as
missionaries to spheres where the gospel needs to be
made known?
Where are the places in our region that have not been
reached - what do we need to do to reach them?