Jehovah’s Word Prevails in Ephesus

17. Regarding baptism, what instruction did Apollos and some others need?

¹⁷ Paul soon began his third missionary trip (c. 52-56 C.E.). (18:23–19:7) Meanwhile in Ephesus, Apollos taught about Jesus but knew only of John’s baptism in symbol of repentance for sins against the Law covenant. Priscilla and Aquila “expounded the way of God more correctly to him,” likely explaining that being baptized as Jesus was included a person’s undergoing water immersion and receiving the outpoured holy spirit. After baptism with holy spirit occurred at Pentecost 33 C.E., anyone baptized with John’s baptism needed to be rebaptized in Jesus’ name. (Matthew 3:11, 16; Acts 2:38) Later in Ephesus, about 12 Jewish men who had undergone John’s baptism “got baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” in the only rebaptism recorded in the Scriptures. When Paul laid his hands upon them, they received holy spirit and two miraculous indications of heavenly acceptance​—speaking with tongues and prophesying.

18. Where did Paul witness while in Ephesus, and with what results?

¹⁸ Paul was certainly kept busy in Ephesus, a city of some 300,000 residents. (19:8-10) Its temple of the goddess Artemis was one of the ancient world’s seven wonders, and its theater could seat 25,000. In the synagogue, Paul ‘used persuasion’ by presenting convincing arguments but withdrew when some spoke abusively about The Way, or manner of life based on faith in Christ. For two years, Paul spoke daily in the school auditorium of Tyrannus, and “the word” spread throughout the district of Asia.

19. What took place in Ephesus that caused ‘Jehovah’s word to keep growing and prevailing’ there?

¹⁹ God showed approval of Paul’s activity by enabling him to perform cures and expel demons. (19:11-20) But the seven sons of the chief priest Sceva failed to expel a demon by the use of Jesus’ name because they did not represent God and Christ. They were even wounded by the demon-possessed man! This made people fearful, and “the name of the Lord Jesus went on being magnified.” Those who became believers denounced their occult practices and publicly burned their books that apparently contained incantations and magic formulas. “Thus,” wrote Luke, “in a mighty way the word of Jehovah kept growing and prevailing.” Today, too, God’s servants help to free people from demonism.​—Deuteronomy 18:10-12.

Religious Intolerance Does Not Succeed

20. Why did the silversmiths of Ephesus foment a riot, and how was it ended?

²⁰ Jehovah’s Witnesses have often faced angry mobs, and so did Christians in Ephesus. (19:21-41) As believers multiplied, Demetrius and other silversmiths lost money because fewer people bought their silver shrines of the many-breasted fertility goddess Artemis. Incited by Demetrius, a mob took Paul’s associates Gaius and Aristarchus into the theater, but the disciples did not let Paul go inside. Even some commissioners of festivals and games pleaded that he not take that risk. For about two hours, the mob shouted: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” Finally, the city recorder (who headed the municipal government) said that the craftsmen could present their charges to a proconsul, authorized to make judicial decisions, or their case might be decided in “a regular assembly” of citizens. Otherwise, Rome could charge those in this irregular assembly with rioting. With that, he dismissed them.

21. In what way did God bless Paul’s work, and how does he bless that of Jehovah’s Witnesses today?

²¹ God helped Paul to face various trials and blessed his efforts to help people reject religious error and embrace the truth. (Compare Jeremiah 1:9, 10.)

Fellow Believers Upbuilt

3. What happened at Troas, and what parallel may be drawn with our day?

³ After the riot in Ephesus subsided, Paul continued his third missionary tour. (20:1-12) When about to sail for Syria, however, he learned that Jews had plotted against him. Since they may have planned to board the same ship and kill Paul, he went through Macedonia. At Troas, he spent a week upbuilding fellow believers as traveling overseers among Jehovah’s Witnesses now do. On the night before his departure, Paul prolonged his speech until midnight. Eutychus, seated at a window, was apparently weary from the day’s exertions. He collapsed in sleep and fell to his death from the third floor, but Paul restored him to life. What joy this must have caused! Think, then, of the joy that will result when many millions are resurrected in the coming new world.​—John 5:28, 29.

4. As regards the ministry, what did Paul teach the Ephesian elders?

⁴ En route to Jerusalem, at Miletus, Paul met with the elders of Ephesus. (20:13-21) He reminded them that he had taught them “from house to house” and that he “thoroughly bore witness both to Jews and to Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.” Those who ultimately became elders had repented, and they possessed faith. The apostle also had been training them to proclaim the Kingdom boldly to unbelievers in a house-to-house ministry like that performed by Jehovah’s Witnesses today.

5. (a) How was Paul exemplary in regard to direction by holy spirit? (b) Why did the elders need counsel to ‘pay attention to all the flock’?

⁵ Paul was exemplary in accepting direction by God’s holy spirit. (20:22-30) “Bound in the spirit,” or feeling obligated to follow its lead, the apostle would go to Jerusalem, though bonds and tribulations awaited him there. He valued life, but maintaining integrity to God was the most important thing to him, as it should be to us. Paul urged the elders to ‘pay attention to all the flock among which the holy spirit had appointed them overseers.’ After his “going away” (apparently in death), “oppressive wolves” would “not treat the flock with tenderness.” Such men would arise from among the elders themselves, and less discerning disciples would accept their twisted teachings.​—2 Thessalonians 2:6.

6. (a) Why could Paul confidently commit the elders to God? (b) How did Paul follow the principle of Acts 20:35?

⁶ The elders needed to remain alert spiritually to guard against apostasy. (20:31-38) The apostle had taught them the Hebrew Scriptures and Jesus’ teachings, which have sanctifying power that could help them to receive the heavenly Kingdom, “the inheritance among all the sanctified ones.” By working to provide for himself and his associates, Paul also encouraged the elders to be hard workers. (Acts 18:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 2:9) If we pursue a similar course and help others to gain eternal life, we will appreciate Jesus’ words: “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.” The sense of this statement is found in the Gospels but is quoted only by Paul, who may have received it orally or by inspiration. We can enjoy much happiness if we are as self-sacrificing as Paul was. Why, he had given of himself so much that his departure saddened the Ephesian elders greatly!

Let Jehovah’s Will Take Place

7. How did Paul set an example in submitting to God’s will?

⁷ As Paul’s third missionary trip neared its end (c. 56 C.E.), he set a fine example in submitting to God’s will. (21:1-14) In Caesarea he and his companions stayed with Philip, whose four virgin daughters “prophesied,” foretelling events by holy spirit. There the Christian prophet Agabus bound his own hands and feet with Paul’s girdle and was moved by the spirit to say that Jews would bind its owner in Jerusalem and deliver him into Gentile hands. “I am ready not only to be bound but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus,” said Paul. The disciples acquiesced, saying: “Let the will of Jehovah take place.”

8. If we sometimes find it hard to take good advice, what might we remember?

⁸ Paul told the elders in Jerusalem what God did among the Gentiles through his ministry. (21:15-26) If we ever find it hard to take good advice, we can recall how Paul accepted it. To prove that he was not teaching Jews in Gentile lands “an apostasy from Moses,” he heeded the elders’ counsel to undergo ceremonial cleansing and cover the expenses for himself and four other men. Though Jesus’ death moved the Law out of the way, Paul did no wrong by carrying out its features regarding vows.​—Romans 7:12-14.