::R1558 : page 220::

PAUL AT EPHESUS

III. QUAR., LESSON V., JULY 30, ACTS 19:1-12

Golden Text—”When the spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth.”—John 16:13

This lesson shows Paul a second time at Ephesus since leaving Corinth. In the interim (chap. 18:18-23) he had first spent a

::R1558 : page 221::

brief time here, where he was accompanied by Aquila and Priscilla, and then visited Jerusalem, Antioch and the churches of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening the disciples. Now he has returned to find a pleasant surprise: A cultured and eloquent Alexandrian Jew, a convert to Christianity, has been here in his absence, mightily convincing the Jews, and that publicly, that Jesus is the Christ, and many have believed and are ready and anxious for further instruction.

Apollos himself knew only the baptism of John—the baptism unto repentance (the same now taught by the Disciples or Christian denomination—See last TOWER—Acts 18:25; 19:4), and they had been so baptized. Aquila and Priscilla heard him speak, and, perceiving his imperfect knowledge, took him home and instructed him more perfectly, so that when he went away from Ephesus to Achaia, he went better equipped for the work. The coming of the Apostle was just in time to encourage the infant Church and to correct the mistakes of the zealous and beloved Apollos. His inquiry and their reply, with reference to receiving the holy spirit, showed their entire ignorance of the privileges of believers—of entire consecration and adoption as sons of God into the divine family, implied in the ordinance of baptism into Christ. This subject of the high calling of believers, of the gospel age, Paul opened up to them, probably in quite extended discourse, of which verse 4 must be understood as a mere synopsis. This clearer understanding was at once acted upon, and they were again baptized—not this time with the significance of John’s baptism (unto repentance), but of Christ’s baptism (of entire consecration and full submission to the will of God).

Then followed the evidence of their acceptance with God, granted to all the early Christians through the laying on of the Apostles’ hands (never otherwise communicated, except at the beginning): the power of the holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. (Verse 6.) These gifts were necessary to the Church then in its incipient stage, both for their own full assurance of faith, and also for the world’s recognition of them as specially owned of God; but they were not intended to be continued beyond the days of the Apostles.—1 Cor. 13:8.

VERSES 8-10. Paul continued his reasonings with the Jews in the synagogues three months, when, as usual, his advanced and clear teachings produced a division among the Jews, for and against the truth—the opposition of the unbelievers being very pronounced. He therefore, with the believers, withdrew, and thereafter taught in the school or lecture room of one Tyrannus. Here Jews and Greeks were alike welcome, and from this place the truth spread over all Asia Minor.

The lesson taught by the Apostle’s course in thus ceasing to intrude upon the unbelieving Jews, who were no longer willing to give the truth a hearing in their synagogue, is one that all believers should note and follow. What communion hath light with darkness, or truth with error? After using such privileges as are freely accorded, if the truth has no effect, its servants are not justified by any Scripture in intruding upon the rights of others.

====================

— July 1 & 15, 1893 —