ITINERARY
Through Galatia and Phrygia (Acts 18:23).—After Paul had spent some time at Antioch, at the close of the second missionary journey, "He departed and went over all the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order strengthening all the disciples." Thus Luke briefly sums up in a few words all the incidents of a journey of hundreds of miles of travel.
Ephesus (Acts 19:1-20:1).—Evidently with the purpose of showing what is new and of chief importance in each journey Luke, as is his habit, calls attention to the work of Paul in Ephesus; other parts of this journey are passed over with slight mention.
Having gone through the upper coasts, Paul comes to Ephesus. The chief events in this city, during the visit of the Apostle, were:
1. The incident of the work of Apollos is given (Acts 18:24-19:1) to show how Paul found about twelve disciples of John the Baptist (Acts 19:7) at Ephesus and instructed them further, baptizing them in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:5, compare Acts 19:1-7).
2. Three months were spent by Paul (Acts 19:8, 9) with the Jews in their synagogue, "disputing and persuading the things pertaining to the kingdom of God." But when certain of them became hardened and it was plainly seen that little good was being done he left the synagogue.
3. About two years' time was given, after the apostle had separated himself and followers from the Jewish synagogue, to teaching in the school or lecture room of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9, 10). The result of this preaching and teaching was that a great multitude of men and women was brought to a confession of faith in Christ, throughout Asia.
4. The mighty growth of the Word of God (Acts 19:20) was attested by the miracles which Paul did in the name of Christ (Acts 19:11, 12). He confounded the Jewish exorcists, who attempted to imitate these miracles (Acts 19:13-20). This great work was shown to be a thorough one from the fact that many who used curious arts brought their books and burned them amounting in value to over $31,000.
5. Paul now proposed, thinking the Ephesian church could stand alone (Acts 19:21, 22), "after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia to go to Jerusalem, saying, after I have been there, I must also see Rome." In anticipation of this visit he sent Timotheus and Erastus into Macedonia, "but he himself stayed in Asia for a season."
6. The tumult made by Demetrius (Acts 19:23-40) is a strong proof of the large impression made by the gospel of Jesus Christ upon not only the city of Ephesus but all Asia Minor. The burning of the magical books had arrested the attention of many people, but when the sale of the silver images of the idol, Diana, began to fall off so as to touch the trade of the silversmiths they were up in arms at once. Demetrius showed how the power of Christ had prevailed with men when he declared that, "Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that there be no gods which are made with hands." The violence of the men who composed the mob showed how deeply Christianity had taken hold upon large numbers of people. Paul, after the uproar had quieted down, carried out his intention of departing for Macedonia.