In Ephesus—Function of the Holy Spirit and Demonic Attacks

Acts 19:1-22

• Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?
• What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues?
• Being rejected by the Jewish people, Paul preached the Gospel in the school of Tyrannus.
• Miracles accomplished through a handkerchief or apron belonging to Paul.
• Demonic activity overpowers a man wrongfully using the name of Jesus Christ.
• Paul plans to go to Jerusalem after visits to the regions of Macedonia and Achaia.

Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?
“And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus…” Acts 19:1a

Apollos was in Ephesus, preaching the baptism of John the Baptist, which is repentance by baptism into water. He was not aware of the baptism of the Holy Spirit who comes through Jesus Christ. Aquila and Priscilla instructed Apollos on Jesus Christ, about His death, the atonement He made for sin, His resurrection, and eternal life for all who believe in Him. And about the baptism of the Holy Spirit. After Apollos received a clearer understanding of the way of Jesus Christ, he left Ephesus and went to the region of Achaia to evangelize in the name of Jesus Christ. All of this is described in the post on Acts 18:24-28 When Apollos was in Achaia, Paul returned to Ephesus.

On the map below, Achaia [where Apollos was at] is seen to the far left of the image and about halfway up. After Apollos left Ephesus, to preach Jesus Christ in Achaia, Paul returned to Ephesus after passing through Galatia and Phrygia [Acts 18:22-23]. Ephesus is seen due east of Achaia, across the Aegean Sea.

“And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” Acts 19:1b-4

Paul was in Ephesus where Apollos was preaching and teaching for everyone to be baptized according to the way of John the Baptist. They were repenting of their sin by being baptized in water. They were not familiar with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, through whom we go for repentance, forgiveness, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Paul’s question to them was, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They had not even heard whether there was a Holy Spirit. This made Paul question what the Ephesians were baptized into, clearly not the baptism of Jesus Christ. The Ephesians clearly stated that they had been baptized into John’s baptism, which Apollos was teaching before he learned the way of Jesus Christ more clearly. Paul quoted to them what John said, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Luke 3:16 That “One” is Jesus Christ.

The question to every Believer is, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” We might answer in a way that suggests we are not even sure what the Holy Spirit is, like the Ephesians who said, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” If we have gone to Jesus Christ for repentance, then our sin is in remission and sin is replaced by the Holy Spirit. That is the sanctification process, the ugly attitudes and behaviors make an exit, and the Holy Spirit fills the spot to give us a life of Holiness. When we believe on Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to us.

We have to realize that within the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, our Lord was forgiving sin and granting eternal Salvation even though those who were forgiven were unaware of the Holy Spirit to come. Jesus even forgave the thief on the Cross for simply believing in Him, and granted him eternal life, “Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:39-43

What are we repenting from? We repent from our unbelief towards God our Creator. We repent of rejecting our need for Jesus Christ. We repent of fighting against the Holy Spirit. When we believe God, we accept our need for Jesus Christ to forgive our sin, and by the remission of sin the Holy Spirit moves into our heart, mind, and soul.

“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 19:5

Being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus is the only way to receive the Holy Spirit. Being baptized into the doctrine of humanism does not come with the Holy Spirit. Humanism is the fig leaf worn by those who serve the entity that replaces the conscience and spirit [while oppressing the presence of the Holy Spirit]. They have a form of Godliness but deny the power of Jesus Christ and are not living in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Humanism is “…an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems…”

What is the relationship between the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues?
“And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all.” Acts 19:6-7

The Ephesian people desired to be baptized in Jesus Christ, which is the desire to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came upon the Ephesians, and they spoke in tongues. There was a small group of about twelve who received the Holy Spirit. The Ephesians also prophesied, which is to speak in understandable words the testimony of Jesus, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10 If we want to know where the world is within prophecy we only need to see where Jesus is within the world.

Before quoting Paul on what he says about speaking in tongues, let’s be familiar with what the work of the Holy Spirit is.

Foremost above all, the work of the Holy Spirit is to promote Jesus Christ by empowering us as His witnesses, as quoted, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1: 8 Also, the Holy Spirit works sanctification within us, which is to remove sin from our spirit, soul, and mind. As the ugly attitudes and behaviors become less the Holy Spirit becomes more. “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Romans 8:9 The fruit of the Holy Spirit are such as, “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 The Holy Spirit works to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ, works sanctification within us, and produces the fruit of the Spirit.

On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out, there were people gathered from countries everywhere [Acts 2:8-12] who spoke different languages. This is before the Salvation of Paul [Acts 9:1-22], before his missionary journeys began [Acts 13]. The Holy Spirit was poured out on them, people who were from many of the places where Paul would arrive during his missionary journey. Through the Holy Spirit, each person of one language could hear the other person speaking in their own language, no interpretation needed. This was to enable the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in countries everywhere, to enable the work of sanctification within people in countries everywhere, and to enable the blossom of the fruit of the Spirit in countries everywhere. God was also preparing countries to receive and help Paul in his missionary journeys, who propelled the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the global proportions of today. In today’s world, the language of the Holy Spirit is heard in many different languages of countries around the world. As followers of Jesus Christ, we understand that language regardless of what country we are in.

When the Holy Spirit is absent, witnessing for the Gospel of Jesus Christ stops, the process of sanctification stops, and the blossom of the fruit of the Spirit stops. That sounds like the world we are living in today! Love has gone cold. In today’s world, the presence of the Holy Spirit is opposed as people live for the entity giving them what to speak, feel, do, and think. As the Holy Spirit is removed from this world, lawlessness follows, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 Click here for a post on the “lawless one”.

Speaking in tongues is just one of many gifts of the Spirit.
Paul, by the Holy Spirit, referred to speaking in tongues as being one of many gifts of the Holy Spirit, maybe you have it and maybe you don’t. “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.” 1 Cori 12:7-11

Not every Holy-Spirit filled person has the gift of speaking in tongues.
Paul, by the Holy Spirit, said that not everyone is given the gift of speaking in tongues. Tongues are at the bottom of the list of all the gifts of the Spirit to have. “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way. 1 Cor 12:27-31

Speaking in tongues has no usefulness unless people understand what is being said.
Paul, by the Holy Spirit said, “But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?  1 Corinthians 14:6 Speaking in tongues is only useful if it promotes the Gospel of Jesus Christ, works in harmony with the process of sanctification, and promotes fellowship in the Spirit.

If we desire a spiritual gift, let it be for the edification of the Church, not to speak in tongues.
Paul said, by the Holy Spirit, “…unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.  There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.” 1 Corinthians 14:9-12

Speaking in tongues is for personal edification and doesn’t edify the Church.
By the Holy Spirit, Paul said, “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.1 Corinthians 14:4-5

This following verse describes prophecy, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10 If we want to know where the world is within prophecy, we only need to look at where Jesus is within the world.

Speaking in tongues does not bring people to Jesus Christ.
Paul said by the Holy Spirit, “Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. 1 Corinthians 14:23-25

The most important tongue we receive is the language of our born-again experience, which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ written on our heart.

Speaking in tongues within the churches is not important.
By the Holy Spirit, Paul says, “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.” 1 Corinthians 14:18-19

“Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:39-40

Speaking in tongues is unfruitful unless others understand what is being said.
Understanding of what is being spoken is essential for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Speaking a word that is understood is far more important than speaking many words in an unintelligible tongue. Paul says through the holy Spirit, “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then?…how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. 1 Corinthians 14:14-17

“No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:3

“For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men, but to God: for no man understands him; howbeit in the spirit he speaks mysteries.” 1 Corinthians 14:2

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of Angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” 1 Corinthian 13:1

We live in a world where an atheistic entity has power over physiology to give people what to feel and speak. This entity can cause people to mimic speaking in tongues. This beast lives to blaspheme God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. This is why speaking the Gospel of Jesus Christ needs to be done with words that can be understood. The foremost role of the Holy Spirit is not to cause people to speak in tongues, but to make us witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our born-again experience is the Gospel written on our heart. The role of the Holy Spirit is to bring sanctification to our spirit and soul, as the remission of sin roots out ugly attitudes, words, and behaviors. As sin is remitted, the Holy Spirit increase to work Holiness within us. The role of the Holy Spirit is to produce the blossom of the fruit of the Spirit.

Receiving the Holy Spirit is part of receiving Jesus Christ for the atonement of sin. The question to ask all followers of Jesus is, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit since you believed?” When we come to God through Jesus Christ, we immerse ourselves into the reading of the Bible, we separate ourselves from the relationships of this unGodly world, we befriend Christianity, and we join our hearts in prayer for other believers through the Spirit of Christ. A heart devoted to God is a heart ready to receive the Holy Spirit. The most important tongue we receive is the language of our born-again experience, which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ written on our heart.

Being rejected by the Jewish people, Paul preached the Gospel in the school of Tyrannus.
“And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.” Acts 19:8-10

Paul’s custom was to visit whatever Jewish synagogue was in the region he visited. The purpose was to show them, through the Old Testament scriptures, that Jesus was the Christ as prophesied about. The Jewish people could never come to believe that serving God comes by faith in Jesus Christ, not through the laws of Judaism. The Jewish people were hardened against the testimony of Jesus and did not believe. For three months, the Holy Spirit allowed Paul to remain with the Jewish people to share about Jesus Christ.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we can share our born-again experience with others, which is the Gospel of Christ written on our heart, but they are hardened and will not believe. In fact, today’s atheistic culture, which is global, speaks evil of the way of Jesus Christ to the population of the whole world. What do we do in response? We do what the Holy Spirit led Paul to do; we depart from them. This is written of our Lord Jesus Christ, “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:11-13

Paul withdrew the born-again believers from the Jewish hostilities, and they all went to the school of Tyrannus daily, persuading people concerning the testimony of Jesus Christ. This wasn’t a school such as a law school, business school, theological school, etc. where Paul was hired as a teacher to teach students. This was simply a school named after the owner and operator, Tyrannus. Tyrannus allowed Paul and his companions to use the building for the purpose of gathering people there to explain the way of Jesus Christ to them.

As followers of Jesus Christ in this atheistic world, we do not have the opportunity to present the message of the Cross within today’s churches. The churches have abandoned the Gospel of Jesus Christ to partner with the goals of the community agenda. They are hardened to the need for the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ, hardened against belief in the resurrection, hardened against belief in eternal life, and hardened against belief in the judgment to come beyond the grave. We have to depart from traditional places and to present the Gospel from whatever building is available to us. If we did find a place to speak of the testimony of Jesus, we should stay there for as long as we can.

For two years, Paul and his companions spoke daily at the school of Tyrannus, and everyone who lived in the region of Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. That is how the Holy Spirit works, He closes the door to unbelieving hearts and opens doors to those receptive to Jesus Christ. In today’s culture, the Holy Spirit is being removed from this world due to their living for the entity that gives them what to speak, do, think, and feel. They despise anything and anyone to do with the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the extinction of Christianity is happening. Click here for a post on the extinction of Christian births.  “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.’” Revelation 12:17

On the map below, the school that Tyrannus owned was in Ephesus [about middle of the map and almost halfway up]. The spread of the Gospel reached into the region of Asia [northeast of Ephesus and northeast of the region of Phrygia].

There is no report of masses of people coming to God during those two years and three months of witnessing, but it did accomplish one thing, everyone heard about Jesus, “all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.” We can assume that many people did come to say “Yes” to Jesus Christ during that time. Our purpose as a follower of Jesus Christ is to glorify His name and share the Gospel. Only the Holy Spirit can reach into a heart to make a person receptive to Christ, but nowadays too many grieve the Holy Spirit.

Miracles accomplished through a handkerchief or apron belonging to Paul.
“Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.” Acts 19:11-12

In Ephesus, God did miracles through Paul to heal people of diseases and to cause evil spirits to leave them. God did these miracles to verify Paul’s message of Jesus Christ dying on the Cross, being resurrected from the grave, the promise of eternal life, and the authority to forgive of sin. Reconciling to God by the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ is what the Gospel is all about. Miracles were performed in such a way that people would want to live for God by faith in Jesus Christ. They were encouraged to seek God not to seek physical healings.

Very importantly, the physical healings showed that faith in Jesus Christ was much more real and powerful than faith in the laws of Judaism. God was proving through His miracles that Salvation and the forgiveness of sin came by faith in Jesus Christ, not through the letter of the law. People who witnessed the miracles, or were healed, were led to desire to live life in the Spirit and not by non-spiritual rituals and manmade, non-spiritual idols

There was a time when Jesus forgave a crippled man of his sin but healing him was not something Jesus had initially intended to do. When the Jewish lawyers heard Jesus say, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” they thought within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!” Blaspheme was a very serious breach of the Jewish laws, and a person could be kicked out of the Jewish culture and even stoned to death. Jesus decided to heal the crippled man to show the lawyers that he indeed had the power to forgive sin. Jesus said to them, “For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?” No doubt, the Jewish lawyers felt that one was just as impossible as the other for a normal human being to do without the power of God. That is when Jesus said to the crippled man, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” and he did. Matthew 9:2-8

It was very unusual that people were being healed of diseases and that evil spirits left them by using a handkerchief. The people who took Paul’s handkerchief and brought it to the sick and those possessed by an evil spirit revered Paul that much. They saw Paul as having the power of God when they witnessed the other physical miracles that God performed through him. But they also associated the miracles with Jesus Christ, with the Gospel message that Paul was preaching. That is why God performed the healings through Paul’s handkerchief. It wasn’t the handkerchief that the people had faith in, their faith was in Paul as an instrument of God’s Spirit. In essence, by using Paul’s handkerchief, they were expressing their faith in the Living God, expressing their faith in the message Paul brought to them about Jesus Christ. They were learning to put their faith in Jesus Christ as the way to live for God, to have their sin forgiven, and to receive eternal life.

There is a very important reason why we have to turn our focus away from physical healings and to stay grounded in the message of the Cross. The entity that has power over physiology is able to do physical miracles. This entity has power over every cell of the human body. If we based our faith on physical healings, we would be misdirected to serve the atheistic entity that despises God, rejects Jesus Christ, and opposes the presence of the Holy Spirit. This is the same entity that has the power to give people what to speak, do, feel, and think. It gives life to the image of the beast to speak and live through people as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they are given to say and do. Click here for a post on the beast with power to do healings. “And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.” Revelation 13:3

Instead of focusing on physical miracles, focus on this, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Demonic activity overpowers a man wrongfully using the name of Jesus Christ.
“Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.” Acts 19:13-14

Itinerant Jewish exorcists would travel from city to city, region to region to go through rituals of casting evil spirits from people. They were trying to mimic Paul who cast out demons in the name of Jesus Christ. There was a huge difference between Paul casting out demons in the name of Jesus and the itinerant Jewish exorcists who were using the name of Jesus. That difference is that the Jewish itinerant exorcists took it upon themselves to exert the name of Jesus over evil spirits. That means the authority of the Holy Spirit was not with them because they did not believe in Jesus as the Christ and their Lord and Savior. Paul used the name of Jesus in the presence of the Holy Spirit to expel evil spirits from those possessed.

Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23

Today’s culture has a form of Godliness, but they deny the power of Jesus Christ. They speak of casting the evil spirits out of this world as they focus on peace, tolerance, and security for everyone of this world. However, they discourage belief in God in the name of casting out the “evil spirits” of religious conflict. They silence the need for the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ to cast out the “evil spirits” of intolerance and judgment against “diverse” lifestyles. They oppose the notion of the Holy Spirit being a person in order to cast out the “evil spirts” of imperfect people trying to walk in Holiness.

The Jesus of today’s culture is in the form of humanism which is the fig leaf worn by those who live and govern for the entity that gives them what to speak, do, think, and feel. Humanism is “…an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems…”. They rely on the entity that gives them what to speak and do to cast out “evil spirits” by replacing the conscience and spirit while opposing the presence of the Holy Spirit. This entity gives life to the image of the beast to speak and live through people as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they are given to say and do. They believe spiritual cleanliness comes when people are obedient to the entity that governs through thoughts, feelings, words, and behaviors.

A person may feel clean, and be perceived as being Godly, but this is just a form of Godliness if the Holy Spirit is not within our spirit and soul. Jesus says, “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.” Matthew 12:43-45

“And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Acts 19:15

The demon spirit was familiar with Jesus Christ, meaning it recognized His authority as the Son of God. However, the demon did not know the seven sons of Sceva [the chief priest] who tried to use the name of Jesus without living in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Today, the demon spirits do not recognize the authority of today’s atheistic culture to cast out evil spirits. Today’s culture lives in their sin of opposing belief in God, scoffing at the need for Jesus Christ, and discarding the Holy Spirit as nothing more than “soft” [and considered weak] human sentiments. This world is progressing towards a global habitat of demonic activity, as quoted, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’ She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.” Revelation 18:2

“Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” Acts 19:16

The demon-possessed man leaped onto the seven sons of Sceva, who were using the name and authority of Jesus falsely. The demon overpowered and prevailed against them. The seven men fled from the house naked and wounded. When the Holy Spirit is removed from the population of this world, demonic activity begins to arise, and lawlessness abounds. The Holy Spirit restrains lawlessness. This present world system of the beast will be overpowered by lawlessness, and it will prevail against them, “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” 2 Thessalonians 2:5-8 Click here for a post on the “lawless one”.

“This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.” Acts 19:17-18

As followers of Jesus Christ, we want to make the word of God known to all we can. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 We want them to know that, “…the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 And that, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 We want people to magnify the name of the Lord, to believe in God through Jesus Christ and to confess their sin. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

“Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.” Acts 19:19-20

The people of Ephesus had a mountain of books that they practiced magic with. This involved using elements of religious beliefs mixed with secular knowledge to have a certain power and control over the outcome of people’s lives. This would be like using the Scriptures of the Bible in order to profit in materialistic and monetary ways.

The Ephesians had over 138 years of books that they burned in one day. How can that be known? Because the value of the books were 50,000 pieces of silver. One piece of silver amounted to one day’s wage, so 50,000 pieces of silver amounted to 50,000 workdays worth of books. That is about 138 years of books. Today, let’s say people make $15.00 an hour and work 8 hours, that is $120.00 worth of books in one day. 50,000 days at $120.00 per day is about $6,000,000 [six million] of books that was burned in one day at Ephesus. “So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.” They began living by faith in Jesus Christ instead of living by faith in what was written in their magic books. 138 years of burned books in one day implies that a lot of Ephesians, thousands, said “Yes” to Jesus Christ on that day.

Governments around the world are using “magic books” that they supply to their population. For example, a previous president of Mexico [in the year 2020] had a 20-page “magic book” of “moral” precepts that mirror the “Beatitudes” in the Bible. The huge demonic difference is that the “magic booklets” discard the need for Jesus Christ and ignores the Holy Spirit. I read that book when it was first published, and is called “Cartilla Moral,” Click here for a news article on “Mexican president presents ‘ethical guide’ book of precepts”. The Mexican President has distributed ten million of those booklets for free and citizens are expected to live by those “moral” precepts.

Also, the United Nations has their “magic book” which everyone has knowledge of the text of that book although may not realize their knowledge comes from the global government’s “magic book”. That “magic book” is called the “Sustainable Development Goals”. I can envision the day when the global government sends out a “magic book” of moral values for the global culture to read and embrace [integrated into schoolbooks, workplace policies, etc.]. It will have a form of Godliness but denying Jesus Christ. The “fingerprints” of the beast with two horns like a lamb will be on the pages as the author/inspiration for the “magic book”.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we live by the book of the Bible, and our born-again experience is the Gospel of Jesus Christ written on our heart.

Paul plans to go to Jerusalem after visits to the regions of Macedonia and Achaia.
“When these things were accomplished, Paul purposed in the Spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome.” So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time.” Acts 19:21-22

Paul purposed in the Spirit that after he would pass through the regions of Macedonia and Achaia, he would then go to Jerusalem. In Acts 20:1-6, Paul arrived at the regions of Macedonia and Achaia, and he would soon sail for Jerusalem, as described in Acts 21:1-16. Paul knew in the Spirit that he was heading to Rome [Acts 27:1 through Acts 28:16] after facing the Jewish people in Jerusalem [Acts 21:27 through 26:32]. In Jerusalem, Paul was arrested and eventually taken to Rome, where he was eventually executed at the command of the Roman Emperor Nero [Acts 28:30-31].

Paul sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia ahead of him. Paul remained in Asia [Ephesus was considered a part of the region of Asia Minor]. Some miraculous and some demonic activity happened during that time Paul remained in Ephesus, as described in Acts 19:23-41.

Paul and his companions were in Ephesus [seen about the middle of the image and almost halfway up]. They crossed the Aegean Sea into the region of Macedonia [north and west of Ephesus] and then went to the region of Achaia. They went down to Greece [a province of Achaia], then back up to Macedonia [went to Philippi], then crossed the Aegean Sea to the east to Troas, then went to Miletus [just south of Ephesus, not shown on map], then onward to Jerusalem [Jerusalem is to the south and a little east of Cyprus].

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11