TROUBLE IN EPHESUS (15 OF 26)
Scripture: ACTS 19:23-41
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Trouble in Ephesus (15 of 26)
Series: The Acts of the Apostles
Volume II
Dan Rodgers
TEXT: Acts 19:23-41
INTRODUCTION: Last week, our story was about the seven sons of Sceva, Jewish vagabonds, who were exorcists. When they witnessed the power of Paul and his ability to heal people and cast out demons in the name of Jesus, they sought the same power. We remember the story; when they attempted to cast out a demon in the name of Jesus, the demon jumped on them, tearing off their clothes, causing them to flee from the house naked.
Many people who had witnessed the power of Paul and had listened to his preaching, declared their faith in Christ. In vs. 17, it says, "And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified."
Beginning in vs. 23, we find trouble brewing. Those who had prospered by making silver statues of the goddess Diana, were feeling financial loss because so many had turned from idol worship to Christ; so they came after Paul.
Let me give you two things this evening:
I. A Vile Attack
II. A Logical Approach
I. A VILE ATTACK (VV. 23-34)
A. Paul's Adversary (vv. 23-29)
1. In 1 Cor. 16:9, Paul said," For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries." Again, in his letter to the Thessalonians, he wrote, "Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us" (1 Thes. 2:18). In this story, "a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith," saw his income in jeopardy. Paul's miracles and his message had turned people from worshipping idols to worshipping Christ; he was a threat. In vs. 26, Demetrius said to his fellow idol makers, "Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands." It says in vs. 28, "And whe ...
Series: The Acts of the Apostles
Volume II
Dan Rodgers
TEXT: Acts 19:23-41
INTRODUCTION: Last week, our story was about the seven sons of Sceva, Jewish vagabonds, who were exorcists. When they witnessed the power of Paul and his ability to heal people and cast out demons in the name of Jesus, they sought the same power. We remember the story; when they attempted to cast out a demon in the name of Jesus, the demon jumped on them, tearing off their clothes, causing them to flee from the house naked.
Many people who had witnessed the power of Paul and had listened to his preaching, declared their faith in Christ. In vs. 17, it says, "And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified."
Beginning in vs. 23, we find trouble brewing. Those who had prospered by making silver statues of the goddess Diana, were feeling financial loss because so many had turned from idol worship to Christ; so they came after Paul.
Let me give you two things this evening:
I. A Vile Attack
II. A Logical Approach
I. A VILE ATTACK (VV. 23-34)
A. Paul's Adversary (vv. 23-29)
1. In 1 Cor. 16:9, Paul said," For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries." Again, in his letter to the Thessalonians, he wrote, "Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us" (1 Thes. 2:18). In this story, "a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith," saw his income in jeopardy. Paul's miracles and his message had turned people from worshipping idols to worshipping Christ; he was a threat. In vs. 26, Demetrius said to his fellow idol makers, "Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands." It says in vs. 28, "And whe ...
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